COLCHESTER, Vt. -
Repairing and cleaning airplanes wasn't the only thing on some Vermont National Guard members' minds Thursday.
That's because on Friday hundreds of them could be forced to take a furlough, or weeks of unpaid vacation.
Captain Dyana Allen says she's preparing for the financial cut.
"Even if it means people bringing in potluck lunches instead of going out to lunch," said Allen.
On Thursday Governor Peter Shumlin and new guard leader Steven Cray spoke about the potential cuts in front of a number of military members.
"It looks like this tsunami is really coming at us," said Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin.
But Cray says the situation won't be that bad right away.
"If we wake up and sequestration does happen we won't know exactly how that is going to affect the National Guard here in Vermont," said Cray.
Cray says if it does drag out until April it could mean around 500 members would be forced to miss a day of work, each week, for the next 22 weeks without pay, which adds up to a 20% cut.
The idea of making government workers take a furlough as a way to save money isn't something new, but it hasn't been done at the guard in nearly 20 years.
It's not an ideal situation for Allen and others, but she says they all have to adapt.
"The National Guard community will stick together and we'll all take care of each other," said Allen.
National Guard leaders say people wouldn't be forced to take unpaid time until mid-April.
There would also be exemptions, including those fighting overseas and about to be deployed.
