Air Force civilian workforce restructuring impacts Lakenheath

  • Published
  • By 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  Air Force officials announced several adjustments to the civilian workforce Nov. 2, 2011, that will result in the elimination of several civilian positions here that will affect 11 Liberty Wing personnel in fiscal year 2012.

In response to direction from the Secretary of Defense to stop civilian growth above fiscal year 2010 levels and the need to add 5,900 positions against the Air Force's top priorities, the Air Force eliminated approximately 9,000 positions.

"We can't be successful without our talented and experienced civilian workforce," said Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley. "We are making difficult choices about how to deliberately restructure and posture the force and will continue to look for new ways of accomplishing the mission. We can't afford business as usual."

These modifications reflect several initiatives designed to align limited resources based on Air Force priorities. This process is an ongoing effort to increase efficiencies, reduce overhead costs and eliminate redundancy.

"We are making difficult choices about how to deliberately restructure and posture the force and will continue to look for new ways of accomplishing the mission. We can't afford business as usual," said Donley.

"Lakenheath is no exception to this transition," explained Col. Scott Benza, 48th Mission Support Group commander. "Current budgetary constraints require tightening of fiscal expenditures at all levels of government including the 48th Fighter Wing."

Throughout this restructuring phase, Lakenheath is focused on providing all support available to affected personnel and families.

"Our civilian workforce is an integral member of our Lakenheath family, and we've designated key staff within our Civilian Personnel office who will actively assist individuals throughout this transition," said Benza.

Upon receiving the Secretary of Defense's 2010 memo directing that civilian manpower costs stay within fiscal year 2010 levels, the Air Force began a comprehensive strategic review of the entire Air Force civilian workforce to determine whether or not civilian authorizations were in the right places to meet mission priorities.

The strategic review revealed several imbalances. Some high priority areas needed to grow, while some management and overhead functions needed streamlining. These imbalances led to a variety of initiatives focused on realigning scarce manpower resources with the most critical missions.

"We clearly understand the turbulence these and future reductions will cause in the workforce," said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz. "We are making every effort to use voluntary measures to achieve reductions whenever possible."

Beginning in May 2011, the Air Force implemented a series of 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 our fiscal constraints.

"The initiatives announced November 2 represent the next step toward that goal, but there is more work to be done," said Brig. Gen. Gina Grosso, Manpower, Organization, and Resources director. "The Air Force remains over fiscal year 2010 manpower levels and will continue to develop enterprise-wide solutions to achieve our goals with minimal impact to mission. The Air Force must still define an additional 4,500 civilian positions for reduction."

As details become final, Air Force officials will release information on the next set of initiatives.

Given the constrained fiscal environment, Air Force members should expect continued workforce shaping measures affecting military, civilian, and contractors, Grosso said.

"We understand the stress caused by uncertainty and will do our best to share information across the workforce as soon as it becomes available," said Grosso.