Warner Robins air base to lose hundreds of civilian jobs

By Associated Press

For the AJC

Hundreds of civilian jobs are being eliminated at Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins as a result of a military reorganization and other initiatives, authorities confirmed Thursday.

A total of 516 civilian jobs at Robins will be eliminated, though some of those positions already are vacant due to a hiring freeze, Maj. Gen. Robert McMahon said.

He said the base hopes to decrease its workforce by 600 over the next fiscal year through incentives such as early retirement.

McMahon made the comments Thursday at the Museum of Aviation, where he earlier addressed community leaders in a closed meeting, The Telegraph of Macon reported.

The cuts are "minimal" and typical of what's going on nationwide, Warner Robins Mayor Chuck Shaheen told WMAZ-TV.

Warner Robins is resilient, and the community will bounce back and continue to support the base, Shaheen said.

Former Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue of Bonaire told WMAZ that the jobs being lost are just a fraction of those gained at Robins in recent years.

The reorganization plan is expected to be completed by Oct. 1, 2012, according to a statement from the Air Force Materiel Command.