ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The Air National Guard has delayed its plan to downgrade the status of about 80 members of its Alaska unit, a move that would have threatened national security and civilian rescues in the nation’s most remote state.
The Alaska Air National Guard confirmed the delay in an email to The Associated Press on Friday.
Efforts by the state’s politicians and Alaskans “have been instrumental in getting this delay which will allow everyone involved the time to conduct more thorough research and analysis,” wrote Alan Brown, an Alaska guard spokesperson.
The Air National Guard headquarters in Virginia did not respond to emails from the AP seeking comment.
The changes to balance top-earning positions among the other 53 state and territorial units will still be completed by Oct. 1.
Alaska was slated to convert 80 of the highly paid Active Guard and Reserve members — who are essentially the equivalent of full-time active-duty military — to dual status tech positions, a classification with lower wages, less appealing benefits and different duties.
Claire Danes carries umbrella for bundled
VOX POPULI: Kishida’s gift of cherry seedlings to the U.S. raises uneasy feeling
Charter Schools establishment board pay revealed
VOX POPULI: Palestinian writer’s novel is a poignant echo of Gaza tragedy
Emma Roberts keeps it casual in a hoodie and Dragon Ball Z t
Prisoner and corrections officers take refuge in van after shots fired
VOX POPULI: Shizuoka head’s sudden exit leaves question about his ‘talent’
School attendance held back by sickness
Stevie Nicks provides poem about ill
VOX POPULI: Palestinian writer’s novel is a poignant echo of Gaza tragedy
Would you like a cicada salad? The monstrous little noisemakers descend on a New Orleans menu
Think diplomacy is tough? Try a White House state dinner