COLUMBIA, S.C. -
As Friday, March 1st draws closer, the South Carolina National Guard is working on contingency plans in case across-the-board Federal spending cuts take effect.
If sequestration takes effect, more than 1,000 dual-status military technicians could be furloughed for 22 days, officials said.
Active-duty service members will not be furloughed, officials said, but dual-status military technicians of the National Guard are civilian employees who wear their uniforms on the job, and these technicians could be subject to furlough days without compensation.
The full-time S.C. National Guard force across the state is about 1,800 with a total force of about 10,000.
This includes more than 800 Active-Guard Reserve component employees.
A furlough would affect about 53% of the full-time Guard force.
The Adjutant General of South Carolina, Maj. Gen. Robert E. Livingston, Jr. said, "People are our most valuable resource. All federal military technicians provide valuable and necessary work to support the readiness of the S.C. National Guard."
Livingston said sequestration will degrade the readiness of the S.C. National Guard with its ability to train and support federal missions as well as domestic emergencies.
For example, a 22-day furlough of military technicians proposed under sequestration could affect ground and aircraft mechanics and reduce the ability to effectively maintain the readiness of our equipment, Livingston said.
Sequestration will also severely degrade facility sustainment, restoration and modernization efforts thus further exacerbating deteriorating armory problems.
This is on top of an annual deferred maintenance backlog of $37.3 million.
"The S.C. National Guard is already feeling the effects under the continuing resolution authority, as we are not able to start any new construction projects, such as the Summerville Readiness Center," said Livingston.
The S.C. National Guard is prioritizing funding for training to those units that are sourced for mobilizations followed by those units selected for domestic operations support.
Maintenance of equipment will be prioritized to those units that are mobilizing and specific pieces of equipment used for domestic operations.
Livingston plans to meet with Guard employee representatives this week to discuss the implementation of any mandates that come from the Department of Defense under sequestration and ways to minimize the impacts on employees.
"The S.C. National Guard will continue to respond when called to support the citizens of this great state," said Livingston. "The mission must continue even under fiscal constraints."
