Lakenheath civilians to see second round of VERA/VSIP

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ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  Civilian employees here will be offered a second round of voluntary early retirement authority and voluntary separation incentive pay beginning Jan. 9.

The move is part of the Air Force's continuing effort to meet the Department of Defense's requirement to maintain civilian funding at fiscal 2010 levels.

"We will be surveying the eligible Lakenheath population for interest in the VERA/VSIP program January 9 to 23," said Anthony Duggan, 48th Mission Support Group deputy director.

Duggan added however, that the surveys are not to be construed as formal acceptance of receiving the incentive through the VERA/VSIP program.

Applicants approved for this round of VERA/VSIP will need to separate on or before April 30.

"The Air Force recognizes the invaluable contributions of our civilian workforce, but also recognizes the fiscal constraints under which the Department of Defense and the government as a whole are operating," said Maj. Gen. Sharon Dunbar, the director of force management policy. "We are working to balance mission needs while taking care to minimize the effect on our current permanent civilian workforce and their families."

The first round of VERA/VSIP was used as a voluntary means to reduce civilian workforce levels, enabling strategic rebalancing efforts. As the Air Force continues its fiscal 2012 civilian workforce restructure, round two of VERA/VSIP will be used to further realign and rebalance the civilian force.

"We are pursuing all available force management measures, to include civilian hiring controls, where required, with the goal of avoiding involuntary measures for our current permanent workforce," Dunbar said.

In August, the Air Force instituted a 90-day hiring freeze that was lifted as an Air Force-wide control Dec. 16, 2011. Hiring controls remain in effect in some areas and vary by major command, depending on current MAJCOM strength relative to approved funding levels.

Of the positions already identified for elimination, many were vacant, and the freeze created additional vacancies. By lifting the Air Force-wide freeze, MAJCOM managers and hiring officials will be able to hire personnel into vacant positions that remain to support the future Air Force mission.

For more information about civilian employment, voluntary separation programs and other personnel issues, visit the secure Air Force Personnel Service website at https://gum-crm.csd.disa.mil.

(Additional information for this story was contributed by Staff Sgt. David Dobrydney, 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs.)