VERA/VSIP offered to maintenance wing workers Published Sept. 26, 2008 By Public Affairs 78 ABW Robins Air Force Base, GA -- The base is offering 208 civilian employees in the 402nd Maintenance Wing an early retirement option and a cash incentive to retire or resign. "The initiative is based on meeting budgetary thresholds and the need to reduce or restructure production overhead jobs to become better postured for future workloads," said Marian Fraley, 402nd Maintenance Wing deputy director. The offer comes through the Voluntary Early Retirement Authority and Voluntary Separation Incentive Program. The two programs work together to provide employees the opportunity to leave federal service, via regular retirement, early retirement or resignation, with a separation incentive payment of up to $25,000. Those who are not eligible for regular retirement may retire early if they are age 50 with 20 years of service, or have 25 years of service at any age. First consideration will be given to those who are currently eligible to retire. If the target of 208 is not met, the offer will be extended to those who opt to retire early. The window to apply is Sept. 29 to Oct. 12. Those who receive offers will have seven calendar days to decide whether to accept or decline. Those who accept will be offered separation dates in January or February 2009. The actual incentive will be $25,000 or the normal severance pay entitlement, whichever is less.Eligible employees are limited to the Production Overhead category and are comprised of General Schedule or National Security Personnel System positions. Scientists and engineers are excluded due to their expertise and the difficulty in recruiting their skill sets, Ms. Fraley said. Also, federal Wage System employees - WG, WL and WS - are not included in the VERA/VSIP effort given future workload projections. Those interested must apply through the program's Web site at https://veravsip.robins.af.mil, using a ".mil" government computer. Send questions to wralc.dp.veravsip@robins.af.mil. "VERA and VSIP become relevant when normal attrition is not expected to accommodate needed staffing reductions or skills imbalances," said Mark Shores, Workforce Development Division chief. "VERA and VSIP speed up attrition by providing an incentive for employees to retire or resign." Robins' similar maintenance wings at Tinker and Hill have already conducted VERA/VSIPs in the past few years.