Thousands Being Offered Thousands To Leave DoD Work Force

American Forces Press Service ^ | Jan. 22, 2004 | By Sgt. 1st Class Doug Sample

[Calpernia]

Up to 25,000 Defense Department civilians may be eligible for thousands of dollars in separation pay through an early-buyout program.

The program is part of the 2004 National Defense Authorization Act.

On Dec. 30, Ginger Groeber, deputy undersecretary of defense for civilian personnel policy, allocated 25,000 buyouts to defense components to pay eligible departing employees up to $25,000 if they choose to leave their jobs early.

She said the program is available for permanent hires, which includes workers not on time-limited appointments such as temporary appointments or those with a specified end date to their employment, and is available to both appropriated and nonappropriated fund personnel.

The program has no age limitation, but workers must have worked for the Defense Department for at least 12 months before accepting a buyout. They must also be U.S. citizens, Groeber said.

Not all workers will get the $25,000 maximum payment, she said. The buyout is the lesser of $25,000 or what the employee would receive in severance pay.

Groeber said the program's primary beneficiaries are employees who work at facilities the Defense Department expects to close, or at locations where there is a change in the military mission. She said that while the buyout will help DoD to minimize its work force at commands and organizations that are downsizing or restructuring, it also may allow the department to offer a substantial sum of money to workers forced out of their jobs through the separation process.

The deputy undersecretary added that the buyout comes at an important time, especially with the next round of base realignment and closures expected to begin in 2005.

Groeber said buyouts were very effective in the 1990s, when the government closed several bases and installations, providing a more cost-effective and human alternative to reductions in force Employees interested in buyouts should contact their component civilian personnel offices

[Calpernia]

Pro Military News

On Dec. 30, Ginger Groeber, deputy undersecretary of defense for civilian personnel policy, allocated 25,000 buyouts to defense components to pay eligible departing employees up to $25,000 if they choose to leave their jobs early.

Private Mail to be added to or removed from the GNFI (or Pro-Coalition) ping list.

[dwd1]

This sounds like what they were doing to GI's back in 91 and 92... Sounds like a buy out to reduce retirement rolls... And the more valuable employees may have a shot at getting the same job as a civilian contractor...

[Chewbacca]

That is about right.
My Mom is hoping to get a buyout.
She is 60 and wants to retire, but only has about 10 years in working for the Navy at a phyciatric hospital.

[dwd1]

I am sure you know the expression about "Greeks bearing gifts" Tell her to make sure to review the tax issues before taking the money....

[Chewbacca]

I don't think she really cares about the tax issue.
My Dad is retired and my Mom is having health problems and doesn't want to have to keep going to work and getting made fun of or rude comments from the young knownothing seamen working there.
She is tired of it and wants to enjoy herself.
Plus my folks just sold their house and property so have a huge pile of cash tax free to play with and find a new home.

[dwd1]

Those are good circumstances...

[VeniVidiVici]

This sounds like what they were doing to GI's back in 91 and 92

That's what I did in 92. Two years later I got a letter asking me to come back on active duty.

They always go overboard.

[dwd1]

Same for me... Got in 92... Ended up working in LA AFB as a contractor back in 94... Got the letter asking me to come back but I would have to pay back the money... By then, I was making decent money so I politely said no...

[dwd1]

Playing the numbers game with people's lives... Part of the deal... The guy that I know who has it best is a retired E-9 and he is now a GS-12 or 13 with several years service....

[CyberAnt]

Well .. I'll throw this out there .. could this be a way to weed out the Clinton leftovers ..??

[Calpernia]

Weed away. That was my first thought when I posted.

[blackie]

Reducing the work force ~ Bump!

[Terpfen]

"Well .. I'll throw this out there .. could this be a way to weed out the Clinton leftovers ..??"

If it is, they need to implement the policy in the State Department.

[Lion Den Dan]

The $25,000.00 is for the bosses, not for the workers. That is ok as they can have my job.

[sauropod]

No. This is not what the effort is.

VERA/VSIPs are a fact of life and have been for some time. Fedgov likes having less civilian employees on the rolls because that is part of how the managers get rated.

Doesn't matter if corporate memory walks out the door.

Doesn't matter if some folks end up working as a contractor and costs the government more than if they had remained a civilian employee.

This is what Clinton did throughout his term. This is how he and algore were able to claim they "reduced the size of government." They did it thorough headcount and to hell with the consequences.

[Calpernia]

Oh, pardon me then Sauropod. I read into it and assumed.

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[radu]

BUMP!

[windchime]

Bump!