Wyo. Military Department plans to furlough more than 430 employees

The Wyoming Military Department is planning to furlough more than 430 employees due to the Department of Defense's planned furlough beginning April 26 for up to 176 hours through the end of September.

The majority of the employees work in Cheyenne at the Joint Forces Readiness Center and the Wyoming Air National Guard. All employees, including 108 state employees funded 100 percent by federal funds, will receive furlough notices before the end of next week.

Maj. Gen. Luke Reiner, Wyoming's adjutant general, said "the guard will remain operationally ready and take care of our affected employees to the maximum extent possible during the planned furlough period." He added that the guard is "doing everything possible to ensure when the call comes from Gov. Mead to assist Wyoming residents, the Wyoming National Guard will be ready to do so with minimal delay and maximum ability."

The Wyoming Army National Guard's field maintenance facilities in Cheyenne, Evanston, Laramie and Lovell will be closed on Fridays to save on maintenance and utility costs. All other buildings will operate under the agency's normal business hours.

Flying hours for the Wyoming Army National Guard's UH-60 helicopters and the Wyoming Air National Guard's C-130 aircraft are being carefully managed to ensure crews remain current and operational. The Wyoming Air Guard's 243rd Air Traffic Control Squadron also remains on the job - at least through Sept. 30th, the proposed closure date the Federal Aviation Administration has set for the Cheyenne Regional Airport control tower. The 243rd, along with FAA personnel, perform air traffic control and radar operations for the Cheyenne airport.

The Wyoming Military Department also will have significant changes to its community support policies. Flyovers and aviation static displays have been curtailed and armory use and other community support functions may also need to be stopped or reduced.