WARNER ROBINS -- By the Thursday deadline, the majority of the 260 Robins Air Force Base workers offered an initial wave of buyouts in a cost-cutting initiative had accepted.

Base spokesman John Birdsong said that as of about 4 p.m. Thursday, about 200 employees had accepted the incentive offers for voluntary separation and voluntary early retirement. The number could go higher as late arrivals are tallied.

Each worker would get approximately $25,000 to retire or quit, with the figure varying some depending on length of service.

The incentives are part of an effort to cut the Robins work force, which totals 23,000, by 600 jobs. The effort was announced Nov. 2 and the incentive offers were sent out the next day.

Many of the targeted positions are related to an Air Force Materiel Command reorganization initiative, also announced last week, to consolidate command of the three air logistics centers at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City. The Warner Robins Air Logistics Center command staff and the Aerospace Sustainment Center staff are being eliminated. The same changes are being made at all three logistics centers.

To contact writer Wayne Crenshaw, call 256-9725.