Civilian Workers At Redstone May Face Iraq Deployment

[leftchick]

http://www.whnt19.com/Global/story.asp?S=2687091&nav=1VPuU9T6

<snip>
When you see helicopters in action in Iraq or Afghanistan, you can be sure, those helicopters are supported by civilians from Redstone Arsenal. Civilians who are on the ground, over there. The thing to remember, it's a normal situation. "Sure, if the mission requires it, any federal employee, for that matter, can be assigned to go and support any organization's mission," says Tim Grey, the Director of the Human Resource Department at Redstone's U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command.

Most of the support work for the army aviation and missile systems managed at Redstone, is done on the base, but more than 150 civilian volunteers have been deployed during the past year. And now, AMCOM is designating 111-jobs as emergency essential, which means the holders of those jobs, might face deployment in the next two years. It's a concern to Don Eierman of the American Federation of Government Employees, Local 1858. "Southwest Asia for instance, is not a traditional war zone, there is no front line where the enemy is located. There have been attacks, sporadic attacks throughout the area. There's not really a safe zone, so the jeopardy to civilian lives is much higher throughout this type of campaign," says Eierman. The Union Local President, says his members support the soldiers, but they do have concerns about deployment. Tim Grey recognizes the danger in Iraq and Afghanistan, but says great care is taken to keep civilian workers safe.

The bottom line in the modern army, the high tech equipment needs civilian support on the ground. In fact the army couldn't fight without it. "Absolutely could not. they are essential to the support of the soldier in the field, no question about it. Whether it's the work they do here, or the work they do in the field," says Grey.

In other words, don't forget the troops over there, and don't forget the civilians who keep them fighting. Some of your neighbors are in dangerous places right now, and others might someday be there.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. I didn't realize this

What happens if a civilian refuses to go? Do they simply get fired, or are they forced to go via some sort of 'stop-loss' law? How soon before you think this policy will be extended to include just about any government worker? I wouldn't put it past Bush to pull a stunt like that to avoid instituting a draft.

[leftchick]

4. I was wondering the same thing...

I used to work for the VA many years ago. I still have friends working there. I wonder how long before they start activating them?

:scared:

[maddezmom]

2. wonder how many are there now??

:shrug:

[Cooley Hurd]

3. ...and how many have died there?

Since they're civilians, they wouldn't be included in any published casualty numbers.

[luaneryder]

5. Weapons system engineer

I know at Redstone hasn't mentioned an emergency activation yet, but he's planning to take an assignment in Iraq for the money (apparently huge bucks). He says they're all being begged to go. First, it was a one year tour, then 6 months, then 3 months, now they'll do one month since AMCOM is so desperate. I've been trying to talk him out of it, but he says he could make enough money to pay for his son's first year of college in just a few months. Not even worth the risk IMO.

[annabanana]

6. ....he believes the "3 months" thing?

I'll bet the minute his feet hit the ground over there, he's stuck.

[luaneryder]

7. He even believes the one month thing

I'm curious to see how this story will play there because I talk to him once a week and have never heard a peep about involutary deployment. Civil service is well known for its rumor mills and it's amazing he hasn't heard it.

[colonel odis]

8. i'd love to see the union step up and tell them to go screw themselves.

this could be a good moment for this particular union, as well as all of them in this country.

[Zhade]

9. Kick

I did not realize they were doing this. YIKES.