The Air Force Reserve Command’s edict to conscript civilian employees into military service by forcing them to wear military uniforms while performing their civilian jobs is just plain wrong. While it is true that these civilian employees are required to keep membership in the Air Force Reserves in order to retain their civilian jobs, they are Monday to Friday, civilian employees. No different than any other civilian employee in the Department of Defense.
The Air Force Reserve Command, in their quest for what they declare will ensure discipline and order, feel they own these civilian employees and can force them to not only wear the military uniform, but require them to follow military customs, courtesies, and policies concerning appropriate activities when in uniform.
While the Air Force claims recognition of these new inductees via a backdoor draft to the Air Force as civilian employees, they promise that violations of any of these new rules will be prosecuted using disciplinary procedures for civilian employees. They are so committed to recognizing these employees rights as civilians, they have drafted a pre-formated letter of disciplinary action to ease the burden of punishing those who do not comply.
The Air Force Reserve Command feels justified in their actions and are angered by the feelings of distrust exhibited by affected employees. In response to open debate and discussion in the workplace, some agency officials have taken to coercive and intimidation of employees trying to gain compliance with the new order. Unrepresented employees are already forced to wear the uniform in this new drafted version of the all volunteer military service.
These civilian employees, who already serve the Air Force Reserve twice by their commitment to one week end a month and 14 days a year for annual training as a reservist, will now for the most part, be conscripted to full time military service without the benefit of the pay or benefits afforded active component airman.
I am reminded of a statement during the pre-statutory meetings with DOD on NSPS, when then UnderSecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, Charlie Abel stated, DOD envisions a civilian force capable of being deployed any where around the globe with seven days notice. This move by the Air Force Reserve Command bears a striking resemblance to his statement. At least a strong first step in that direction.
We should not forget the limitations that will be placed on these civilian employees’ personal liberties and rights once they are required to don the uniform to appease general staff officers of the Air Force Reserve. If traveling to and from work in the uniform, they will still be required to execute military customs and courtesies, they will be forbidden at stopping at certain places of business while in uniform, unable to attend a political meeting or event in uniform, and a host of other restrictions.
While as a union, we can attempt to minimize the adverse effects this mandate will have on these employees, it is Congress’s problem to fix. Congress has to decide if they are willing to accept for all practical purposes, a draft or conscription of federal employees and force them into military battle dress uniforms. Subject to the same rules of military order as one of the men and women these civilians serve every day of their federal careers.
Congress needs to act. They have two choices. Immediately pass legislation that exempts members of the reserves from being compelled into uniform unless serving as a reservist or activated and under orders. Or, they could convince the Secretary of the Air Force that this notion is not acceptable to the Congress and should be immediately abandoned.
The only ones who can force Congress to act is you. It requires affirmative action on your part, personally and positively. I suggest you do it now, before your rights as a citizen prevent you from visiting with your member of Congress on your way home from work because you’re in uniform.
By Mark Gibson
Washington, DC
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