-Caveat Lector- WJPBR Email News List [EMAIL PROTECTED] Peace at any cost is a prelude to war! 992301. Cohen talks terrorism, quality of life, total force by Linda D. Kozaryn American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- Military and civilian security officials at home and overseas are on guard against the threat of Y2K terrorism. All U.S. military facilities in the United States and overseas are "watching very closely," Defense Secretary William S. Cohen said during a recent trip to Italy and the Balkans. "Everyone is fully apprised of the nature of the threat." All bases are taking extra precautions over the next few weeks as the new millennium begins, Cohen said. Defense officials are keeping base commanders fully advised so they can get out the word if there should be any specific threats to that facility or to the families who live there, he said. "We try to see if there are any specific identifiable threats and where they may be," Cohen said. Referring to a global warning recently issued by the State Department to Americans living abroad, Cohen said that there have been no specific threats aimed at Americans in specific overseas areas. There are some groups, however, such as Osama Bin Laden's organization that aim "to find weaknesses," Cohen said. Security officials are determined to prevent any defense breaches by staying alert and aware of the heightened threat, he said. "The more prepared you are, the less likely groups will be to try to penetrate that," he said. "If the guard is down, then they certainly will take advantage of it." Cohen called on everyone in the military community to be alert and take precautions. Y2K terrorism was one of a several issues the secretary talked about during a late-December visit to Italy's Aviano Air Base and the USS Bataan in Naples. He also visited Task Force Eagle in Tuzla, Bosnia, Task Force Falcon at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, and Camp Able Sentry in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The main reason for the holiday trip was to express the nation's appreciation to the military. A USO show with sports celebrities, singers, comedians and six Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders accompanied the secretary to entertain the forward-deployed troops. As Cohen looked out at about 1,000 soldiers assembled in Bosnia's Eagle Sports Complex, he noted that there is no other military in the world where there is such diversity. "From many, we have one," he told the fatigue-clad men and women with M-16s slung over their shoulders. "You are the force." Along with paying tribute to the troops for their dedication and service, Cohen pledged to follow the recent pay raise with better health care and housing. Cohen's talks with troops and reporters also highlighted DOD's quality of life initiatives. At each stop, he pledged to improve military health care and housing. "Those are the two principal quality of life issues that I will be directing myself and my staff toward during the coming year," the secretary said. "We are going to try to devote as much attention as we can to making TRICARE work," he said. The goal is to correct deficiencies in the system that lead to long lines, delayed appointments and other complaints service and family members have raised. On housing, Cohen said an important initiative will be included in the budget and that it will be announced in a few weeks. "Stay tuned," he said. "We are going to focus on getting adequate housing for folks." The secretary also told the active duty and Reserve component troops that DOD's total force concept is a success. "In recent years," he said, "there was some question about whether or not the Guard and Reserve could be fully integrated into the total Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines. That has taken place today." National Guard and other Reserve component members are playing an equal role and bearing a full share of the responsibility in Bosnia, Kosovo, Southwest Asia and other missions, Cohen said. Their success, he noted, influenced his recent decision not to cut 25,000 from the Guard and Reserve forces. "I came to the judgment that if we are going to continue to carry out our current missions, we can't afford to go down any further this time," he said. The secretary responded to questions on efforts to close more bases. Congress has turned down DOD's requests for two more rounds of closures. "We are carrying too much infrastructure," Cohen said. "Congress is spending billions in tax dollars each year on facilities that are no longer necessary for the mission. "That is a waste of tax dollars that can be better spent for pay, retirement benefits, housing, health care and procurement," he said. "Congress has to decide to either cut the overhead or increase the budget," Cohen added. "Hopefully, in the coming years, my successors will be more successful than I have been in getting additional base closures." 992302. Officials clarify CEFIP intent by Staff Sgt. Cynthia Miller Air Force Print News WASHINGTON -- Air Force officials recently explained the background on which specialties have been approved to receive Career Enlisted Flyer Incentive Pay. Legislation signed by the president in October to provide CEFIP benefits to over 12,000 enlisted aircrew members culminates a three-year effort by the Air Force and Office of the Secretary of Defense to realign and improve aviation compensation and provide career management of specific aviation specialties. But questions regarding the criteria used to identify which Air Force specialties receive CEFIP have been raised by individuals throughout the Air Force, according to Air Force officials, who say consideration for CEFIP eligibility is an ongoing process. "As the needs of the Air Force change in order to meet the mission, we will continue to review the enlisted specialties required to fly," said Col. Jim Brooks, chief, Operational Training Division, on the Air Staff. "If a specialty meets the intent of the law, we will recommend the Air Force's leadership include them under the CEFIP program." The CEFIP program is designed to provide an incentive for enlisted aviators to pursue a career in aviation by compensating them for maintaining a career path in aviation. Previously, enlisted aviators received a variety of pays that only applied if they actively flew. But if they were assigned to staff jobs requiring their flying expertise, their additional pay ceased. CEFIP allows enlisted aviators to continue receiving flight pay while assigned to a staff position. "(CEFIP) models the management program applied to rated officers (pilots, navigators and air battle managers), and thus provides the Air Force with a distinctive management system for its career aviators," the colonel said. "We have been attempting to develop a program since the mid-1980s to manage and compensate enlisted aircrew members differently than what we were doing before CEFIP," said Chief Master Sgt. Francis Mitchell, enlisted aircrew career field manager. Before CEFIP, we had three separate compensation plans for individuals within the same specialties, he said. These crewmembers will now only receive one form of compensation, and that is CEFIP. Enlisted members who do not qualify for CEFIP will receive hazardous duty incentive pay. "Based on guidance we received from OSD, we looked at which AFSCs could sustain from accession to retirement a career path in aviation," the chief said. According to Brooks, a career path in aviation includes individual accession in the Air Force, specialty training, progression, and promotions as crewmembers advance through the skill levels in an aviation-related field. "The entire AFSC must be sustainable as an aviation only specialty," he said. In keeping with this charter, Air Force officials made a distinction between career enlisted aviators, who have a career path based on their aviation duties, and aircrew prefixed specialties, which are technical career fields that require airmen to accomplish inflight duties only while assigned to fill specific flying positions. When they leave that flying position, the prefix goes away and the pay stops. "That is where the management system takes over," Mitchell said. "CEFIP will allow us to move key personnel during critical phases of their careers into staff and non-flying jobs so the AF can take advantage of their flying expertise without penalizing them with a loss of compensation." "To receive CEFIP, the entire career field is looked at," Brooks said. "The good news here is that we have been able to get an incentive pay authorized for over 12,000 of our airmen that will continue throughout their careers, and we would like to pay as many as the law allows us to include." 992298. EQUAL list for overseas returnees available Jan. 12 RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) -- The latest enlisted quarterly assignment listing of available overseas returnee assignments will be available at military personnel flights and on the Air Force Personnel Center's World Wide Web home page beginning Jan. 18. This list includes assignments for people eligible to return from overseas in May through July 2000. Personnel officials recommend assignment preferences be updated by Jan. 31, to ensure the information is updated in the computer system before actual assignments are made. Officials with AFPC here said assignments will be released on or about Feb. 24. EQUAL advertises upcoming assignment requirements by Air Force specialty code and rank, and gives people a chance to update their assignment preferences to more realistically match vacancies that will be filled in a particular cycle. Local military personnel flights offer a publication entitled, "Enlisted Overseas Returnee Counseling Handout," which explains how to use EQUAL. New listings are released quarterly for assignments available at overseas locations as well as assignments available for those returning from overseas areas. All special duty assignments appear on EQUAL-Plus and are updated weekly. Military personnel flights and commanders support staff offices have copies of the listings and can help people update their preferences. People who are on temporary duty during the advertising period should contact the nearest personnel office for assistance. The list can be viewed on the AFPC home page at http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil; click on the "military assignments" link. (Courtesy of AFPC News Service) 992299. Naples, Latina personnel receive short tour credit RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) -- The temporary exception to award short tour credit to Air Force personnel assigned to Naples is extended to March 1, 2002, according to Air Force Personnel Center officials here. Also included under this short tour exception is Latina, Italy; retroactive for members arriving on or after Jan. 1, 1998. Naples and Latina will continue to be long tour locations and personnel will continue to serve 36 months accompanied or 24 months unaccompanied. However, Air Force personnel assigned to Naples and Latina will qualify for short tour credit after completing a minimum of 365 days of their prescribed tour. Short tour credit will be awarded by AFPC once a member departs PCS from their tour. Personnel will be awarded the Short Tour Ribbon versus the Long Tour Ribbon. (Courtesy of AFPC News Service) 992296. Pilot's remains identified, returned from Vietnam WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- The remains of Col. Robert M. Elliot of Springfield, Mass., an Air Force pilot, previously unaccounted for from the Vietnam War, have been identified and are being returned to his family for burial in the United States. Elliot was flying his F-105D Thunderchief on a strike mission Feb. 14, 1968, over Hanoi, North Vietnam, when he was hit by a surface-to-air missile. He radioed to the other pilots in the flight that he had been hit and they witnessed his crash. None of the other pilots saw any ejection attempt nor heard any emergency beeper signals, but one reported seeing a streaming (unopened) parachute at approximately 3,000 feet. In April 1988, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam turned over remains to the United States that they attributed to Elliot. Returned with those remains was his military identification card. In 1992, Vietnam provided to U.S. officials several documents related to U.S. losses during the war. One entry was for Elliot. The description indicated that he died from his injuries. In 1994, a joint U.S.-Vietnamese team interviewed residents of the province where Elliot's plane crashed. They took the team to the spot where they had buried his remains in 1968 and subsequently turned them over to their government for repatriation to the United States. With the accounting of Elliot, 2,031 servicemen are missing in action from the Vietnam War. Another 552 have been identified and returned to their families since the end of the war. Analysis of the remains and other evidence by the U.S. Army Central Identification Laboratory Hawaii confirmed the identification of Elliot. The U.S. government welcomes and appreciates the cooperation of the government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam that resulted in the accounting of this serviceman. We hope that such cooperation will bring increased results in the future. Achieving the fullest possible accounting for these Americans is of the highest national priority. 992300. Air Force, native tribe signs agreement ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska (AFPN) -- The Air Force and the Louden Tribal Council signed an historic memorandum or agreement, formalizing the relationship between the Air Force and the Louden tribe. Lt. Gen. Thomas R. Case, 11th Air Force commander here, and First Chief Peter Captain Sr. -- representing the Louden Tribal Council -- signed the agreement during a ceremony Dec. 22 at Galena, Alaska. The first agreement of its kind in Alaska, the MOA is designed to build a stable and enduring relationship and foster open communication. Special emphasis is place on timely notification of proposed activities or projects that could affect tribal resources, tribal rights or Indian lands. "We formed a true partnership with the Louden Tribal Council, which will last beyond the signatories of the document," Case said. "It will guide future generations on the government-to-government working relationship between the Air Force and the Louden tribe. "This memorandum is significant for the Air Force as we continue to implement the Department of Defense's American Indian and Alaska Native Policy," Case added. Under the agreement, the Air Force and the tribal council will consult in good faith throughout the decision-making process on military matters, which may potentially effect the tribe. Further, a provision has been established to accommodate tribal access to sacred sites, hunting, fishing and gathering sites located on federal property. The Air Force will actively seek out ways to involve the Louden tribe in military projects and other activities in the region, which will enhance their economic independence and security. "This is an important step to further improve the relationship between the Air Force and the tribe, and it will go a long way toward preserving their traditions and cultural resources," said Col. Mike Wyka, 611th Air Support Group commander here. (Courtesy of Alaskan Command Public Affairs) 992297. Just the right touch by Airman 1st Class Marelise Wood 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) -- Liberty laid comfortably at her owner's feet. Ever so often, she looked up to make sure he was still here. A scratch on the head assured her of his presence and his love. More and more, people are becoming aware of the effect animals have on their lives. The same joy and comfort a dog derives from a person's petting and stroking, is also felt by that person delivering it. This knowledge has led to numerous programs involving animal assisted activities, and one such program is the Pet Partners Program. The Pet Partners Program is a volunteer organization that is recognized and supported by the Delta Society -- an organization that promotes mutually beneficial relationships between animals and people to help people improve their health, independence and quality of life. The Pet Partners Program trains volunteers and screens pets for visiting animal programs in hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and schools. Training is provided through hands-on workshops taught by Pet-Partner-licensed instructors, a home study course and videotape, and by a continuing education newsletter. Animals are independently tested for skills and aptitude by Pet Partners-licensed animal evaluators. More than 2,500 Pet Partners teams now operate at areas in 45 states including Sheppard's Hospital. Enter Capt. Thurman Drake. For the past 3 1/2 months, Drake, 82nd Medical Group pet therapy director, has been spearheading a new and improved animal assistance program at the Sheppard Hospital. The program currently has four Pet Partners: Angela Boone and her two Doberman Pinchers, Sunny and Cree; Barbara Webb and her Papillon, Bitzy; and Capt. Drake and his Australian Shepherd / Collie mix, Liberty. Liberty was adopted from a pound on Veteran's Day 1998. Although Liberty was the first pet in the program, she is not the program's "oldest veteran." Sunny, Boone's 9-year-old pet, has been involved in animal assisted activities for eight years. Boone, who lives in base housing, was happy to finally have the chance to be able to participate in an on-base effort. "After working at the hospitals downtime for so long, it was good to finally do something for the base. It's something I enjoy and something my dogs enjoy." "Libby" was housed in the Humane Society for more than three months before Drake found and adopted her. "Libby had been abused prior to coming to the Humane Society, so meeting hundreds of people at the hospital who don't want to hurt her has been great therapy for her and the patients," said Drake. To become Pet Partners, pets and their handlers have to meet numerous requirements including basic dog obedience. "We even had to get shots," said Boone, but despite the requirements, she doesn't regret her participation. "It's like a ministry for our family. I go in feeling like I'm going to bless someone, but I come out with a blessing." And a blessing it has been to many patients and even to the staff of the hospital. "When staff members know the pets are visiting their area, they oftentimes come out in the hallways to greet us," said Drake. "It's hard to walk down the halls with Libby if I'm in a hurry. I have to plan a little extra time to avoid being late because we get so many greetings. The staff truly enjoys and benefits from the program as much as the patients." Most people at the hospital are familiar with the dogs and their handlers, but to ensure everyone is aware of what the dogs and their handlers' roles are in the hospital, they are both required to wear an 82 MDG identification tag and Pet Partners tag. Additionally, pets are required to wear a bandanna to easily identify them as a Pet Partner dog. Pet visits, however, are not restricted to the hospital. Capt. Drake, who teaches a test anxiety class at the health and wellness center for technical training students, has seen significant results. One student noted on a critique, "Liberty the dog made me feel better. After school everyday, I would play with my dogs. I have four and they really made me feel relaxed because they required a certain amount of love and gentleness. Just touching a pet made me feel gentle again and not so rough." Animal assisted activities have many benefits, but sometimes all it takes is a touch. (Courtesy of Air Education and Training Command News Service) **COPYRIGHT NOTICE** In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for nonprofit research and educational purposes only.[Ref. http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml ] DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
