DOD aims to see more civilian deployments Published May 2, 2008 By Holly Birchfield 78th ABW/PA Robins Air Force Base, Ga. -- Department of Defense civilians may soon be seen more often serving alongside military Airmen in the deployed location. The change is intended to promote opportunities for civilians to contribute their talents to the mission. Civilians can gain more insight and understanding of DOD operations through the deployments, according to Air Force officials. The push will also assist DOD in making a more responsive civilian workforce with expeditionary capabilities to assist and prepare the department to succeed in the global war on terrorism, a number one priority of the secretary of defense. Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Dr. David S.C. Chut recently introduced interim policy guidance to promote building an increased civilian deployment capacity. Nancy Moody, a human resource specialist in the Directorate of Civilian Personnel's Employee and Labor Relations Policy Branch at Robins who serves as the local point of contact for the interim policy, said while the Department of Defense is in the early stages of working the provisional policy, Air Force Materiel Command has set up a link on the Air Force Portal to educate DOD civilians about the change. Ms. Moody said the interim policy could open doors for local DOD employees. "Hopefully, it will open up more jobs for the civilians," she said. "Right now if you go to the Web site where there are opportunities for DOD civilian employees to serve in Iraq and you hit on the 'positions available' tab, it says they're all full; but they're hoping to increase (position availability) with the new policy." In the future, the policy is expected to increase job prospects in Iraq and Afghanistan for DOD civilians, Ms. Moody said. What will this mean for the jobs DOD civilians hold locally? Not much, as civilians will be allowed to return to those jobs once their deployment is complete, said Rochelle McMullen, chief of civilian employee and labor policy. Ms. McMullen said only DOD civilians who are offered and accept temporary or term appointments connected with the deployments will remain on the rolls of their former organizations and will be placed on officially documented leave without pay status for the duration of their time-limited appointment. Reginald Butts, chief of the Workforce Effectiveness Division in the Directorate of Personnel, said DOD civilians who volunteer for deployment will retain all benefits they had prior to deployment and may even receive additional benefits in connection with the deployment. Ms. McMullen said Air Force leadership is on board with the policy. "They've put out guidance requesting that leadership support civilians who decide to volunteer for deployment," she said. "It's about trying to increase total force awareness that civilians could have the opportunity to apply for these jobs that are mobile and they want them to know their leadership will support them if they choose to serve their country in that way." According to a memorandum signed by Warner Robins Air Logistics Center Commander Maj. Gen. Tom Owen, reasons for denying civilians from deploying must be submitted to the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense. The memo states that a lack of funds shouldn't limit support of the effort. Ms. Moody said the interim policy guidance on civilian deployments is expected to affect all service branches. Robins is awaiting further information on the policy from AFMC and the Air Force.