HELENA – The Air Force said Monday it will cut about 140 civilian jobs at the three bases responsible for making sure the nation’s land-based nuclear missile force is ready.
The cuts represent a portion of the 220 civilian positions being eliminated under the Air Force’s Global Strike Command and follow the Air Force’s announcement last week that it would eliminate 9,000 civilian jobs in a cost-saving move.
They include approximately 60 positions at Wyoming’s F.E. Warren Air Force Base, 45 positions at Montana’s Malmstrom Air Force Base, and 35 positions at North Dakota’s Minot Air Force Base, according to a statement from Global Strike Command. The positions include some that are currently filled, plus vacancies that are to be eliminated.
The three bases oversee the nation’s 450 Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles carrying nuclear warheads, with each base having 150 silo-based missiles. Minot also has a B-52 bomber wing, and the job cuts on that base will come from both areas, Air Force officials said.
The cuts are coming mainly in support staff, such as housing and education personnel, spokesmen at the bases said.
They generally represent a small percentage of the civilian workforce at each of the bases: Minot has 1,380 civilian employees and contractors, while F.E. Warren had 1,100 civilian workers last year. Numbers were not immediately available for Malmstrom.
“This will have no impact whatsoever on the command’s ability to fulfill its mission,” said Global Strike Command spokeswoman Michele Tasista. “Each of the wings will continue to be able to provide combat ready forces for nuclear deterrence and global strike operations.
The remainder of the 220 jobs to be cut will come from Global Strike Command’s headquarters at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., plus Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. Another 250 temporary employees will be cut if they can’t be placed in vacant positions.
The affected staff will be notified this month, and further cuts may be needed later to meet the overall reduction goals, the command’s statement said.
The cuts in personnel come as the Obama administration plans to reduce the Defense Department’s budget by at least $450 billion over the next 12 years.
Separately, Minot, F.E. Warren and Malmstrom could each lose 10 Minuteman III missiles as the result of the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty with Russia, the Air Force said earlier this year. Tasista said the personnel reductions have nothing to do with the possible missile losses.