Senior leader letter to men and women of the Air Force

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Senior leader letter to men and women of the Air Force

Posted 4/8/2011

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4/8/2011 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy issued the following message to the men and women of the United States Air Force:

We remain hopeful that a government shutdown will be averted. However, prudent management requires that the Department of Defense plans for an orderly shutdown should Congress be unable to pass a funding bill before our current funding expires on April 8. We fully understand that a shutdown is extremely disruptive to our mission, to you, and to your families. Therefore, the Air Force will continue to conduct activities in support of our National security-particularly, urgent operational requirements in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and Japan, and other immediate military needs.

In a government shutdown, active duty military members will continue to report for duty, although they will experience disruptions in their pay. Civilians who are employed to accomplish functions that are considered necessary to national security, safety of human life, and protection of property will be "excepted" from furlough if their function cannot be accomplished by a military member. Those military members and "excepted" civilian employees will continue to report to work. Civilian employees who are employed for other, non-excepted functions will be furloughed until an appropriations bill or continuing resolution is enacted. Unique rules apply to the Guard and Reserve, and more information will follow from DoD.

An employee's designation as "non-excepted" says nothing about the quality of their work or the value of their service. These designations reflect a careful interpretation of the activities allowable under the law without an appropriations bill.

For more information, please see the official Air Force website (af.mil) and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management website (http://www.opm.gov/furlough2011). Additional information also will be provided to commanders and public affairs offices at all levels.

You are all valued members of our Air Force team. Thank you for your continued commitment and service to ensure our Nation's security in these uncertain and challenging times.

Comments

4/14/2011 2:10:19 PM ET
All I see in the comments on this page is a lot of negativity. It's ridiculous. Sure we could have gone a bit without pay..but think of all the other Americans who don't have jobs because of the economy. Even bigger think of all those jobless people that can't join the military because of some illness or other ailment that prevents them. Congress sure messed up, but I was PREPARED for it. Even if it is resolved for the moment, now you have to remember to hope for the best but prepare for the worst. Also, remember no matter how hard you have it or think that you have it, there is always someone who has it worse, and I joined to protect these people - to stand up for America...to fight for this country and the people in it. You should rethink and get in touch with that same sense of pride you had when marching down the bomb run at BMT graduation.

PROUD defender, Lackland AFB

4/11/2011 7:23:16 AM ET
If you go to the DFAS website you will see that there is a notice at the top of the page that says military members will receive full pay on 15 April to expect two deposits and to check your accounts carefully. Don't forget that even DFAS works for the United States and must obey the laws like everyone else. It is unfortunate that this situation occurred but these are serious issues with hugely different opinions. Be thankful that this situation was resolved so that we can get a paycheck...I know that I am.

JC, TX

4/9/2011 2:09:51 PM ET
Deployed -- the military will get full pay since the shutdown was averted according to the DFAS website. Thanks to the so-called people for the people for messing around with livelihoods while you bickered and fussed over your own agendas.

SJ, Florida

4/9/2011 1:51:18 PM ET
Shutdown averted. The sad thing is people on welfare would have still been paid if the shutdown happened. We answered our Nations Call and this is how were treated. I'm tired and punching-out ASAP

J Redd, Abilene Tx

4/9/2011 12:26:27 PM ET
Have to love our so called elected officials - only took them over a year to complete job. Now that's what I call progress.

Dane, Colorado

4/9/2011 8:43:35 AM ET
I personally feel that the shut down had nothing to do with the military; we are very essential and our civilian co-workers. In order to rest easy you must have some type of faith in the reason you serve. Our base is in the process of inspection and everyone responded to the recall with no issues. Even civilians were up and ready to go. Although not expressed, people wearing the uniform or our civilian counterparts all knew things would work out in everyone's favor.

Kelman, Langley AFB VA

4/8/2011 10:19:28 PM ET
This makes me feel sick to my stomach. How can families survive with no pay? My husband is active duty in Japan and I work on base which I am sure I would be on furlough if all this took place. So is the government going to make sure all of our hard work to pay off debt stays positive when we can't pay our bills. But let's continue like nothing is going on and let all the military work for free. Our government should be ashamed if they cannot come up with something to protect they very own people that provide our freedom and safety. My heart goes out to all of us affected.

Active Duty Spouse, Japan

4/8/2011 10:12:11 PM ET
One would like to think that common sense would prevail and that Congress/Senate/our President could maybe scale back on things such as foreign aid, unneccessary operations in the Middle East and so on...but apparently that would make too much sense.

SRA JF, JBLE

4/8/2011 9:34:17 PM ET
As a former AF Officer I cringe when I think of what I would have had to say to my Airmen when they came to me and asked, Why is this happening Sir? Why does my government not care enough take care of me the way I take care of my country? I've spent awhile thinking about that and I don't know if what I came up with is even remotely sufficient but here is a try. My simple words would be Ladies and Gentlemen, the fact that you are willing to keep aircraft flying, comms up, perimeters secured and intel flowing and willing to do so in the absence of your compensation indicates to me that you are a higher breed and a distinctive cut above those who have put you in this situation. Like the men and women around you, you have answered a call that most of those in Congress neglected to answer. Because you answered that call you will succeed where others have failed, persevere when many would falter and continue to be the finest stewards of democracy and the American way.

Chris Kimball, Louisiana

4/8/2011 8:51:27 PM ET
I just hope that our legislators - none of whom I will vote for when they seek re-election - realize how much of a cascade effect this irresponsible dereliction of duty in their own jobs is going to cause. People's credit scores may begin to suffer if bills go unpaid. In-progress purchases of homes, vehicles, etc., may forever be ruined; futures will be permanently altered - not just those of the active duty member. Of course these same legislators make over 150K on average in one year so they don't understand the needs of an Airman who makes less than 1K a paycheck after taxes etc. Shame on those of you supposedly representing us in DC.

M.M., US

4/8/2011 5:32:21 PM ET
I just love how Congress voted to keep paying themselves through the shutdown but they take our salaries hostage in order to push their political social and religious agendas. In any corporation if the financial board was six months late in providing the budget for the next fiscal year the whole lot of them would be fired. If I refused to do my job for six months I would expect my chain of command to initiate discharge paperwork. I think it's time that Congress be held accountable for failing to do the job they were elected to do.

Jay, Travis AFB

4/8/2011 5:11:13 PM ET
You know that it will take forever to get out finances fixed, like always. What I want to know is what each base is going to do to help its people since nothing seems to be happening in Washington today. After 17.5 years you would think they could treat us better than this.

Angry AF Wife, Las Vegas

4/8/2011 4:45:07 PM ET
I think people are failing to research this before they make comments. The LES reflects pay from 1 April to 8 April. Not all 15 days. Should the bill be passed and the budget confirmed you will receive a second paycheck that will bring your total pay back to normal. You don't need to worry about your pay until after the 15th. Let's be sane about this people.

Ryan Crane, United States

4/8/2011 4:22:35 PM ET
We are all valued? Really? So what happens when the people fixing the Budget take forever to get it fixed so that we get our pay again? Will it take long enough for airmen to get in the rears on making payments for the bills that they have and then end up getting paperwork for being irresponsible? This should get interesting. I find it hard to believe that their will be anyone left in the military if this goes on for too long.

Pamela, North Dakota

4/8/2011 3:16:12 PM ET
Seriously? Do you think the troops are going to keep their head in the game if you take their paychecks away and leave their families without food and shelter? Looks like force shaping has another Tech Sgt slot open. I am punching out. What in the world are we still doing in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Japan? I have no faith in the US government.

M.E, US

4/8/2011 2:38:53 PM ET
I just looked at my LES and guess what DFAS has already posted them with half of our pay. Shouldn't they have waited to push this out? Now we have to really start paying attention to our Amn and make sure they are taken care of. If you have anything to do with DFAS you should be ashamed to post LES's before anything is in stone. Are we getting paid if Congress passes a new budget today? Or since DFAS has input this into their computers is our pay going to be delayed?

Deployed, OND

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