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Air Force to accelerate realignment of Oregon wing

  • Published
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Air Force Reserve Command officials announced plans to implement a second reduction in force at Portland International Airport, Ore., in a move to accelerate the closure of the 939th Air Refueling Wing by June 2008.

Originally scheduled to be finalized in September 2010, the new plan allows about 244 traditional reservists, 47 Air Reserve Technicians and 48 civilian employees to evaluate incentive benefits and use job placement support now.

Air Reserve Technicians are civilian civil-service employees who also serve in the Air Force Reserve as Reservists.

"Our goal is to speed up this transition so we can take better care of our people," said Maj. Gen. Allan R. Poulin, AFRC vice commander, Robins Air Force Base, Ga. "We're working to help all our Reservists and civilians transition to new jobs as our Air Force is going through many significant changes in the next few years. The 939th Air Refueling Wing has an outstanding performance record but is being realigned so the Air Force can consolidate to be more efficient and effective."

In 2006, Portland's Air Force Reserve wing relocated all eight of its KC-135 refueling aircraft, sending four to March Air Reserve Base, Calif., in July and the other four to Tinker AFB, Okla., in August. The move was directed by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission in November 2005.

The Air Force Reserve will continue to operate the 304th Rescue Squadron at the Portland airport. The drawdowns in Reserve personnel at Portland are expected to be offset by growth in the Oregon Air National Guard mission.

"Air Force Reservists and civilians assigned to the unit will be eligible for full-time personnel benefits under civil service placement programs," said Steve Mann, AFRC director of manpower and personnel, Robins AFB. "The Portland reservists may now enter the AFRC clearing house database to help them find new federal jobs. Also, some people may volunteer for special early retirement programs or separation pay options."

Reservists and civil servants can learn more about the job-placement clearing house and other special separation programs by accessing the following Web site from a military computer at https://wwwmil.a1.afrc.af.mil/brac. This virtual job fair takes into account personal career and location preferences and works to match displaced people with new opportunities. (Air Force Reserve Command News Service)