Outlawed job conversions still in 2009 budget (xpost from Veterans)

[unhappycamper]

Outlawed job conversions still in 2009 budget
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Feb 5, 2008 17:21:53 EST

The 2009 defense budget prepared by the Pentagon disobeys a congressional order to halt the conversion of military medical jobs into civilian positions, senior lawmakers said.

The House Armed Services Committee pushed for a freeze on the conversion of the jobs out of concerns that it would hurt the qualify of medical care for service members and their families, and eliminate noncombat jobs that could offer a respite for battle-weary medical personnel.

The committee may push Defense Secretary Robert Gates for answers Wednesday as to why money was not included in the military personnel budget to stop the job conversions.

Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., the committee chairman, said he is “deeply disappointed” that the budget “ignores the law’s provision to prohibit replacing experienced military medical professionals with civilian personnel.”

He is referring to the 2008 Defense Authorization Act, enacted Jan. 28, which ordered an immediate halt to conversions, to include reassigning military people to any jobs that were not yet filled but were in the process of switching to civilian status.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/02/military_defense_jobconversions_080205w/