Air Force launches second round of restructure Published Jan. 13, 2012 By 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs Kirtland Air Force Base, NM -- Air Force officials announced 4,500 additional positions for elimination as a continuation of its FY 12 Civilian Workforce Restructure. This reduction builds on the realignments announced in November, including the elimination of 9,000 positions and the addition of 5,900 positions against the Air Force's top priorities. In addition, these reductions respond to the Secretary of Defense's direction to target civilian funding at fiscal year 2010 levels. Officials at Kirtland Air Force Base reported a combined total of 20 positions have been eliminated on base as a result of the November 2011 and January 2012 rounds of Air Force civilian restructuring. In an effort to encourage voluntary separations and retirements, the Air Force is currently offering its second round of voluntary early retirement authority and voluntary separation incentive pay programs. Civilian employees received VERA/VSIP eligibility surveys from their personnel managers earlier this month and Kirtland AFB will accept applications until Jan. 27. Approved applications will result in separations or retirements that take effect by April 30. Col. John Kubinec, 377th Air Base Wing and Installation Commander, stressed the Air Force's commitment to do everything possible to manage reductions with as little impact to the civilian work force as possible. "A loss of an authorization does not necessarily translate into a direct loss of people. Some of the positions designated to be cut are currently empty and the impacts of the VERA/VSIP process have not been determined," he said. "At this time, we are surveying the workforce for a second round of VERA/VSIP and are in the midst of management reassignments resulting from the first round of the restructure," said Brig. Gen. Gina Grosso Director of Manpower, Organization, and Resources. "Once we exhaust all voluntary force management measures, a determination will be made whether or not a RIF is necessary. We hope to have more information in the spring." This announcement marks the end of civilian reductions associated with the Air Force's FY12 civilian workforce restructure.