Today marks the first "Furlough Friday" at Ft. Stewart.

The coastal Army base is operating with minimal civilian staff because of federal budget cuts called sequestration.

Military civilian employees and the businesses they serve statewide are feeling effects of 11 involuntary holidays.

Ft. Stewart Garrison Commander Col. Kevin Gregory says workers and community members have had weeks to prepare.

"Really what we focused on, by going to a Friday, is expectation management," Col. Gregory says. "So we let them know, basically for the last month and a half, we've been publishing, 'Here's where we're at.'"

The furloughs will continue through September.

Col. Gregory talks about the furloughs in a broadcast interview.

In a web-only extra, he talks about the role of Garrison Commander and his background in the military.

Col. Gregory became Garrison Commander about a year ago.

Tags: GPBnews, orlando montoya, sequestration, stewart, Col. Kevin Gregory