171st Wing to Help Guardsman Transition after Personnel Cuts

Guardsmen whose positions will be from the 171st Refueling Wing will have the chance to apply for positions at other Pennsylvania guard bases. 

The Air Force will eliminate more than 180 positions at the Moon air base, located at Pittsburgh International Airport, and retire four of its KC-135 refueling tankers. 

Cap. Dicie Hritz, spokeswoman for the 171st, said the base will assist guardsman in finding military employment elsewhere or transitioning into the private sector. 

"We'll be there to offer support programs to help them translate their skills into the private sector," Hritz said. "What they want to do from there is really up to the individual." 

The Air Force announced yesterday that it will finalize its planned closure of the 911th Airlift Wing in Moon and realignment of the 171st. The force reductions are a part of a $4.7 billion initiative aimed at cutting federal defense spending.

The Air Force is eliminating 25 percent of its Pennsylvania personnel as a part of including 1,121 reservists at the 911th. The reductions will go into effect in fiscal year 2013. 

Ann Stefanek, Air Force media relations officer, said reservists at the 911th cannot be reassigned to other installations but may individually apply for positions elsewhere. 

"They do have the opportunity to apply for positions within commuting distance," Stefanek said. "If they are willing to move farther away, they can also apply somewhere else, but there are no reassignments." 

Hritz said some of the positions eliminated at the 171st may be done through retirement and attrition. WCol. Anthony J. Carrelli is working with other state commanders to facilitate possible transfers, she said.

"If retirement is an option, then that might be something that you might look into right now," Hritiz said. "So really the problem could solve itself through retirement.”

She said the base will provide counseling and outreach in the coming months for interested guardsman whose positions might be eliminated

"We'll do everything we can to help everyone that we can with support programs," Hritz said. "We don't want anyone to go through an unfortunate thing."