Still Just Talk On Fort Campbell Furloughs

Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel speaks to Department of Defense employees, addressing upcoming furloughs. Credit: Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo/Defense Department

For all the talk in recent months about Defense Department furloughs, most employees at Fort Campbell still have no definitive marching orders.

Most recently, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has warned that civilian workers would take 11 days unpaid during the second half of the year. But a Fort Campbell spokesman says furlough notices have yet to go out.

Not every civilian will be affected. Alan Arias is a contractor working on human resources with the 160^th Special Operations Aviation Regiment at Fort Campbell.

 “As far as I know, it doesn’t change anything for the next year or so. Who knows what’s going to happen next year.”

Teachers in Fort Campbell’s schools do have more clarity after last week. The Defense Department’s director of schools says there will be five days off in the fall, most likely scheduled on Mondays and Fridays. Schools will be open but will not conduct regular classes.