News

AFMC surveys workforce to gauge interest in early retirement, separation

  • Published
  • By AFMC Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  Air Force Materiel Command will survey its civilian workforce beginning May 1 to determine how many individuals would be interested in applying for a fiscal year 2011/12 VERA/VSIP incentive program.

VERA/VSIP stands for Voluntary Early Retirement Authority/Voluntary Separation Incentive Program. The survey, which will be publicized to the entire workforce, will be used to analyze how effective such an incentive might be in reducing manpower to meet current and upcoming budget constraints. Deadline for responding to the survey will be determined by each AFMC Center.

As defense dollars become more constrained, the Air Force is seeking ways to better balance resources and answer the Department of Defense's call for greater efficiencies. "Given fiscal challenges facing AFMC and the Air Force, it is prudent we take these actions," said Mr. John Steenbock, AFMC's Director of Manpower, Personnel and Services.

If results of the survey are positive, he said, AFMC will seek authority for the incentive program, offered in September and December 2011. Incentives may include up to $25,000 depending on various employment factors.

"We will be looking for a way to reduce the workforce while keeping it balanced so we maintain sufficient strength in all our mission areas," Mr. Steenbock said. "This is only one of the approaches we're taking to achieve a balanced, reduced end-strength," he added. "We've also implemented hiring controls, as of early this month, across the entire command. We're now hiring to fill only one position for every two that become vacant as well as focusing on hiring in critical mission areas only."

He said this policy does not affect current hiring actions with a selection and/or established entrance-on-duty date. The overall intent he said, is to reduce the impact of a potential Reduction in Force which may become necessary if AFMC has no other alternative to meet its manpower budget requirements.