Carson to lose 77 civilians in first round of cuts

The Army will cut 77 civilian jobs at Fort Carson as the Defense Department carves $500 billion in spending over the next decade.

And the cuts could keep on coming, since a failed debt reduction deal leaves the Pentagon facing another $600 billion in cuts over 10 years.

Nationwide, the Army plans to shed nearly 8,500 civilian jobs in 2012.

Fort Carson’s commander, Maj. Gen. Joseph Anderson, said Friday this round of civilian cuts, about 2 percent of the post’s civilian workforce, come primarily from attrition and positions that have been left unfilled during a lengthy hiring freeze. He said the cuts won’t impact care for wounded troops.

The targeted positions come primarily from the post’s garrison workforce.

The cuts aren’t expected to derail growth at the post, which has started a $750 million construction program to house a new aviation brigade that will bring 2,800 soldiers and 120 helicopters.

Anderson expressed confidence that the brigade will come to Colorado Springs as promised, ballooning the post’s population to nearly 30,000 soldiers by the end of 2013, up from 13,500 in 2003.

While Fort Carson faces cuts, the Pueblo Chemical Depot expects to add more than 20 workers to its payroll. That facility is nearing completion on a plant that will destroy 800,000 mustard gas munitions built during the Cold War.

The depot also will grow its civilian contractor workforce in the coming months as it readies to destroy the shells. When the chemical weapons destruction plant is fully operational by 2015, it will employ 600 workers.

Defense Department belt tightening has so far eliminated nearly 200 civilian jobs in Colorado Springs.

Last month the Air Force announced the elimination of 2 percent of its civilian workforce in Colorado, including 106 jobs in Colorado Springs.

Beginning in 2015, the Pentagon plans to start downsizing the Army, with a plan to cut the ranks by 50,000 soldiers that were added to the rolls during a buildup for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

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