MASCOUTAH, Ill. – The government shutdown is impacting members of the military right here in our community at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois.
The shutdown was the talk of the town in Mascoutah Saturday night.
“It’s kind of scary. I’ve never been through one before,” Brittany Fife said.
Fife’s worked at the commissary on Scott AFB for a few months.
“After Wednesday that’s when it, after that, we don’t work until they tell us when,” she said.
She and her coworkers get a couple of extra days to work to sell as much fresh produce as they can.
Bartenders wonder what will happen to their clientele if the shutdown goes on for very long.
“Since the government shutdown is going to stop their pay for, I don’t know how long of a period of time, it does make me worry they’ll come in here less,” Maria Mansfield said.
Her mom is from a military family. She gets it. But she also knows her loyal customers won’t stray too far, no matter what happens.
“Even in tough times, the small businesses make it work. It’s really nice actually to have such strong sense of community in our town,” she said.
We reached out to Scott AFB to see what impact the shutdown will have. They provided the following information:
- Functions essential to flight operations, national security and public safety will continue.
- All military personnel on active duty will continue in a normal duty status regardless of their affiliate with exempt or non-exempted activities. They will serve without pay until such time as Congress makes funds available.
- Civilian personnel who are engaged in activities who are allowed to continue will continue in a normal duty status without pay until Congress makes appropriated funds available. Civilian employees not engaged in these activities will be furloughed.
- The Air Force is attempting to minimize negative impacts and is working with the DoD to address the issue.
Immediate Impacts at Scott:
- Commissary: Open regular hours until close of business Wednesday, Jan. 24. They will reopen when the furlough is lifted.
- AAFES Exchange & Express operations are unaffected by the furlough.
- The Child Development Center and Youth Center will continue to operate under normal hours; however, some management and staffing functions will be affected.
- The Education and Training Center, to include WAPS testing, will be closed due to the furlough.
- Civilian Personnel functions will be significantly limited.
- TMO: inbound and outbound shipping will have reduced capability and customers may experience delays.
- Base supply/Vehicle Maintenance will have reduced capability and customers may experience delays.
- Manning at the Dixon Visitors' Control Center will be limited and will impact timeliness of base access for visitors.
- Medical Clinic/Appointments: Appointments are not affected at this time and will continue as normal.
- Civil Engineer Squadron operations will be limited by the furlough. Please ensure facility managers are coordinating with CE Customer Service to identify emergency or critical work order requirements.
- OSS: The Wing Flight Records office (HARM) will be open for limited services. Tower and Airfield Operations will continue for military and excepted civilian employees, and contracted transient alert will continue.
