Dobbins planning furloughs due to budget cuts Published June 3, 2013 By Lt. Col. James Wilson 94th Airlift Wing Public Affairs DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. -- Officials at Dobbins Air Reserve Base began issuing furlough notices to more than 500 civil service employees this week as a result of Congressionally-mandated sequestration cuts. Select members of the Air Force Reserve here will be furloughed one day a week for a total of 88 work hours, or 11 workdays, beginning July 12 and lasting until Sept.. 30. "This is a very difficult position for us, but we're going to continue doing what we can to carry out our mission safely and provide C-130 airlift whenever and wherever it's needed," said Col. Tim Tarchick, 94th Airlift Wing commander. "Although these cuts will be very difficult on our civilian employees, we've planned for this and tried to minimize the effects the furloughs will have on the readiness of our force." Affected employees include those serving as C-130 aircrew and maintainers, financial management specialists, legal clerks and civil engineers among others. In addition, the Dobbins ARB airfield will open 30 minutes later each day beginning June 30 in order to reduce operating costs for the base's flying mission. "Fiscal constraints such as this are a fact of life for those who wear the uniform today," said Tarchick. Sequestration, signed into law as part of the 2011 Budget Control Act, is a package of mandated cuts to the federal budget, totaling some $1.2 trillion over 10 years of which some $85 billion takes effect in fiscal 2013. Pentagon officials originally planned to furlough employees for up to 22 days, but then reduced that number in March to 11 following passage of a final 2013 spending bill that provided more spending flexibility.
