Air Force completes FY12 civilian workforce restructure Published Jan. 12, 2012 By Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs Office JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Air Force officials announced plans for the elimination of 4,500 additional positions as a continuation of its FY12 Civilian Workforce Restructure Jan. 11. Beginning in May 2011, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst implemented a series of Air Force directed hiring controls and voluntary separation programs designed to reduce overall manpower costs, but these hiring controls did not provide the results required to operate within the fiscal constraints. The Air Force's first round of civilian reductions occurred in November 2011 and impacted 144 Air Force civilian positions at JB MDL. During this round, only 19 Air Force civilian positions located at JB MDL were eliminated. However, this does not directly translate into a loss of personnel. As an example, Fifteen of these positions are currently vacant and will be converted to military positions. This reduction builds on the realignments announced in November and is in response to the Secretary of Defense's direction to target civilian funding at fiscal year 2010 levels. "The Air Force has made tough decisions to bring us within our fiscal constraints," said Col. John Wood, JB MDL commander. "We have an extremely talented and experienced workforce here and are committed to minimizing the impact of this restructure on our civilian personnel. We are already seeking every voluntary opportunity before we initiate involuntary actions." In an effort to encourage voluntary separations and retirements, a second round of voluntary separation incentive pay and voluntary early retirement authority programs are being offered. Civilian employees received VERA/VSIP eligibility surveys from their personnel managers earlier this week and are due no later than Jan. 27. Approved applications will result in separations or retirements that take effect by April 30. Additionally, Air Force officials are still evaluating the need for a Reduction in Force. Air Force officials will exhaust all voluntary force management measures before making a determination on whether or not a RIF is necessary, according to an Armed Forces News Service article. In 2010, the Air Force began a comprehensive strategic review of the entire civilian workforce to determine whether or not civilian authorizations were in the right places to meet mission priorities, according to an Armed Forces News Service article. This announcement marks the end of civilian reductions associated with the Air Force's FY12 civilian workforce restructure.