VERA/VSIP restructuring no cause for alarm Published Oct. 24, 2008 By Wayne Crenshaw 78th ABW/PA ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Although Robins officials saw a good response to the Voluntary Early Retirement Authority and Voluntary Separation Incentive Program effort for the 402nd Maintenance Wing, they do not expect to meet the goal of reducing or restructuring 208 civilian positions. However, Center-wide vacancies will be used to offset the shortage and there will be no adverse impact to any employees. Last month, base officials offered civilian employees in the wing an early retirement option and a cash incentive to retire or resign through the Voluntary Early Retirement Authority and Voluntary Separation Incentive Program. The offer is to help meet budgetary thresholds and the need to reduce or restructure production overhead jobs to become better postured for future workloads. According to Connie Crow, chief of Maintenance Staffing, by the Oct. 12 deadline, 260 eligible employees had applied for the retirement or resignation offer, but many of those can't be accepted due to an excess of applications in certain positions. Ms. Crow, doesn't know yet the exact numbers that will be reduced or restructured through the VERA/VSIP offers, but she said it will fall short of the 208 target. However, the target will be met without further offers or involuntary separations. For example, positions will be vacated through reassignment of employees to current and future vacancies. "Anytime you talk about changes affecting jobs, employees may become concerned," said Ms. Crow. "DP is here to take care of our Robins employees and we will." For the employees who had applied for the VERA/VSIP and were approved, a first round of offers was e-mailed Oct. 20. Those employees will have seven days to decide whether to accept or decline the offer. If some of those decide not to accept, another round of offers will be made. The incentive amounts to $25,000 or the normal severance pay entitlement, whichever is less. Eligibility for the offer is limited to the Production Overhead category, comprised of General Schedule or National Security Personnel System positions. "Some who applied for the offer are not eligible," Ms. Crow said. Those who accept the offer will be offered separation dates in January or February 2009.