Fort shutdown imposes another furlough

Sierra Vista Herald ^ | Bill Hess

[SandRat]

FORT HUACHUCA — For the second time this year, many civil service employees on post were furloughed, while the federal government struggles with its budget woes.

In July and August those furloughed were ordered to give up 11 days without pay, but ended up surrendering six.

One thing which will impact active duty and retired military personnel and their families is, starting today, the post commissary is closed until the furlough ends, according to the Post Public Affairs Office.

But now, there is uncertainty as to how many days they will be asked to forego pay.

Based on the last government shutdown, and the 1995-1996 brouhaha between Congress and the president, 21 days were involved in the furlough — although Congress did enact a way to pay federal employees their salaries.

What is unknown at this time is how many days this furlough will last.

Tuesday was technically the first day of furlough, although the civil service employees at the post were at work in the morning to prepare “for an orderly transition into furlough status,” according to post officials.

There are about 3,600 civil employees on the post but exactly how many will be furloughed is unknown and difficult to ascertain because each command can determined how many are exempt from being furloughed, said Angela Camara, the fort’s public affairs officer.

Again because of the various commands the fort she could not say what the dollar impact would be but noted Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation employees are exempted because the are paid paid by non-appropriated funds, not congressionally approved money.

Active duty military personnel will continue to receive their financial benefits, as was outlined by President Barack Obama and was signed into law by him, after Congress did agree on that issue on Monday.

While it is not expected contractors will not be paid, Camara there is a possibility some may not as it “depends on how their contract is funded.”

Following are some of the impacts the furlough will have on the post:

• Army Community Service programs to include Army Emergency Relief, Family Advocacy Victim Advocates and SHARP will not be open.

• Contractors will continue the processing of identification cards and DEERS enrollment at the Directorate of Human Resources.

• Initial military training will continue, however professional military education will not.

• All firefighters, Department of the Army police and guards have been exempted from the furlough and will continue to report for duty.

• The Raymond W. Bliss Army Health Center will continue full services during the shutdown. No appointments will be canceled and the appointment line will remain open. The pharmacy will remain open during normal operating hours.

• The Fort Huachuca Accommodation School District will remain fully operational during the shutdown.

• Manning of the Administrative Law Section of the Staff Judge Advocate Office will be severely reduced which will significantly impact the ability and time to provide services. Legal Assistance Section will be open.

• The Directorate of Emergency Services will be unable to provide police reports, conduct weapons registration, provide in-lieu-of tax exempt forms for service members or process requests for West Gate proxy cards during the shutdown.

• The Equal Employment Opportunity Office, Public Affairs Office, Safety Office and Resource Management Office will be closed.

• Range Control, Training Support Center and Multimedia Visual Information will be closed during the shutdown.

• Plans and Operations Section of the Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security will support the processing of requests, operational orders and taskings.

• Libby Army Airfield will reduce its hours from 24 hour operation five days a week to 16 hours (7 a.m.-11 p.m.) five days a week.

• All post museums are closed.

[Red_Devil 232]

I bet the NCO and Officers Wives Clubs could take over the operation of the commissary and keep it running!

[knarf]

Everyone KNEW this was coming ... not so much a "republican led shutdown", but that our economy was SO tanked, SOMETHING has to be done.

It just happens to occur now at this time.

[donmeaker]

Ft. Huachucha is one of the few US forts that have ever been attacked by foreign forces.

[Uncle Chip]

We have to keep Fort Huachuca in the news just so we can say its name — Wachuca.

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

The one thing that makes money, the Commissary, is shut down. That is typical Obama anti-capitalism, anti-military thinking.

Now you know who the real enemy is.