Air Force offering second round of VERA/VSIP; town hall meetings set at Hanscom to provide info

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The Air Force is offering a second round of voluntary early retirement authority and voluntary separation incentive pay (VERA/VSIP) beginning Jan. 9.

The move is part of the Air Force's continuing effort to meet the Department of Defense requirement to maintain civilian funding at fiscal 2010 levels

"The Air Force recognizes the invaluable contributions of our civilian workforce, but also recognizes the fiscal constraints under which the Department of Defense and the government as a whole are operating," said Maj. Gen. Sharon Dunbar, the director of force management policy. "We are working to balance mission needs while taking care to minimize the effect on our current permanent civilian workforce and their families."

The Electronic Systems Center Manpower and Personnel Directorate has scheduled four town hall meetings for next week to discuss the VERA/VSIP programs.

On Jan. 11, two sessions will be held in the O'Neil Auditorium, Building 1612, and on Jan. 12, two more town hall meetings will be held at the base theater. The sessions will begin at 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. each day.

The first round of VERA/VSIP was used as a voluntary means to reduce civilian workforce levels, enabling strategic rebalancing efforts. As the Air Force continues its fiscal 2012 civilian workforce restructure, round two of VERA/VSIP will be used to further realign and rebalance the civilian force.

"We are pursuing all available force management measures, to include civilian hiring controls, where required, with the goal of avoiding involuntary measures for our current permanent workforce," Dunbar said.

The Manpower and Personnel Directorate will be sending letters to all Hanscom AFB-serviced civilian employees, with the exception of those at New Boston AS, on Jan. 9 inviting them to apply for VERA/VSIP. Applications will be due Jan. 20. Applicants approved for this round of VERA/VSIP will need to separate on or before April 30.

These offers will be used to help minimize the potential for adverse impacts to civilian employees as the Air Force implements targeted reductions to shape its civilian workforce.

"Like the previous round, we will only be able to approve VERA/VSIPs where an involuntary separation could be prevented; this means that not everyone who requests a VERA/VSIP will be approved," according to Luis Hernandez, deputy director of Manpower and Personnel at ESC.

Also, employees must realize that submitting an application is irrevocable.

"Affected civilian employees should read the VERA/VSIP information thoroughly and stay informed by reading all updates, so they can make an informed decision," Hernandez said.

He also points out that there is a link for "VERA/VSIP Information" on the CenterNet located in the right column. This link will take visitors to a SharePoint site with briefing slides, frequently asked questions and a host of other information.

In August, the Air Force instituted a 90-day hiring freeze that was lifted as an Air Force-wide control Dec. 16. Hiring controls remain in effect in the Air Force Materiel Command and will be reviewed in February 2012.

For additional information on separation incentives, personnel may call Kathy Bazzano at 781-225-1405 or DSN 845-1405 or Sherry Odett at 781-225-1406 or DSN 845-1406.

Those interested may also visit the secure Air Force Personnel Services website at https://gum-crm.csd.disa.mil for information about civilian employment, voluntary separation programs and other personnel issues.