Marines

Sequestration would affect McConnell Reserve unit morale, readiness, people

27 Feb 2013 | Brannen Parrish

If sequestration occurs March 1, furloughs slated to begin in late April will limit training opportunities for Reservists and reduce paychecks for appropriated fund civilian employees at McConnell.

Under the Balanced Budget Control Act of 2011 and the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, across-the-board reductions will take place unless legislation is enacted that avoids the reductions.

If Congress is unable to come to an agreement, all 152 of the 931st Air Refueling Group's full time civil servants will be furloughed up to 16 hours per pay period for up to 22 weeks beginning as early as late April.

For the full-time civil servants assigned to the 931st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, furloughs equate to less time to maintain aircraft and train new maintainers, and a threat to morale and readiness.

"We're the ones who prepare the aircraft to fly, take care of it after it lands and get it ready to fly again, fix everything that's broken so it can make its next mission and make sure that Reservists get trained. That's our main goal," said Chief Master Sgt. John Boulett, aircraft maintenance superintendent, 931st AMXS.

Like all Air Force Reserve units, the 931 ARG relies on government civil servant employees to conduct day-to-day operations and train new Reservists. Of the 152 civilians assigned to the 931 ARG, 141 are dual-status Air Reserve Technicians like Boulett. These ARTS are federal civilian employees who serve in the Air Force Reserve.

Technicians work along-side their active duty counterparts in the active-duty 22nd Air Refueling Wing here, contribute to the active duty mission and even wear the Air Force uniform daily, but their primary role is to train and maintain readiness of traditional Reservists.

The 141 ARTS assigned to the 931 ARG are responsible for the training and readiness of almost 500 traditional Reservists. With one less day each week to maintain aircraft and train Reservists, the Group's ability to accomplish its mission will be strained.

"A sequestration would cut down on our ability to turn airplanes. We wouldn't be able to generate and receive them, and if we can't turn them we can't launch them," said Col. Mark Larson, 931st Air Refueling Group Commander. "It would directly impact our flying operations, so now we have to look at what that impact is going to be and try to find ways to minimize it."

According to a document released by the Air Force, Feb. 22, furloughs will result in $6.3 million in total lost pay for the 152 civil servants at the 931 ARG and all other civilian employees working to support other units on base.

Kenneth Snow, a civilian pay specialist with the 931 ARG finance section, is one 931 ARG employee who is watching the March 1 sequestration deadline with a great deal of trepidation. A single father of three, Snow processes pay and travel vouchers of ARTs and civil servants at the Group.

Like all employees of the 931 ARG, Snow will lose 20 percent of his pay if sequestration occurs. And like the nearly 80 percent of civil servants who would be affected by furloughs, he isn't certain how he will get by.

"If this actually happens, I really don't know what I will do," Snow said. "I will have to look for a smaller place to live. It's going to hurt for sure. It'll mean making some tough sacrifices but it's something I know I'm going to have to do."

The sacrifices many McConnell civilians would be forced to make will have an impact on South Central Kansas' economy, said Jeremy Hill, Director of Economic Development and Business Research at Wichita State University.

"As a base industry, McConnell brings new dollars into the local economy, that is money that comes from outside the local area," said Hill. "When you have a furlough, what you see is a drop in disposable income and people will respond to that loss by cutting their discretionary spending. Things like eating out and shopping are affected. It would slow down a lot of retail sectors and affect tax revenues pretty significantly."

Tech. Sgt. Jesse Fuller, an Air Reserve Technician from the 931 AMXS said he would lose about $400 per pay period if furloughed. Fuller said cutting retail expenditures like dining out and finding part-time work are possibilities he and his wife have discussed.

"The entertainment and recreation budget are going to take a major hit," said Fuller who has four children. "We are cutting it close right now but things like cable television, movies and going out to eat will definitely have to go. We eat out quite a bit but we'll definitely have to cut that out."

Larson said as commander, he is concerned about how the sequestration will affect his civilian employees as well as his capability to keep employees at the 931st.

"There is the potential for civil service employees to leave their jobs. People take these types of jobs because they consider them to be steady and reliable," said Larson. "A long-term furlough will most likely cause some individuals to consider leaving for another line of work. If we start having people leave because they are essentially taking a 20% cut in pay, that will definitely affect us. It will be difficult to replace people if there is a potential of taking a cut in pay."

With only two days left for Congress to avoid sequestration, Snow said he is still holding out hope that the across the board cuts can be avoided.

"I really do hope that it won't come to that," said Snow. "Maybe they will figure it out and come to a decision and work it out so that all of us don't have to take this huge cut and go without pay."

Larson said he is hopeful a solution can be found as well.

"Even as we come down to the eleventh hour, I'm still hopeful," said Larson. "What we really would like to see is for Congress to somehow pass a balanced-deficit reduction plan that the President can sign so that sequestration is truly averted and not just delayed."

Marine Corps Base Hawaii