The Air Force may close some
positions, too; only in the Marine
Corps do jobs seem safe for now

By Gregg K. Kakesako
Star-Bulletin

The Army and the Navy, the two largest military employers of civilians here, plan to cut 600 civilian positions by the end of this year.

That will come as bad news for those hoping to find economic relief in the federal civil-service ranks as Hawaii's job market shrinks.

Army spokeswoman Lee Ferguson said yesterday that the Army hopes to abolish 180 positions through attrition, early retirements and "people just normally moving from one job to another."

Some of the jobs may be taken over by military personnel, Ferguson said.

Except for safety and health and other critical areas, such as child care, the Army in Hawaii doesn't plan any new hires this year, Ferguson said.

The Navy has targeted 420 civilian positions that it also hopes will be eliminated through the same attrition process. The Navy employs 8,809 civilians.

At Hickam Air Force Base, Maj. Joe Davis said the Air Force is looking at closing 10 to 24 positions in its civilian labor force of 1,281.

Just a decade ago Hickam employed nearly 2,000 civilians.

Only in the Marine Corps do civilian jobs seem to be safe for now.

At Kaneohe, Marine Brig. Gen. David Bice has said "there will be no layoffs of civilians" at the Marine Corps Base Hawaii, which employs more than 1,400 people, according to Capt. John Milliman, Marine Corps spokesman.

The military's civilian work force statewide totals 20,164.

One of the projected Army losses involves 42 civilian guards who work at various Army installations on Oahu. Elimination of the 42 positions would mean a savings of more than $1.5 million.

Ferguson said the Army was directed to cut its civilian work force by 10 percent, and part of "its broad and sweeping recommendations" was the elimination of 42 civilian police positions.

But Maj. Gen. James T. Hill, 25th Infantry Division commander, hasn't acted on all of the recommendations, Ferguson said, adding she didn't know when a decision will be made. Ferguson said the Army still hopes to reach its target goal -- elimination of 180 jobs -- through attrition.

The proposed reduction in the Department of Defense police force at Fort DeRussy, Waianae Recreation Center and Schofield Barracks was first proposed by the military's bottom-up review, according to Ben Toyama, vice president of the Hawaii Federal Employees Metal Trades Council.

The Army's initial proposal presented to the union for its comment in December calls for:

Reducing two Fort Shafter and three Schofield Barracks vehicle registration positions to two civilians who will work at Fort Shafter, resulting in savings of $57,743.

Abolishing 13 positions at Fort DeRussy, saving $587,626. Hale Koa Hotel would have to hire its own security force.

Abolishing 15 positions at the Waianae Army Recreation Center, resulting in a savings of $495,614.

Abolishing 12 civilian jobs at Schofield Barracks, resulting in savings of $495,614.

However, Toyama said Lt. Col. Rose Miller, who is handling the Army's negotiations with the guard's union, proposed transferring the 12 civilian police officers from Schofield Barracks to Fort Shafter to cope with increased crime there.

All of the guards belong to Teamsters Local 996. Toyama said 60 work for the Army and an extra 160 are employed by the Navy.

In some cases, such as Schofield Barracks, the Army proposed filling the 12 civilian positions with military personnel.

Toyama said he didn't think it was the intent of Congress "to backfill these positions with the military because it is more expensive.... Dollar for dollar, pound for pound, the military is expensive."