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Show r n F(M3fD(o)rLl (sWln) U by Hilltop Times staff and AFLC News Service Reports Ogden Air Logistics Center has received word that Air Force Logistics Command Headquarters, Wright-Patterso- n AFB, Ohio, has been authorized to offer an early retirement program and implement a reduction in force, or RIF, within its civilian work force. The early retirement program will be offered to eligible employees from Nov. 14, 1990, through Feb. 1, 1991. The specific positions and date of implementation for the RIF have not been decided. The command must provide a report of its RIF intentions to Congress 45 days prior to implementation. The RIF authority gives AFLC the ability to reduce its command-wid- e civilian work force by up to 7,500 people. Of that number, the estimated maximum at Hill would be 1,427, including 82 located at six Strategic Air Command bases. However, that number could likely be less, depending on the number of people taking advantage of the early retirement program. Approximately 12,400 employees command-wid- e . THROUGH COMBAT STRENGTH SPECIAL COLLECTIONS (O are eligible for voluntary early out. At HilL 2,300 are eligible for this early out. Based on past experience,, command officials predict about 12 percent, or 1,500 employees, might choose to exercise the early retirement option. Under the early retirement program, employees age 50 or older with 20 years of federal service will be eligible for voluntary retirement. Workers with 25 years of service can retire at any age. Those opting for the early retirement will realize a small reduction in their retirement benefits depending on their age, time in service and whether they are covered by the Civil Service Retirement Employees Retirement System or the Federal System.- - - : 5r Also, those electing to take the early out option through Nov. 30 will still be able to take advantage of the federal retirement "lump sum" option. The lump sum provision permits retirees to collect their retirement contributions in two lump payments with a reduced monthly annuity. The lump sum option will be discontinued for five years beginning Dec. 1. Obtaining authority to implement an early but and RIF were necessary steps as AFLC prepares for the possibility of reducing its civilian work force of some 80,000 people. Authority to implement a RIF was approved by Air Force Headquarters earlier this week, while the early retirement option was approved by the Office of Personnel Management on Wednesday. Gen. Charles C. McDonald, AFLC commander, had requested the authority in September. The prospect for a greatly reduced logistics workload in the years ahead is the main factor driving AFLC toward a smaller work force. As forces are reduced, there will be fewer aircraft and missiles in the Air Force inventory, thus reducing the workload at AFLC maintenance and repair depots and other ' specialized centers. Other factors leading to a smaller work force include initiatives resulting from Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney's Defense Management Report. One such initiative called for AFLC to implement internal streamlining, while another is studying the possible consolidation, reduction or full withdrawal of weapon system repair capabilities from one of the command's five air logistics centers. ! on-goin- g LOGISTICS Vol. 44 No. Utah Hill AFB, 16, 1990 r "7 s&d ?Jil(iIID(3bQDDD( ' k scarce or unavailable, Dr. Wolthuis said. The supplies being shipped to Mexico are up to 15 years old, although they are in their original boxes. They are second or third generation materials and have been unsuccessfully offered to any DOD organizations that may have been able to use them. They could have been sold on the open market to recoup "pennies on the dollar" of their acquisition cost, but the airlifts provide more value to the United States, Dr. Wolthuis said. "The good will the U.S. gets out of giving this material away far outweighs any money we'd get on the open market. "It shows countries like Mexico that we are concerned about their situation, and it betters relationships," Dr. Wolthuis said. Though some countries, like Mexico, might be able to pay for some of the' supplies, many other benefactor countries could not. Without this program they would be left wanting, he said. by Gary Hatch Hilltop Times editor . More than 115,000 pounds of medical materials lifted off Hill AFB's runin a huge way Friday, for Mexico. bound Galaxy cargo jet The Department of Defense, through" its Office of Humanitarian Assistance, delivered surplus supplies and equipment to Mexico City at no cost to the Mexican government. The belly of the huge jet was gorged 37 pallets loaded down with gauze, dressings, bandages, outdated manually operated hospital beds, mattresses, suction pumps, respirators C-- 5 gift-wrapp- ed , -- A : W a -A . U.S. Air Force Photo by Dave Harris A helping hand and more. This humanitarian airlift is not in response to a disaster, simply to a need, said Dr. Robert K. Wolthuis, an Ogden native who is deputy assistant secretary of defense for global affairs. "The title of the program is pretty We do this for humanitarian reasons," he said. self-explanator- y. assistant secretary of a of stairs the Galaxy cargo jet after defense for global affairs, descends and equipment bound for Mexico. inspecting its contents: medical supplies Dr. Robert K. Wolthuis, an Ogden native who is deputy C-- 5 The supplies are earmarked for use in outlying areas where they are either See . Airlift, Page 2, please. President Bush signs defense budget by SSgt. David P. Masko Air Force News Service WASHINGTON President Bush signed the fiscal 1991 defense authorization and appropriations bills into law Nov. 5, raising military and civilian pay by 4.1 percent, but cutting force strength and defense spending. Overall, the $274.5 billion defense budget represents a massive, compromise budget measure that aims to help reduce the federal deficit by nearly $500 billion over the next five years. The $274.5 billion figure represents $17,837 billion below the cal 1990 appropriated amount. fis- Among the measures in the bills are a cut of 80,000 from the 2.1 million people on active duty worldwide, just more than $2 billion in procurement and $1.75 billion in research and development to continue the B-- 2 program and $2.9 billion for the Stra, tegic Defense Initiative. The approved legislation rebuffed the House atB-outright, but did not authorize tempt to kill the B-- 2 aircraft beyond the 15 albomber more buying ready approved by Congress. 2 A House vote to cut an additional $600 million from SDI was blocked, but the final bill came in at $1.7 billion less than the president's request. Adoption of the defense bills also cut back Only $400 million procurement funds for the in procurement was authorized for two cargo aircraft, a system the Air Force says it will need to support the "airlift force for the long term." The transport promises to carry twice the load of a Starlifter, currently the Air Force's . C-1- 7. C-1- 7 C-1- 7 C-1- 41 airlift mainstay. In the September-Octobe- r O See Dudget, edition Page 2, please. 3 to m w w tow Volunteers sought for examination AF top enlisted man proud of force 7 c-r.:- ::y Ink jet saves time, money |