Civilian furloughs scheduled to take affect first of July Published May 28, 2013 VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Furloughs of the 251 Department of Defense civilians at Vance Air Force Base will begin July 8, according to a May 17 joint memorandum from Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III. The furloughs, which are days of leave without pay, will occur at the rate of one day per week - two days per pay period - and continue through the end of the fiscal year, Sept. 30. Furloughs are needed because other steps to close the Air Force budget shortfall have not been sufficient, stated Donley and Welsh. Eleven furlough days at Vance AFB will generate a savings of $850,000 in payroll costs. The Vance government civilian payroll in fiscal 2012 was almost $20.7 million. "Team Vance absolutely values our civilian workforce, and understands its vital contribution to our ability to Develop, Deliver and Deploy," said Col. Darren James, the 71st Flying Training Wing commander. "All our civilian Airmen are an essential part of the 71st Flying Training Wing and are key to the accomplishment of the Department of Defense missions resident on our installation," James said. Senior leadership will continue to provide information as it is received with the hopes that the furlough will terminate early, said James. "There is still potential that the furlough will be terminated early, but we must plan for the worst case."