AIR FORCE ACADEMY, COLO. -- The Air Force has announced it will eliminate 9,000 civilian jobs, including more than 100 in Colorado Springs.

Officials with the Air Force said the restructure plan will help add about 6,000 jobs to the Air Force's top priority positions.

"We can't be successful without our talented and experienced civilian workforce," Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley said in a statement. "We are making difficult choices about how to deliberately restructure and posture the force and will continue to look for new ways of accomplishing the mission. We can't afford business as usual."

The lost jobs will likely be in management and support areas.

Schriever Air Force Base will lose 58 employees, Peterson will lose 18 and the Air Force Academy will lose 26.

Officials said losing the jobs locally will cost Colorado Springs about $6.5 billion economically.

The restructure plan will be implemented Oct. 1, 2012.

The Air Force Academy is holding a town meeting Thursday night to discuss the effects on local employees.