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"The people who are really going to take it on the chin are the DoD contractors." No. The first to feel sequestration will be DoD civilians, who will take a one-day per pay period (2 weeks) furlough. Leave without pay. A 10% pay cut. Contractors may feel the pinch later this summer, but nothing immediate. TC

True. I kinda of, and I know incorrectly, lump DoD civilians into the same category (and i realize I shouldn't). Many are, IMO, contracted out to do the jobs we no longer do. Our airmen used to do chow hall duty...now it's civilians. Our finance used to be 100% military, now we have some civilians. Many of our assistants used to be young airmen...now they are GS-6's.

But yes...they will feel it first. I just got out of 2 meetings where we spoke on furloughs and TDY decreases and freezes. There will be a LOT of DoD Contractors (not vested GS employess but guys who are on a year to year contract) to get non-renewed. There will also be a lot of companies not hiring or laying off people because their DoD $ dries up. I almost got out at 20 and took a contractor job that was renewed year to year...but did not for this very reason.

There is formal information out that indicates that the Navy might have to execute furloughs that would start in mid-late March - and would require workers to take one day off without pay each week - or a 20% pay cut ...for 22 weeks. (This would be the same as 22 days off over 26 pay periods for a year - about a 8.5% pay cut for the year.)

But the other ramifications are more serious. For example - at the Naval Shipyards - all overtime work would be curtailed and the shipyards might work 4 days a week and take 3 day weekends (maintaining fire and security workers, and other work that can’t be shutdown ....). Then the deliveries of ships back to the fleet would be delayed, and this affects existing ships on deployments, etc.

There are probably other more serious issues that haven’t been discussed - but I am sure that they will emerge and bite the military in the a$$ ...to our detriment...but then again, I think that is 0bama’s plan.