Impact of potential sequestration on Goodfellow

  • Published
  • By Public Affairs
  • 17th Training Wing
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Military installations have been directed by the Deputy Secretary of Defense to begin "intensifying planning for longer-term budgetary uncertainty, including potential sequestration in March."

Furthermore, "Sequestration cuts require all military services and defense agencies to furlough most Department of Defense civilian employees for an average of one day per week for up to 22 weeks beginning in April. This equates to a 20 percent cut in pay. "

If sequestration occurs, the Office of Secretary of Defense has directed the following: "Fully protect funding for wartime operations, fully protect Wounded Warrior programs, to the extent feasible, protect programs most closely associated with the new defense strategy, to the extent feasible, and protect family programs."

Roughly $46 billion in spending cuts from defense is required for the remainder of the fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30. Operations, maintenance and civilian manpower will all feel the effects to meet this fiscal goal. Civilian furloughs would realize an estimated $5 billion in savings.

"We develop America's Airmen today for tomorrow," said General Edward A. Rice, Jr., Air Education and Training Command commander. "In order for us to be successful, we have to continuously plan for the future and ensure mission execution no matter what conditions we operate under."

To help fulfill its budgetary goal, the Air Force will reduce flying hours by as much as 18 percent and impacts could be felt by operational and training missions as early as March 1. Military construction, facility sustainment, restoration and modernization projects as well as civilian pay could also be affected.

Military installations in the state of Texas are projected to experience financial cuts as well. The state alone will experience more than $172.4 million budget cut, with $127.3 million coming from lost pay.

Goodfellow does not have a flying mission so cuts affecting the base would come from deferred military projects and civilian furlough. A civilian furlough would have the largest impact to the base.

Three military projects during fiscal year 2013 would be deferred at a cost savings of $580,316. The deferred projects include construction of a consolidated entomology facility, demolition to remove unused old facilities on base, and energy efficiency upgrades to several buildings.

If sequestration occurs, a civilian furlough would mean a 20 percent loss of civilian manning, or loss of one day of work per week, without pay. 625 defense civilians at Goodfellow would be affected by the furlough but would not affect the roughly 280 non-appropriated fund employees at Goodfellow. There are exceptions to the furlough plan but Goodfellow does not have any civilian employees who meet the exception criteria.

"Goodfellow has a long history of training world-class warriors. That training has been provided by a stellar workforce made up of military and civilian personnel alike," said Col. Mark Damiano, 17th Training Wing commander. "We are actively preparing for this challenge and we are all working together to minimize the potential effects on our training mission."