Air Force offering second round of VERA/VSIP

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WASHINGTON (AFNS) --  The Air Force is offering a second round of voluntary early retirement authority and voluntary separation incentive pay that began 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.

At Tyndall, all appropriated fund civilian employees should already have received the VERA/VSIP survey, according to Maj. Kyle Head, commander, 325th Force Support Squadron. Employees should complete the survey checking which options they would be willing to accept if offered, and physically sign and date the form. Electronic signatures will not be honored.

Employees should return the physically signed form via email attachment to tyndall.staffing@tyndall.af.mil, via fax to 850-283-8389, or in person at 445 Suwannee Rd., suite 238, Tyndall AFB (Bldg 662).

The major expressed caution to employees considering submitting the VERA/VSIP application, because the decision is an irrevocable one. "Unless an employee can provide proof of extreme hardship or extraordinary circumstances, the application may not be withdrawn," he said.

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.

"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."

Applicants approved for this round of VERA/VSIP will need to separate on or before April 30.

"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.

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 some areas and vary by major command, depending on current MAJCOM strength relative to approved funding levels. Of the positions already identified for elimination, many were vacant, and the freeze created additional vacancies. By lifting the Air Force-wide freeze, MAJCOM managers and hiring officials will be able to hire personnel into vacant positions that remain to support the future Air Force mission.

For any information about civilian employment, voluntary separation programs and other personnel issues, visit the secure Air Force Personnel Service website at https://gum-crm.csd.disa.mil.