Politics & Government

Florida's National Guard Faces Furloughs, Other Cuts

Florida's National Guard members will learn Thursday about the cutbacks from sequestration.

The Florida National Guard is about to face furlough days from sequestration.

The Florida Air National Guard has a squadron at MacDill Air Force Base, and there is a National Guard Armory on North Howard Ave. (See map attached to this article showing the unit locations.)

The News Service of Florida is reporting that nearly 1,000 Florida National Guard members will face furloughs for one day per period, starting in April. The furlough days will extend through September.

Find out what's happening in Dunedinwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

On the Florida National Guard website, the following quote was posted Thursday:

"Furloughs will impair our ability to do important work, which will harm national security: military technicians and civilians maintain our equipment, facilities and aircraft, provide medical support, handle contracting and financial management, and much more," a news release reads. "We are deeply concerned about the negative effects of furloughs on the morale and effectiveness of our valued uniformed military technicians and civilian workforce."

Find out what's happening in Dunedinwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Guardsmen and women who are affected are expected to be notified today.

  • In addition, the deployments of 400 Florida soldiers are expected to be delayed because their medical exams have been cut.
  • By Sept. 1, there will be 85 layoffs from cutbacks in anti-drug operations and public school education programs.

Resources

Florida National Guard Armory, 514 N Howard Avenue Tampa, FL 33606

Florida Air National Guard's 290th Joint Communications Support Squadron 290 JCSS, MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa.

Office of Veterans Affairs, (Main Office in Brandon Area), 10119 Windhorst Road Tampa, FL 33619

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