Planned reductions in active duty Army personnel will spill over to the agency’s civilian workforce, officials have said, although how that will be spread across occupations and facilities is still largely unknown.
The Army said its planned reduction in the active force from 490,000 to 450,000 by the end of fiscal 2018 will result in the loss of some 17,000 civilian positions out of a workforce that stood just above 250,000 at year-end 2014.
About 30 installations will be impacted, most notably Fort Benning, Ga.; Fort Hood and Fort Bliss, Texas; Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska; Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.; and Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. By function, cuts will focus on headquarters operations, reduction of brigade combat teams, operational force design changes, and reduction to enabler and generating forces. That suggests, but does not necessarily compel, where civilian reductions will occur by location and function, as well.
Officials stressed that the force reduction is being accomplished gradually and by attrition, suggesting that a parallel course will be followed for the civilian positions. Given normal turnover over time and the use of buyout and early out incentives, entities in downsizing mode often have been largely able to avoid the need for RIFs.
They added that if sequestration budget levels remain in effect moving forward, an additional reduction of some 30,000 troops, likely accompanied by proportionate further cuts in civilian personnel, would begin in 2019.
