Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Roberto Di Giovine | South Carolina Army National Guard Soldiers and state fire department rescuers with...... read more read more
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When the lapse in government appropriations took effect at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 20, 2018, the South Carolina National Guard implemented orderly government shutdown procedures that impacted over 4,000 Guard Soldiers who had drill weekend scheduled Jan. 20-21.
The Department of Defense and National Guard Bureau provided guidance for excepted activities, which included units and individuals who sustain “life-saving” capabilities and personnel preparing for or supporting scheduled mobilizations. In compliance with this guidance, approximately 2,200 Soldiers were sent home and their unit training drill weekend was cancelled.
“We worked very hard to make the best decisions based on unit mission, member welfare and authorizations,” said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Robert E. Livingston, the adjutant general for South Carolina. “We apologize for the fluid situation and the hardships this situation imposed.”
The South Carolina National Guard has in its full-time work force more than 1,000 Title 32 military Federal Technicians. Approximately 750 received furlough notification when the reported for work Jan. 22. Title 32 Federal Technicians perform the same duties for the National Guard that full time Soldiers perform for the Active Duty, such as mechanics and training preparation. During the government shutdown, missions for Active Guard Reserve (AGR) and Soldiers and Airmen deployed overseas were not affected, except for pay, which will resume now that appropriations were allocated.
According to Livingston, during a government shutdown, if there was a natural disaster or weather event requiring support from the South Carolina National Guard, there are funds available through the state that would enable mobilizations to assist during an emergency situation.
On Jan. 22, day 3 of the shutdown, Congress passed and the President approved a continuing resolution for the Department of Defense, which ended the government shutdown. All employees of the full-time work force in the S.C. Military Department were informed to resume normal operations and report to work on their next regularly scheduled workday, Tuesday, Jan. 23.
"I was really happy to be notified to come back to work," said U.S. Army Spc. Chelsea Baker, who serves as a public affairs specialist at the Joint Force Headquarters, South Carolina National Guard. "I've been in furlough situations that went on much longer and it makes it really hard on your finances. I hope we don't have to go through this again."
The bill signed by the President funds the government through Feb. 8, 2018.
“We have concerns for the welfare of our workforce as well as the impacts on unit readiness when there is a government shutdown,” said Livingston. “However, if our state or nation calls, we will be there to support. That’s who we are as an organization dedicated in service to others.”
| Date Taken: | 01.23.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 01.22.2018 11:11 |
| Story ID: | 262782 |
| Location: | COLUMBIA, SC, US |
| Web Views: | 115 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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