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.
The prosecution team in Alec Baldwin's 'Rust' trial has a new attorney
Blueberries Enter Harvest Season in China's Guizhou
Ethnic Festival 'Liuyueliu' Celebrated in SW China's Guizhou
Hong Kong Palace Museum Holds Opening Ceremony
The Florida Panthers are weird. And coach Paul Maurice says that as a compliment
UN Hails China Lessons in Poverty Fight
Over 25 Mln Foreigners Learning Chinese by End of 2021: Education Ministry
Would you like a cicada salad? The monstrous little noisemakers descend on a New Orleans menu
60,000 Youngsters Benefit from Eye Care Project of China's Red Cross Society
Kings hoping goaltender Cam Talbot can return to early form as Stanley Cup playoffs begin
Hong Kong, China hold Turkmenistan in FIFA World Cup qualifier