Page 9 - Edwards AFB Desert Wings 6-12-15

June 12, 2015
AF focuses 3rd round of VERA/VSIP for civiliansfacebook.com/EdwardsDesertWings
In an effort to lead its force management
actions with voluntary programs, Air Force
officials announced a third round of civilian
workforce shaping measures beginning June
15.
The measures are necessary to meet the Air
Force’s headquarters organization and staff-
ing reductions, which were designed to elimi-
nate redundant activities, improve efficien-
cies and satisfy previous secretary of Defense
direction to reduce management headquarters
costs and staff levels by 20 percent.
Voluntary early retirement authority
(VERA) and voluntary separation incentive
pay (VSIP) will be used to realign and rebal-
ance the civilian force during the third round
of the program. The final round of voluntary
measures focuses primarily on Headquarters
Air Force-assigned civilian employees.
“As in past years, we will continue to offer
voluntary early retirement authority and vol-
untary separation incentive pay to the maxi-
mum extent possible before we implement a
reduction in force,” said Debra Warner, the
director of Civilian Force Policy. “The Air
Force is committed to sustaining excellence,
meeting fiscal requirements and minimizing
negative impacts on our current permanent
civilian workforce and their families.”
Civilian employees will receive VERA/
VSIP interest surveys from their local civilian evaluation of the UK’s F-35s. Personnel from 17 (R) Squadron,
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Desert Wings 9
www.aerotechnews.com/edwardsafb
personnel sections on or about June 15, with workforce tomorrow.” proval to use reduction-in-force procedures
responses due by June 26, unless an earlier The processes available to rebalance or in an effort to place employees in continuing
date is established by local CPSs. Applicants permanent positions.
approved for this final round of fiscal year reskill the workforce includes using reduc-
VERA/VSIP programs must separate no later tion-in-force procedures to determine over- “The Air Force is committed to using vol-
than Sept. 30. age employee priority placement rights into untary separation programs as much as pos-
positions, as well as, providing the flexibility sible before pursuing involuntary options,”
“Our civilians are an integral part of our to waive qualifications and provide retained Warner said.
force, and their contributions are instrumen- grade and pay if placed in a lower graded po-
tal in our mission success,” Warner said. sition. For additional information about civilian
“Our challenge, in a fiscally constrained employment, voluntary separation programs
environment, is to maintain the ready and In that regard, the Air Force headquarters and other personnel actions, visit https://gum-
capable civilian force today and a modern and other participating bases will begin their crm.csd.disa.mil/app/login/redirect/home.
preparations for submitting requests for ap-
F-35, from 8
operating across a wide array of flight and deck operations. Specific comprised of engineers and pilots from the Royal Air Force and
OT-1 objectives include demonstrating and assessing day and night Royal Navy, fly and maintain the two UK F-35B jets independently
flight operations in varying aircraft configurations; digital interoper- from their U.S. colleagues.
ability of aircraft and ship systems; F-35B landing signal officer’s
launch and recovery software; day and night weapons loading; and “The U.K. team is involved in every facet of F-35B maintenance
all aspects of maintenance, logistics, and sustainment support of the during OT-1,” said U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Michael Dehner,
F-35B while deployed at sea. the Department of the Navy F-35 Operational Test Director. “That
includes avionics, air frames, power lines, quality assurance and
“Our Queen Elizabeth Class carriers are the largest and most pow- flight equipment. They’re going to glean valuable lessons that will
erful warships ever built in the U.K.,” said Mathieson. “They are be critically useful as they move from the developmental to the
capable of the widest range of roles, from defense diplomacy and operational phase of F-35B integration.”
humanitarian assistance to full combat operations, providing flex-
ibility and choice throughout their 50-year life.” U.K. F-35B pilots will begin operating the next generation stealth
fighter from home bases in England starting in 2018, and are on
In February, the United Kingdom stood up their first F-35 squad- track to fly from Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers in 2020. The
ron at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The historic 17 (Reserve) U.K. has played a major role in the program throughout the System
Squadron is now responsible for the entire operational test and Design and Demonstration phase, and has a program of record to
procure the F-35B in the coming years.
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