Academy Q&As address effects of government shutdown Published Oct. 9, 2013 Air Force Academy Public Affairs U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Earlier this week, Air Force officials and Academy leaders released answers to several government shutdown and furlough-related questions. The information was coordinated with manpower and personnel, financial management, and legal office experts. Q. Does the Oct. 17 Debt Ceiling Debate in Washington D.C. affect the Air Force Academy? A. No Q. Is the shutdown going to delay graduation? A. No. We anticipate the Class of 2014 to graduate and receive their commission on May 28. Q. Will cadets be released early until the shutdown is resolved? A. No Q. Is Thanksgiving break going to be cancelled to make up for any classes missed? A. No. Only two lessons were impacted and those can be made up without cancelling any scheduled breaks. Q. Are academic classes fully staffed? A. Yes. All furloughed faculty members are back. Q. What academic impacts did the cadets face? A. Some only missed two lessons and those can be made up. Q. Is Mitchell Hall affected? A. No. Mitchell Hall continues to serve all meals to cadets. Q. Are sporting events still cancelled? A. We are awaiting written final Department of Defense guidance, however, we have been advised that all Air Force Academy intercollegiate athletics may resume immediately. We owe it to our cadet athletes and opponents to honor our commitments in this regard. Athletics is one of the pillars of character and leadership development at the Air Force Academy. No appropriated funds will be used to fund these programs." Q. Are athletes still allowed to practice? A. Yes Q. Are Athletic Physical Education classes being conducted? A. Yes Q. Is the cadet library open? A. Yes Q. Are the Commissary and Exchange open? A. Yes Q. Is the Community Center Library open? A. No Q. Is the Community Center Gym open? A. Yes. Due to updated Air Staff guidance the base Fitness and Sports Center will resume operations at 1 p.m. Oct. 11. Normal operating hours will resume at this time. Pool operations may be delayed pending water quality testing. Please call 333-4522 to ensure pool availability. Q. Is the Cadet Gym back to regular hours? A. Yes Q. Are cadets participating in Airmanship programs at the airfield? A. No Q. Are the bathrooms being cleaned and stocked with appropriate supplies? A. Yes Q. Is the Cadet Chapel open? A. Yes Q. Are child development centers (day care centers) open? A. Yes Q. Is traveling approved? A. No Q. Can organizations purchase supplies? A. No. Though a majority of Academy employees are back to work, units are still not authorized to buy supplies or expend appropriated money until a new budget is passed. Q. Does the Government Shutdown affect admissions? A. Yes, but only administratively. Our Admissions team can't travel to actively recruit without an appropriation bill, but our Admissions team is fully available to all applicants and prospective applicants, including conducting prospective candidate tours here. We anticipate the Class of 2018 will consist of the previously planned 1,190 cadets. Q. Why is the Air Force recalling nearly 104,000 civilian Airmen who were placed on emergency furlough? A. In accordance with a memo Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel released Oct. 5, the Air Force will recall most of the nearly 104,000 Air Force civilian Airmen placed on emergency furlough due to government shutdown. However, a significant number will not yet be able to return. In his memo, Hagel stated that immediately after President Barack Obama signed the Pay Our Military Act into law, he directed DOD's acting general counsel to determine whether he could reduce the number of civilian personnel furloughed due to the shutdown. After consulting with attorneys from the Department of Justice and the Department of Defense, the secretary said the Pay our Military Act does not permit a blanket recall of all civilians. However, he said, DOD and DOJ attorneys concluded that the law does allow the DOD to eliminate furloughs for employees whose responsibilities contribute to the morale, well-being, capabilities and readiness of service members. Read the entire memo at http://www.defense.gov/pubs/Memorandum-Pay_Our_Military_Act_Guidance-FINAL.pdf or view the entire news release at http://www.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/tabid/223/Article/467253/. The Academy has recalled more than 950 appropriated fund civilians who were furloughed. More than 40 non-appropriated fund civilians remain furloughed. Q. Are civilians coming back to work without pay? Will civilians be paid retroactively? A. Once a bill is signed by the president, civilians will be paid for the days they were furloughed at the beginning of FY-14. This Friday, furloughed civilians will be paid for the first six days of the pay period before the furlough started. GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN WEBSITES / POINTS OF CONTACT - Office of Personnel Management: http://www.opm.gov - Department of Defense: http://www.defense.gov/home/features/2013/0913_govtshutdown/ - Defense Finance and Accounting Service: http://www.dfas.mil/pressroom/govtshutdown/crafaq.html - Air Force: http://www.af.mil/AboutUs/GovernmentShutdown.aspx - Total Force Service Center: 800-525-0102 - Air Force Aid Society: http://www.afas.org