News9.com
Air Force officials announced another round of job cuts at Tinker Air Force Base Thursday. Colonel Steven Bleymaier, 72nd air Base Wing and Installation commander, said Tinker will lose a total of 176 positions by April 30th.
He said the cuts "represent less than a one percent reduction in Tinker's total workforce."
A number of the positions targeted for elimination are already vacant.
The Air Force is encouraging voluntary separations and retirements with incentive pay and early retirement authority programs. Civilian employees who may be affected have until January 25th to apply for the programs.
The cuts come in response to Defense Department directives to hold budgets at their fiscal year 2010 levels.