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Show Hilltop 2 TIMES March 28, 2013 COMMENTARY Sequestration impacts our mission, people and bases BY GEN. JANET C. WOLFENBARGER Commander, Air Force Materiel Command s-kly Since 1948 Hilltop Times Editorial Staff: Standard-Examiner publisher Mary Lou Gorny Hilltop Times Editor Mikayla Beyer Hilltop Times Writer Hilltop Times Krista Starker Correspondent Hilltop Times Kim Cook Correspondent Deadlines: Editorial and news items are due by noon on the Friday prior to the Thursday print date. To submit news items e-mail hilltoptimes@standard.net or call 801-625-4273. For Classified Advertising, call 801-625-4300. For Retail Advertising, call 801-625-4388. The Hilltop Times is published by Ogden Publishing Corp., a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force, under, and in compliance with, a Memorandum of Understanding with Hill Air Force Base. The content of the Hilltop Times does not necessarily represent the views of, nor is it endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Air Force or Hill Air Force Base (collectively, the Government). The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Government of the products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the Standard-Examiner, 332 Standard Way, Ogden, Utah, 84404. Additional editorial content is provided by various military and civilian wire services and Hill Air Force Base public affairs departments. Call 801-625-4273 with story ideas or comments, or contact the editor, Mary Lou Gorny, at mgorny@standard.net . Call 801-625-4300 for Classified Advertising or 801-6254388 for Retail Advertising. A s commander of Air Force Materiel Command, headquartered at WrightPatterson Air Force Base, I lead an organization of some 80,000 military members and civilian employees whose work touches every aspect of the Air Force. Hill Air Force Base is one of the bases in my command. When the warfighter calls for a new capability, we think it, we build it, we break it, we make it better, we deliver it to the fight, and we keep it there as long as it's needed. My people research, develop, buy, test and maintain systems and capabilities the Air Force needs to carry out its mission — from uniforms to fighter aircraft. The on-going sequestration impacts every piece of the AFMC mission and, as a result, the entire Air Force in a multitude of ways. The cuts levied by sequestration will hit AFMC hard on three fronts — our mission, our people, and our bases such as Hill Air Force Base. I do not yet know the precise reductions AFMC will take under sequestration, but, for planning purposes, cuts for the remainder of this fiscal year ending Sept. 30 are about $300 million, or 29 percent of our remaining operating account, and $1.4 billion, or 40 percent of the remaining readiness account we operate on behalf of the Air Force. It is impossible at this point to estimate AFMC cuts beyond Fiscal Year 2013 over the 10-year life of sequestration. But we do know that sequestration impacts will be far-reaching across AFMC. Impacts to our mission Recapitalization and modernization of the aging Air Force fleet, primary missions of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, headquartered at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, will be slowed. Acquisition programs will be delayed or cancelled, some costs will rise, and much-needed capabilities will take longer to get into the hands of our warfighters. At the Air Force Test Center, headquartered at Edwards AFB, Calif., the developmental test mission will be significantly impacted as we reduce operations at AFMC test ranges, stop all flight testing (except for the F-35) and test support toward the end of the fiscal year, and determine the status of upcoming Summer Test Pilot School classes at Edwards AFB. Within the Air Force Sustainment Center, headquartered at Tinker AFB, Okla., we will have to reduce sustainment operations at our three depots by Gen. Wolfenbarger as much as 40 percent for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2013. Rough estimates include deferment of 297 aircraft and 197 engines for depot maintenance and major modifications. Depot operations will slow down, aircraft availability and mission-capable rates will drop, and some aircraft will simply be grounded. It could take up to five years for depot operations to "catch up" once fully funded. In the Air Force Research Lab, with locations across AFMC, sequestration cuts will force our labs to slow research; new technology transitions will be delayed to the warfighter for both their immediate needs and their longer term requirements to execute critical Air Force missions in the years to come. Impacts to our people AFMC's workforce is 77 percent civilian (about 60,000 of some 80,000 people). Like no other Major Command in the Air Force, the majority of AFMC will be hit hard by the planned civilian furloughs that will cut workers' pay by 20 percent through Sept. 30. The impacts on my people will be significant. I don't know anyone who can take a 20 percent cut to their income, with minimal notice, and not feel it. Many of my employees live paycheck to paycheck. A 20 percent pay cut is driving the majority of my workforce to face fears of how to pay their household bills. Many have expressed the need to work a part-time job to help cover the impact or withdraw from their retirement accounts to make ends meet. This will be devastating; we are breaking faith with our civilian airmen. The following are some specific quotes from some of my people: "I will have to cancel my life insurance policy and reduce health care insurance coverage to cover the 20 percent loss of salary." "I will be tapping into my 401(k) retirement plans for hardship loans, which will impact future retirement plans and cause me to incur new debts to pay off old debts. I may need to resort to "pay-day loan" stations to pay bills." This also impacts the communities surrounding our bases. Less money in the pockets of our civilians means less money to spend at the local grocery store, restaurant or movie theater. Less money will go to local taxes that pay for roads, schools and infrastructure. Impacts to our bases I am responsible for nine bases in my command, in nine different states across the country. The budget reductions will cut into my ability to maintain these bases where my people live and work, forcing my air base wing commanders to make tough calls on what to repair. Only true emergency repairs will be accomplished. Preventative maintenance on everything from buildings to communication networks will essentially halt. My people will come to work at bases where streets, buildings and housing will see all but emergency upkeep delayed. The potential impacts on defense contractors will also be felt. Thousands of contractors provide goods and services to AFMC and the Air Force. Sequestration will cause some contracts to be modified. Small contractors, who provide everything from office supplies to bomb fuses, will be hit especially hard since they do not have the financial depth of larger defense contractors. If the House of Representatives fiscal year 2013 budget bill becomes law, its impact on sequestration translates into taking a step toward more regular order and removes uncertainty associated with the budget environment to date for this fiscal year. It will end the continuing resolution and finally give us a fiscal year 2013 budget. While not all that we requested, we hope the bill, when eventually reconciled with a Senate version, will give the Department of Defense more clarity and more flexibility as it carries out sequestration reductions. Simply put, the impacts of sequestration are severe — to our mission, our people, and our bases and local communities. Air Force History preserves institutional memory, gives perspective BY AARON CLARK 75th Air Base Wing historian HAWC Nest Fitness Tip from the Health and Wellness Center Up to 12 weeks of FREE tobacco cessation medication is available to federal employees and up to 6 months is available for active duty, dependents and retirees when attending the tobacco cessation series. Call the Health and Wellness Center at 801-777-1215 for further information. THINK SAFETY I n existence less than 80 years, the U.S. Air Force is the youngest branch of America's military; however, it still has one of the richest, most exciting histories. Although Air Force history did not officially begin until 1948, its roots stem from two brothers who owned a bicycle shop in Dayton, Ohio, and who invented the world's first successful aircraft. From that point forward, American military aviation began to take on a more influential and critical combat role. From the WW II strategic bombing campaign and the Berlin Airlift in the 19405, to the Korean War MiG Alley fighter duals in the 1950s, to Operation Rolling Thunder in Vietnam in the 19605, to the close-air-support recently provided in Iraq and Afghanistan, the United States Air Force has played an increasingly crucial role in changing the Hill's Total 2013 DUIs: 5 Liri¥ Hill's Last DUI: Ma/id 5 Unit Involved: 729a fOor &word .5944d/temt Airmen Against Drinking and Driving provide rides when designated drivers are unavailable. Call 777-1111 to request a ride anytime. Hours of operation: Fridays-Saturdays 10 p.m.- 6 a.m. Sundays 9 p.m.-midnight. face of armed conflict by bringing unprecedented advantages to this country's military capabilities. Given aerospace power's contributions to this nation's defense, it is fitting that the Air Force's efforts are remembered. The Air Force HisClark tory and Museum Program preserves the institutional memory of this branch and the experiences of its members. Consisting of roughly 200 personnel, and making up a large segment of the program, are the Air Force history offices and their historians. Even though this group is extremely small, their tireless efforts cover the entire globe. There are two history offices at Hill AFB: the 75th ABW History Office (75 ABW/HO), which serves the Ogden Air Logistics Complex and the 75th Air Base Wing; and, the 388th Fighter Wing History Office. Except in Air Force Reserve Command where historians are noncommissioned officers, historians are civilians, most of whom occupy Emergency Essential deployable positions. Each must maintain a top secret security clearance. Air Force historians are deployed to combat zones, reside in U.S. Air Forces Europe and Pacific Air Forces, and are stationed across the United States — collecting and preserving crucial documentation, and writing about the accomplishments and trials encountered by the members of our Air Force. Their efforts allow us to learn from past experience and to remember the sacrifices and accomplishments of those who came before. When I first began my Air Force historian career, I found that many folks thought an See HISTORY I page 3 777-7000 action.line.pa@hill.af.mil Report suspicious activity via the AFOSI EAGLE EYES program. Dial: 777-3056 / 3057/ 3058. is Our Business — Everyone is a Sensor Watch — Report — Protect. Force Protection Phone numbers — The base agencies listed can be contacted directly if you have a complaint or a problem with their services: Security Forces 24-hr. Crisis Information Force Support Squadron Base Restaurants Retirement/Compensation (civilian) Equal Opportunity Office Employer Relations Military Pay Civilian Pay Air Force Suggestion Program 777-7433 777-9696 Hill Pride Hotline 777-3056 Hill Straight Talk Public Affairs IG Complaints 777-5305 777-5333 777-3056 Military Housing 825-9392 777-4134 (for appointment) 777-2043 IG Complaints 777-5361 Maintenance 777-6142 Safety Office 777-3333 (after hours) Safety Office Hotline 586-9300 777-5361 Fraud, Waste or Abuse 777-5455 Sexual Assault Response 777-1985 777-7129 (recording) Coordinator (or) 777-1964 1-877-885-9595 777-1851 Loud Noise Union 777-3257 (complaints) 777-6246 777-1852 AFOSI Narcotics Hotline 777-4918 777-6901 75th Medical Group 777-3090 Civil Engineering 777-1856 Family Assistance Center (when activated) SUICIDE PREVENTION ASSISTANCE Mental Health Clinic 777-7909 Chaplain 777-2106 Military OneSource (800) 342-9647 National Suicide (800) 273-8255 Prevention Line TriWest Crisis Line (866) 284-3743 (866) 651-4970 Health Contact Center EAP (800) 222-0364 777-1163 Occupational Medicine Services Wingman Advocates 777-2255 TriWest Behavioral |