BRAC Update: Fort Bragg Garrison helping to employ AF Civilians Published Jan. 30, 2009 By Carrie Rice Director, Plans, Analysis and Integration Office FORT BRAGG, N.C. -- The Fort Bragg Garrison Commander is committed to doing everything possible to make the Pope realignment as transparent to the customer as possible. Part of the strategy includes finding ways to maintain the knowledge and talent of the Air Force civilian workforce. Currently, Air Force employees at Pope can apply for Army civilian jobs that are being recruited and open to outside Army. The key is finding those positions open to outside Army. Eighteen months ago, the Fort Bragg Garrison hiring officials were unable to hire outside of the Army due to a restriction imposed by our higher headquarters. This imposition still exists, but the Fort Bragg Garrison Commander requested special permission to be able to consider Pope employees and I'm glad to report that approval was obtained. So, what does that mean? It means that the Fort Bragg Garrison hiring officials can choose to open all vacancy recruitments with an expanded area of consideration to include Pope. This would allow Air Force employees to apply for those jobs through the normal Army process. Additionally, hiring officials can select individuals by name with proper qualifications and clearing of all other recruitment and hiring mandates, such as priority placement. This option has already proven successful. While the Priority Placement Program is extremely helpful in finding jobs for displaced DoD employees, it often requires relocation. We are looking at any and all methods to ensure those Air Force employees who desire to stay in the greater Fort Bragg community have an opportunity to do so with employment at Fort Bragg. The realignment transfers real property from Air Force to Army. It does not mean that the "work" of running the installation goes away. In fact, it doesn't. The Fort Bragg Garrison is striving to preserve as many of the Air Force employees who desire to stay as possible.