Air Force no longer considering RIF actions

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Richard A. Williams, Jr.
  • Air Force Public Affairs Agency
WASHINGTON (AFNS) --  Air Force officials announced they are suspending consideration of civilian reduction in force (RIF) actions. This delay permits the Civilian Personnel Sections to continue placement actions of civilian employees using voluntary incentives into FY13.

For more than a year the Air Force has focused on a comprehensive effort to increase efficiencies, reduce overhead costs and eliminate redundant functions in the current fiscally-constrained environment.

Air Force officials worked hard to avoid a civilian RIF by implementing hiring controls including a 90-day hiring freeze and offering incentives such as Voluntary Early Retirement Authority and Voluntary Separation Incentive Pay.

"The Secretary of the Air Force determined it is in the best interest of the Air Force to continue pursuing voluntary separation incentives and suspend consideration of civilian reduction in force," said Lt. Gen. Darrell Jones, Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower, Personnel and Services.

The delay allows the Air Force to take advantage of normal attrition rates due to retirements and employees who leave Federal service for the private sector, Jones added.

The decision also allows the Air Force to gain clarity from pending congressional action on the fiscal 2013 budget and Department of Defense review of the fiscal 2014 Program Objective Memorandum, he said.

"The Air Force philosophy on this matter is simple - voluntary programs first, incentives where needed and involuntary programs only as required," Jones said. "The Air Force remains committed to maximizing voluntary measures to the greatest extent possible to minimize involuntary actions."

Jones added, "The Air Force will periodically review civilian personnel strength and assess the need to implement additional voluntary actions as needed."

Past workforce shaping efforts were driven by the Air Force's need to meet the goals of the Office of the Secretary of Defense's Resource Management Decision 703, which targeted DoD-wide efficiencies.