Jobs in danger
as military looks
to reduce costs

Army and Navy leaders
are beginning several studies
to cut costs and size

By Gregg K. Kakesako
Star-Bulletin

The jobs of more than 1,000 civilians at seven island Army installations could be in jeopardy as military leaders begin several cost-cutting studies.

Today's Army announcement is part of the military's move around the world to reduce its size, but it comes at a time when Hawaii's overall economy is in a weakened position.

Hawaii's second-largest industry after tourism is the military, which employs 20,164 civilians.

At stake are 659 civilian positions under the Army's directorate of public works at Schofield Barracks, Fort Shafter, Tripler Army Medical Center, Wheeler Army Airfield, and Helemano and Aliamanu military reservations. That manpower study, costing $1.32 million will be completed in the year 2000.

The public-works division is responsible for numerous support functions such as utilities, housing, engineering and environmental needs at Army bases.

The study is to determine whether it will be cheaper to have these jobs done by private contractors.

Some $980,000 will spent during the coming year to determine the fate of 436 people who provide transportation, supply and maintenance requirements for the Army's directorate of logistics.

They now work at Schofield, Fort Shafter and Pohakuloa on the Big Island.

The Army says that the two studies are to determine whether these functions "can be performed more efficiently and effectively by private contractors."

Also announced earlier were plans by the Army to reduce its civilian police force by eliminating 29 positions and using uniformed soldiers to take over their jobs.

Earlier this year, the Navy also said it plans to eliminate 420 civilian jobs and shift 317 civilian positions to private contractors by September, the close of the federal fiscal year.

Hardest hit will be the Navy Exchange Command, which employs 115 people.

The Navy, with 8,809 civilian workers, is the largest civilian employer among the uniformed forces. It hopes to meet its manpower reductions using attrition and early-retirement bonuses rather than by layoffs.

At Hickam Air Force Base, plans are in the works to eliminate 10 to 24 of its 1,200 civilian positions as part of the drawdown before the end of the year.