The AFSPC plan calls for 756 positions to be eliminated across the command by October 2004 - 314 civilian and 442 military positions. By October 2009, the number of eliminated positions will grow to 1,125 - 349 civilian and 776 military.

What positions will be trimmed and at what locations should be determined by the end of March, according to Col. Laurie Carroll, chief of Headquarters AFSPC's manpower division.

"Historically we've been able to work manpower reductions without causing individuals to lose their jobs, but there are no guarantees," Carroll said. "Each AFSPC base will utilize a specialized group of personnel programs to minimize the impact on their employees while maintaining the viability of their mission."

These strategies include retraining military members, and priority placement and voluntary retirement and separation incentives will be offered to civilian employees. The command is also planning to delay or delete some planned initiatives.

Increased operations tempo, workload and security requirements created by the war on terrorism, as well as budget constraints have prompted the Air Force to review its manpower authorizations to create a workforce better prepared to meet future challenges and missions.

The plan is to put more resources into its highest priority missions, including special operations, security and intelligence, which were heavily stressed after Sept. 11, 2001.

"We are committed to minimizing the impact on people as much as possible," Carroll said. "No military member will be involuntarily separated. While we can't absolutely guarantee no civilian worker will lose their job, we're doing everything we can to trim positions without affecting current AFSPC employees.

"We're concerned about the personal issues of this action more than the personnel issues. We want and need to take care of our people."

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld directed a review of the Air Force last year to best determine its ability to meet mission requirements. Based on this review, the Air Force directed realignment of more than 13,000 military and civilian manpower authorizations by 2010. Each Air Force major command was given a share of positions to eliminate.

"The restructuring of manpower positions is not an attempt to reduce the command's personnel strength," Carroll said. "Rather, it's an effort to shape the workforce to meet the future steady state of the Air Force that has evolved since Sept. 11."

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