A Nebraska armed forces project to release armed forces for active duty is worth a close look.
With the growing need to free trained armed forces personnel for the war against terrorism rather than tying them up with support activities, a project in Nebraska deserves solid study.
The U.S. Air Force has chosen a firm from the world of government contracting to bid against a team of government civilians for a cheaper way to perform 1,459 jobs at Offutt Air Force Base near Bellevue, Neb. DynCorp Technical Services of Fort Worth, Tex., will compete for the contract to provide a variety of jobs supporting military operations at the base. The government is seeking to save up to 40 percent through the competition and to free up military personnel for combat-related duties for which they are trained.
Involved in the bid are 1,115 military enlisted jobs, 31 jobs held by officers and 313 civilian jobs. Targeted jobs include everything from photography and videography to electronic warfare maintenance, clerking, heating and cooling repair and personnel management.
The contract is due to be awarded by February and the "loser" will be given a chance to protest and appeal.
In 1998, the Air Force determined that several support functions at Offutt qualified for conversion to an all-civilian work force. Referred to as an A-76 cost comparison study, it is part of an Air Force-wide effort to free up money to modernize weapons and improve the quality of life for military personnel. Retention of good people factors in here, for sure.
The final choice in this case will be made on the basis of what is the "best value" to the Air Force.
If civilians win the bid, civilians in existing positions probably will be retained but people might be assigned to different grades and responsibilities. If the contractor wins, displaced government civilians would have to apply for positions with the contractor. The contractor would have to give qualified civilians the right to first refusal. Affected military personnel would be reassigned or retrained for different career fields.
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld was working toward a number of reorganization programs for the armed forces prior to the Sept. 11 atrocities and the resulting war against terrorism. With what is due to be a growing need for military people in key spots, a program that can cost 40 percent less and use civilian expertise and resources merits close scrutiny.
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