Peterson announces VERA/VSIP round three timeline

Published May 9, 2012
By Lea Johnson
21st Space Wing Public Affairs staff writer

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- In an effort to place employees who were affected by workforce restructuring earlier this year, the Civilian Personnel Section is accepting a third round of Voluntary Early Retirement Authority and Voluntary Separation Incentive Pay applications.

Unlike the previous two rounds, the third round of VERA/VSIP will allow impacted employees to fill VSIP-created vacancies at other Air Force installations.

Surveys of interest went out to the majority of civilian personnel at Peterson. According to Tonya Bonner, Civilian Personnel chief, employees should have received these surveys April 30. Those who are interested in VERA/VSIP should submit their survey no later than close of business May 11.

After two workforce restructuring reductions of personnel positions, Peterson had a total of 160 employees displaced, including one intelligence position, one wage grade and one wage supervisor; the remainder were general schedule employees. "Our managers and supervisors modified qualifications and we were able to place a majority of our impacted employees," Bonner said. "As of now we have 19 (left) and we are still working hard to ensure that we can place those 19 employees."

To help place those impacted civilians from Peterson, résumés have been sent out to the local installations to see if they can be relocated at either Schriever Air Force Base or the U.S. Air Force Academy. Civilians from those local installations may also be relocated to Peterson.

VERA/VSIP approval notices will be sent out by May 24 and official applications from the employee must be sent to the Benefits and Entitlements Services Team by June 1. Once an employee signs the approval paperwork, the decision to take a VERA/VSIP offer is irrevocable. These employees will be separated on Aug. 31.

The CPS is continuing to seek placement for the remaining affected employees, Bonner said, by reviewing all vacancies before releasing them for recruitment and asking supervisors to potentially modify qualifications. "After reviewing those employees résumés, managers may modify qualifications for those employees they feel have the ability to successfully perform the duties of their vacant positions," Bonner said.

By extending hiring to the local installations, Bonner hopes the remaining employees from Peterson will all be relocated to new positions by Sept. 30 to avoid involuntary separations.

The CPS office is open for walk-ins Monday-Wednesday and Friday from 8-11 a.m. and closed for appointments each afternoon. To make an appointment call the appropriate servicing specialist or 556-4775.