301st Fighter Wing prepares for sequestration

  • Published
  • By Rodney Ellison Jr., Capt
  • 301st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
NAVAL AIR STATION FORT WORTH JOINT RESERVE BASE, Texas --  Members of the 301st Fighter Wing  continue to learn how they fit into the ongoing sequestration and budget discussions as furlough notifications went out to most Department of Defense civilian employees last week.

This announcement informed them of impending furloughs for an average of one day per week for up to 22 weeks starting as early as late April.

Former Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta notified Congress Feb. 20 that the DoD is prepared to implement furloughs for civilian employees in response to the threat of sequestration.

Of the 814 civilians assigned to the 301st FW civilians who would be affected by furlough, 616 are Air Reserve Technicians, -officer or enlisted Airmen who work the same job as a full-time Title 5 federal civil service employee and as an Air Force Reservist.

The ART program was developed as a means to provide cost savings for DoD. The wing relies on the program's full-time manning to train, maintain readiness and provide continuity to the wing's missions.

During this time ARTs and traditional reservists are eligible to perform their annual tour, inactive duty for training and other military duties.

However, civilian employees are prohibited, by federal law, from performing work or acting as an unpaid volunteer. This includes coming into work, telework, attending training, using their Air Force issued laptops, or checking e-mail or Blackberries while on furlough.

Despite the upcoming fiscal challenges, the 301st remains committed to its mission to "provide Airmen to fly, fight and win ... in air, space and cyberspace," and will continue, "to develop the premier Active and Classic Associate Teams by providing balanced, agile and ready Reserve and regular Air Force Airmen and resources to support national objectives."

For additional sequestration and furlough information please visit the AFRC Str8Talk website at www.afrc.af.mil/library/str8talk.