Government shutdown impacts Team Vance moves, paychecks Published Oct. 11, 2013 VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Active duty military members at Vance Air Force Base can expect to receive scheduled pay and allowances in their Oct. 15 paycheck. Government civilian workers will be paid through Sept. 30 with the Oct. 11 paycheck. "The Defense Finance and Accounting Service website confirms that normal pay and allowances have been processed and members will receive them in their mid-month pay," said Maj. Dorinda Mazza, 71st Comptroller Squadron commander at Vance AFB. All 100 of the government civilians furloughed Oct. 1 have been called back to work at Vance, said Rhonda Coleman, the base civilian personnel officer. Government civilians will receive pay for hours worked in the new fiscal year when a continuing resolution is passed by Congress and signed by the president. A bill to pay federal workers retroactively for their furloughed time has passed the House of Representatives and is currently in the Senate. The impact of an unfunded Department of Defense reaches everywhere. In the absence of a continuing resolution or a fiscal year 2014 appropriation bill, DOD is only conducting mission critical operations in support of the National Security Strategy, said Mazza. "We must be prudent to ensure expenses incurred are only in support of our pilot training mission, she said. Currently, Team Vance members with reassignment orders in hand can proceed with their PCS move. Those without orders in hand cannot. They are cautioned not to make irreversible departure plans for the foreseeable future. Any personnel action requiring fiscal year 2014 money is not funded and can't happen, according to Lt. Col. Jodi Riley, commander of the 71st Force Support Squadron, which handles military personnel matters at Vance. Exceptions include PCS orders for those entering or leaving the Air Force. The Air Force Personnel Center is now authenticating orders for those moving for technical and flying training. This includes PCS orders for those who have a TDY en route for Air Force specialty code training. Verbal orders and letters in lieu of orders are on hold because both obligate funds which have not been approved. Report not later than dates will be updated at AFPC. Riley said that Vance leadership understands the impact the PCS delays have on Airmen and their families while planning a move. "Our Airman & Family Readiness Center stands ready to assist with difficulties that arise," she said. Contact the A&FRC at 213-6330. While questions remain about pay for government civilians, they can now take annual leave, sick leave or compensatory time off with a supervisor's approval, according to John Ward in the 71st CPTS. The Vance Commissary is back on normal operating schedule, said Sheila Gilbert, the store manager. "We spent Monday stocking the shelves getting ready for our reopening," she said. The Vance Exchange has remained open throughout the shutdown. Civilians working for Pacific Architects and Engineers, the company that now operates the support contract at Vance, have not yet been directly affected by the government shutdown. Tuition assistance, College Level Examination Program (CLEP) testing, Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) testing, Pearson Vue testing, Professional Military Education testing and language testing is not available at this time due to a lack of funding. School tests, Career Development Course tests and Weighted Airman Promotion System tests are still being administered. The Education Office will notify the base when all testing and tuition assistance becomes available. For more information, call 213-7388. For more information on the government shutdown, and a list of frequently asked questions, go to www.af.mil.