RIF shakes local civil servants Published July 16, 2015 By Rob Sexton 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Team Shaw's Federal civilian employees recently gathered at the base theater to for a town hall with Col. John Thomas, 20th Mission Support Group commander, and Suzanne Brooks, 20th Force Support Squadron civilian personnel officer. What prompted the gathering was a message from Headquarters U.S. Air Force announcing that 15 civilian positions here are going away by Sept. 30. That wasn't new to Shaw's civilians, who heard in May 2014 that higher headquarters were eliminating 61 positions here, 18 of which were vacant at the time. But it was the "other shoe" hitting the floor. "The workforce shaping initiative," the announcement from Air Force Lt. Gen. Sam Cox, deputy chief of staff for manpower, personnel and services, read, "is to comply with mandatory funding targets and continuing rebalance of the civilian workforce to meet skill demands for 2014 and beyond. The Air Force is becoming smaller and more streamlined." Brooks explained nine more local positions are set to disappear in Fiscal Year 2016 and another 14 in 2017; one from the 20th Fighter Wing and the remaining eight from Headquarters, U.S. Air Forces Central. During a reduction-in-force, all Federal civilian positions on Shaw serviced by the 20th FSS civilian personnel section are in play, Brooks said. That's because of jockeying among employees affected by the RIF. Rules allow more senior civilians with a broad range of skills to "bump" civilians with less time in service, and possibly even change from one career field to another. The RIF announcement came with other options for civilians: early retirement, voluntary retirement, resignation, or a buyout of up to $25,000. According to Brooks, not many employees have expressed interest in early departures so far. "I hope," she said, "that as we get closer to the end of the week there may be more applications." John Sammons, president of Local 1872 American Federation of Government Employees, commented, "The reality is the entire Air Force is being affected by the RIF; it is a difficult time for all those affected. The union is always available to answer questions but, to be very honest, at this point there is nothing we can do but wait and see. "During this entire process AFGE will be working closely with the (Shaw) civilian personnel folks to ensure all our affected bargaining employees are treated fairly and are placed exactly where they are authorized to be placed." Sammons continued, "My preferred outcome is that, ultimately, all employees who are affected by the RIF will find employment." While no one can guarantee employment during a RIF, there are resources available to ensure civilian employees are prepared. For information on the early-out programs interested parties may visit http://MyPers.af.mil/ Questions specific to Shaw Air Force base employees may contact the civilian personnel office at (803) 895-1616, email suzanne.brooks@us.af.mil or contact Tamara Castleberry at 895-1617, email tamara.castleberry@us.af.mil.