Furloughs disrupt Westover operations

  • Published
  • By MSgt. Andrew Biscoe
  • 439th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE, Mass. --  The 16-day federal budget shutdown's effects sent shockwaves of emergency furloughs, cancelled orders, and a postponed UTA affecting the entire Westover family in October.

Congress agreed Oct. 16 to fund a continuing resolution through mid-January.

Shortly after Congress was unable to agree on the budget Oct. 1, 270 civilian workers with the 439th Airlift Wing were sent home. The furloughs stretched the remainder of the week. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel ordered 104,000 civilian Airmen back to work on Oct. 5, and Westover's workforce returned Monday, Oct. 7. At the same time, 100 traditional reservists' orders were put on hold. These Airmen were sent home - including two senior NCOs attending the Senior NCO Academy at Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, Ala., and a technical sergeant -- halfway through NCO Academy at Maxwell- Gunter.

"I was in a class of 120 NCOs," said TSgt. Sally Granada, who works on the wing commander's support staff back at Westover.

"I was preparing a reflective essay when they told us we were being sent home."

In order to complete her professional military education, TSgt. Granada will have to return to Maxwell-Gunter and repeat the entire NCO Academy class.

The shutdown didn't stop with furloughs and orders cancellation. On Oct. 1, the Air Force suspended tuition assistance for Airmen enrolled in the Community College of the Air Force.

"We were expecting about 120 enrollments based on past data for courses beginning Oct. 1," said SSgt. Samantha Cooper, wing education and training technician. "One of our biggest concerns is the effect [the shutdown] will have on CCAF completion rates as TA is an ideal benefit for completing the general education requirement component for CCAF degrees."

Tuition funding was restored Oct. 17. "It's highly recommended, given the recent circumstances, to apply for TA as soon as you hit that 60 days' timeline to secure benefits," SSgt. Cooper said.

Civilian workers were partially paid Oct. 11, with the remaining pay on hold for two weeks.

While budget wrangling dragged on, hundreds more reservists were affected. October's A UTA was rescheduled due to the budget uncertainty, and postponed until Oct. 26- 27. This sudden change forced some to reschedule their time as two weekends in a row of transportation costs and time away from their civilian jobs presented more challenges.

"Having the UTA and an annual tour day missing from my budget has definitely caused some hardship," said TSgt. Brian Boynton, assigned to the 439th AW Public Affairs Office. "The missing pay alone is my usual month's rent."

But TSgt. Boynton's resilience is a common thread throughout the Patriot Wing.

"I've learned to become pretty creative when it comes to financial hardships," he said.

"We are Leaders in Excellence and this wing will get through this unprecedented era of hardship and uncertainty," said Col. Steven Vautrain, 439th AW commander. "Thank you for your service during these very difficult times."

As the base approached the late October A UTA, the consensus was not a return to normal because the Air Force is still under sequestration.