Navy officials discuss sequester cuts

NORFOLK, Va., (WAVY) - This weekend the Secretary of the Navy released a list of deployment changes and shutdowns. Navy officials say the release was more about preparing sailors than putting these cuts into action immediately.

Document: Message from Secretary Mabus

WAVY.com spoke to US Navy Chief of Information Rear Admiral John Kirby about the list of cuts.

"We're not shutting anything down today," Rear Admiral Kirby said. "What we're saying is we need to begin planning today for a possible shutdown in April should we get no funding relief."

In the meantime, Navy families are wondering whether the services they depend on will take a hit.

"I know we're scared about major cutbacks in our health insurance," Navy wife Alicia Clark said. "We're scared
about losing a lot of things. But, we're hoping and praying for the best."

Rear Admiral Kirby say Clark's fears are justified. Civilians make up a huge chunk of the workforce in Navy support service at the Exchange, Commissary and health care services. Under the sequester Rear Admiral Kirby says there could see be furloughs of 186,000 civilians workers across the country. And, those civilians could lose 20% of their pay.

Rear Admiral Kirby says sailors will continue to train, work, and receive a paycheck. But the Navy's biggest concern right now is keeping sailors trained and ready, something that will be harder to do the longer the sequester goes.

"Without any kind of relief the readiness and training we will be able to do for sailors and units beyond the next to be deployed forces will become significantly reduced," Rear Admiral Kirby said. "Those skills will go down and our readiness will erode."

 Navy officials are hopeful the Congress will pass an appropriations bills to halt the sequester.