COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Mandated budget cuts at the Pentagon may soon affect the Ohio National Guard
civilian ranks.About1,800 civilian employees of the Ohio Guard may be required to take 11unpaid days off
under the Department of Defense budget-cutting plan.The furloughs would run July 8 through Sept. 30, the end
of the federal budget year.TheOhio Guard’s vice chief of the joint staff, Mark Wayda, told TheColumbus
Dispatch (bit.ly/15W0soM) in a story published Saturday that itwill be a priority to make sure core missions
are accomplished amid anyfurloughs.The furloughs would affect mainly administrativeemployees and maintenance
workers who service ground and air fleets. Thefurloughs do not apply to the military duties of soldiers and
airmen.Waydasaid the lost days will amount to about one per week for each employeeand will be staggered so
crucial functions are not compromised.Hesaid there are concerns about how the cuts could affect the morale
andwelfare of employees. He said the Ohio Guard’s family-readiness programhas started work to address
possible needs.The furlough noticesare expected to begin going out cross-country May 28, and workers
willhave several days to respond or seek appeals.The unpaid days offwould begin no sooner than July 8,
according to a Pentagon memo.Officials said the furloughs will save the Defense Department about
$1.8billion.Congressionally mandated automatic budget cuts initiallyforced the Pentagon to warn that the
bulk of its 800,000 civilianswould be forced to take 22 unpaid days off — one in each of the last 22weeks of
the fiscal year.When lawmakers approved a new spendingbill at the end of March, they gave the Pentagon
greater latitude tofind savings, and the furlough days were cut.___Information from: The Columbus Dispatch,
http://www.dispatch.comCopyright 2013 The
Associated Press.