March 21, 2013 Vol
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COMMANDER’S CORNER: STABILITY - PAGE 3 Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Thursday, March 21, 2013 Vol. 57 No. 11 (U.S. Air Force photo/Lea Johnson) Wing exercises base readiness during Condor Crest Medical responders from the 21st Medical Group treat a casualty from a three vehicle accident on Hamilton Avenue during the Condor Crest exercise Feb. 28. The ac- cident scenario was caused by an ice storm and resulted in a fuel spill, 20 casualties and two deaths. The Condor Crest emergency response exercise was held Feb. 25-March 1 as part of the 21st Space Wing’s continued commitment to ensure base readiness. Commander’s call addresses civilian concerns By Lea Johnson provide a letter to each employee 30 days prior to the fur- sideration the mission and employee needs. The schedule 21st Space Wing Public Affairs staff writer lough explaining the specifics. may vary for different organizations. Civilians will be furloughed for 22 non-continuous days, or If a furlough goes into effect, Bonner said the anticipated timeline is that proposed furlough notification letters will be PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — If you’ve paid 176 hours, if a resolution is not reached to avoid the furlough. sent out March 22-26. Most employees will have seven days attention to the news, you’ve been hearing the words se- Annual leave will be accrued as normal until an employee after receiving their notice to respond and a final decision questration and furlough quite often. On Feb. 25, Col. Chris has been furloughed for 80 hours. After 80 hours of furlough have been met, the employee will not earn leave in that pay regarding the furlough will be made by April 25. If a furlough Crawford, 21st Space Wing commander, hosted two civil- is initiated it will begin the pay period starting April 21. ian commander’s calls to address how a potential furlough period, meaning employees will lose two pay periods of annual leave and sick leave. Though the coming months are still uncertain, Bonner en- would affect them. couraged everyone to prepare as if a furlough will take place. Civilians were invited to attend and ask any questions Health and life insurance and the flexible spending plan will not be affected so long as there is enough money in their She encouraged employees to seek assistance from the about the pending cuts in the budget. chapel (556-4442), Airmen and Family Readiness Center “I want you to understand that in the big picture we can- take home pay to cover those benefits. Thrift savings plan contributions, if based on a percentage, will also decrease (556-6141), the Civilian Personnel Office (556-4775) and the not function without our civilians. The impact is going to 2013 furlough guide available on SharePoint. be significant,” Crawford said. slightly. Employees are encouraged to refer to the 2013 fur- Across-the-board budget cuts, otherwise known as seques- lough guide for further information about benefit impacts. tration, took effect March 1, which means civilians should Bonner said the furlough is non-disciplinary. Employees be prepared for a furlough. According to Tonya Bonner, cannot use any form of paid leave, comp-time or use time- 21st Space Wing town hall Civilian Personnel chief, beginning the end of April civil- off awards on furlough days and cannot volunteer to work There is a 21st Space Wing town hall meeting from ians’ work hours would be cut eight hours per week for 22 on scheduled furlough days. 2:30-3:30 p.m. March 22 at The Club. Various base weeks, through the end of the fiscal year. The furlough, Bonner said, is intentional in order to save representatives will be available as part of a candid While many specific details associated with the furlough money; it is not due to an emergency “shutdown” when a two-way dialogue to listen to 21st SW concerns and will be determined in the coming weeks, Crawford and budget hasn’t been passed or the government runs out of provide immediate feedback. The meeting is open Bonner addressed questions from civilians with the best money. information available. Crawford said leadership will work together to determine to all members of the 21st Space Wing. According to Bonner, the civilian personnel office will how furlough days will be assigned, while taking into con- INSIDE News 1-11 Briefs 12 Drinking Classifieds 13 C-130 for and 302nd driving Like Page 2 Page 5 us SPACE OBSERVER 2 Thursday, March 21, 2013 www.peterson.af.mil 302nd AW receiving additional C-130 aircraft By Ann Skarban 302nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — As a result of the Fiscal Year 2013 National Defense Authorization Act Intra-theater Airlift Working Group’s recommendations, Colorado’s 302nd Airlift Wing is slated gain an additional C-130 Hercules aircraft in FY 2014. This additional backup aircraft, which was added to enhance mission effectiveness, will bring the total number of aircraft assigned to the Air Force Reserve airlift unit from 12 to 13. With the addition of a 13th C-130, this will make the Colorado Reserve wing one of the largest unit-equipped C-130 wings within the Air Force Reserve Command. While this additional C-130 is classified as a backup aircraft and will not increase manning or funding for the Peterson tenant wing, it will provide an additional resource for the wing’s operational missions which include airlift and airdrop, active associate and Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System missions. “An additional C-130 will add depth to our current aircraft inventory and will be beneficial especially when the wing is sup- porting concurrent taskings such as MAFFS, overseas deployments and training require- ments,” said Col. Jay Pittman, 302nd AW commander. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Daniel Butterfield) Details on the backup C-130 are not cur- Six Air Force Reserve C-130 Hercules roll down the taxiway June 5, 2010 at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. After performing practice air drops over eastern Colorado, rently available. However, it is known that each of the aircraft joined together for a multi-ship formation training flight. the additional aircraft is not newly-acquired by the U.S. Air Force and it will be an air- backup status and duration of the aircraft Peterson Air Force Base. Approximately 52nd Airlift Squadron are associated with craft that was scheduled to reitre in either we retained,” said Col. James Jacobson, the 1,300 Reservists are assigned, and about the wing. 2013 or 2014. chairman of the Intratheater Airlift Working 200 of the 1,300 are full-time employees The 302nd AW is one of nine C-130 Air “The task of the IAWG was to provide the Group. as dual military/civilian status Air Reserve Force Reserve units with an airdrop and air- secretary of the Air Force with recommenda- The 302nd AW is Colorado’s only Air Technicians. In addition, approximately lift mission in the nation and the only Air tions for the locations, numbers, primary or Force Reserve flying unit and is based at 200 active duty members assigned to the Force Reserve wing with the MAFFS mission. WE STRIVE TO KEEP YOU CONNECTED. CenturyLink® High-Speed Internet With CenturyLink® High-Speed Internet with speeds up to 40 Mbps (where available), you get a consistently fast connection at a consistently low monthly price. a month when bundled with Unlimited Nationwide Calling * CenturyLink proudly supports the United States Air Force. 5 years. 1 price. 0 contract. Ask about our Military discount. Speeds up to 12 Mbps. Call 888.285.9504 Click centurylink.com Come in For locations, visit centurylink.com/stores *Offer ends 5/31/2013. New residential High-Speed Internet or existing residential Pure Broadband customers only. Services and offers not available everywhere. 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