The General Accounting Office is urging the Air Force to eliminate up to 75,000 military personnel from its rolls and replace them with civilians or private contractors in an effort to cut costs.
In a report issued last week, GAO said the Air Force could cut more than the 9,400 active military personnel it is seeking authority from Congress to eliminate in fiscal 1998 and still not endanger war readiness. Air Force studies have identified more than 52,000 military personnel positions in logistics, communications, personnel and other support functions that could be either contracted out or filled by civilians. The studies have identified another 21,000 military-held jobs, primarily in operations and acquisition, that could be performed by civilians but not contracted out. GAO urged the Air Force to complete its conversion studies and set a timetable for switching to contractors and civilians.
"We believe that it is important for the Air Force to move as quickly as possible to complete its studies and make the conversions to contractor and civilian employees in view of the recurring savings that could be achieved," GAO concluded.
The Defense Department is attempting to find ways to reduce its infrastructure costs in order to pay for weapons modernization. In fiscal 1996, active Air Force military pay was projected to be $19.3 billion. Of that total, $12 billion was for infrastructure. That includes the paychecks of civil engineers, base support services personnel, and acquisition specialists who are active duty personnel. In an October 1994 report, GAO found that on average a civilian support employee costs the department $15,000 less per year than a comparably graded military employee.
The Defense Department agreed with GAO's findings, but an Air Force spokesman said completing the studies on converting jobs could take until next year.
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