Travis tightens belt in preparation for possible budget cuts

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE — Travis has been directed to follow a temporary hiring freeze and limit expenses that are not mission-critical as part of an Air Force-wide response to prepare for 2013 fiscal year uncertainties, according to a 60th Air Mobility Wing press release.

The Air Force directed all major commands Jan. 14 to start a series of cost-saving measures in case Congress allows massive cuts to defense spending, called sequestration, to take place in March and if Washington fails to pass an appropriations bill this fiscal year.

Expenses that are not deemed critical to the mission include supporting flying missions not directly related to readiness, such as air shows, flyovers and familiarization rides; stopping minor purchases such as furniture and information technology upgrades; nonessential travel to conferences or training seminars; and delaying nonemergency facility sustainment, restoration and modernization efforts, according to the release.

Col. Dwight Sones, 60th Air Mobility Wing commander, said the wing will do its part to assist the Air Force in cost-cutting efforts.

“As stewards of taxpayer’s dollars, we’ve been tightening our expenditures for some time now,” Sones said in the release. “We’ll continue to be fiscally responsible by saving money as much as possible without affecting our ability to accomplish our mission.”

Lt. Col. Christopher Abate, 60th Comptroller Squadron commander, said the 60th CS is working with other squadron commanders to prioritize current spending while providing guidance to items that are not critical to the mission.

“We’re working to ensure that everything we spend money on is absolutely mission-essential expenses,” he said in the release. “Airmen are urged to seek cost-saving opportunities to cut expenses as much as possible, as well as cut out any spending that won’t impede the ability to accomplish the mission.”

A civilian hiring freeze for all positions that are not mission-critical, the release of temporary employees who are not critical to the mission by March 8, and terming employees at the end of their individual terms has been put in place, according to the release.

There will be vacant civilian positions at Travis that will likely be affected by the hiring freeze.

“The full effect of the freeze will take some time to figure out, but we are working closely with commanders to identify those critical spots and ensure we have the appropriate manning to fill them,” John Wolf, 60th Force Support Squadron chief of civilian personnel, said in the release.

Reach Ian Thompson at 427-6976 or ithompson@dailyrepublic.net. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ithompsondr.

Ian Thompson

Ian Thompson has worked for the Daily Republic longer than he cares to remember. A native of Oregon and a graduate of the University of Oregon, he pines for the motherland still. He covers Vacaville and Travis Air Force Base for the Daily Republic. He is an avid military history buff, wargamer and loves the great outdoors.

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