WJPBR Email News List [EMAIL PROTECTED] Peace at any cost is a prelude to war! 000622. Air Force increases line colonel promotion opportunities WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- The Air Force will increase promotion opportunities for line colonels to 55 percent for the Calendar Year 00 Line Colonel Board which meets July 17. This is a 5 percent increase above the 50 percent rate that has been in place since 1992 and translates into approximately 62 more promotion quotas for the July board. In addition to the increased promotion opportunities, the "Definitely Promote" allocation rate is also returning to its historical rate of 25 percent, up from 20 percent where it has been since the height of the drawdown. The 5 percent increase in the DP allocation rate equates to 61 additional DPs for this board according to Maj. Gen. Susan Pamerleau, director of personnel force management. It also means some senior raters with small pools of eligibles will now have the opportunity to award one or more DPs she said. Air Force officials stress that while there are more DPs available for the July board, senior raters must ensure those DPs are only assigned to officers truly deserving of the "definitely promote" recommendation. "The importance of the quality review at Management Level Reviews cannot be overemphasized," Pamerleau said. "Definitely promote recommendations are limited in number to ensure that only the best qualified records are awarded DP ratings on the PRFs (promotion recommendation forms)," she said. "A DP recommendation sends a strong signal to the central selection board that an officer is ready for immediate promotion. If a senior rater or head of the management level does not have officers fitting this definition, the DPs should not be awarded even though they may be available." Increasing the promotion opportunity to 55 percent also allows for an increase to the P-rate. This is the opportunity for an In-the-Promotion-Zone officer with a promotion recommendation of "promote" to be selected for promotion. "This is great news for our line officers as it confirms the continued stabilization of the force," Pamerleau said. "Over the last few years, we have seen the return of the historical promotion opportunities for majors and lieutenant colonels to pre-drawdown levels, and now we are seeing it make its way into the colonel rank." In 1997, the promotion opportunity for line majors was returned to 90 percent and in 1999 it returned to 75 percent for line lieutenant colonels. Air Force officials said force projections indicate the Air Force will be able to sustain the pre-drawdown rates for all the field grades for the next several years. 000620. Mandatory Visa travel card use begins May 1 WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- By law, all Air Force members traveling on government business must use their government Visa travel card beginning May 1. However, not having received a card yet won't keep people from official travel and also won't interfere with reimbursements for official travel, according to Michael Weber, program manager for the Air Force travel card program. "There's a rumor going around that if you don't use the card you won't be reimbursed," Weber said. "That is not true -- we will pay people regardless of whether they use the card." However, not using the card can subject travelers to disciplinary action from their commanders, according to Air Force policy guidance. The Travel and Transportation Reform Act of 1998 requires all government travelers to use the card. For the Air Force, this means all active duty, civilian employees and members of the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve in federal service should be prepared to use their government travel card. While travelers can still make ATM withdrawals and aren't expected to put every minor expense on the card, Weber said officials are requiring it be used for what they call the big three: lodging, car rentals and airline travel. According to Weber, it will be up to individual major commands whether to use either a centrally or individually billed account for airline tickets. MAJCOMs using a centrally billed account will pick up the tab for airline tickets when the reservations are made and the traveler will never be directly billed. Those MAJCOMS electing to use an individually billed account will continue to have travelers bill tickets to their individual card. Convenience for the customer is key to the government travel card program, said Weber. Worldwide acceptance of the card is one of these conveniences, "We're even starting to see the card accepted in fast food restaurants," he said. "And I expect once they start using it, people will find the card is just convenient -- why take time to find an ATM to get cash when the plastic works." A repayment program known as split disbursement is another convenience. Split disbursement allows a traveler to designate a dollar amount on their travel voucher, for finance to send directly to Bank of America to pay their credit card balance. "Using split disbursement lets finance send the bank what you owe them and have the rest of your travel pay deposited directly into your designated bank account," Weber said. "I think that's convenient for travelers who don't want to worry about writing checks and it gives them assurance their bills have been paid." Air Force members who do not have the government travel card should contact their area program coordinator or base comptroller office for an application. Weber stressed applications need to be filled out completely and signed by the area program coordinator to avoid slowing down bank processing and delaying receipt of a card. More information on the government Visa travel card and Air Force policy on its use are available at www.saffm.hq.af.mil. 000619. Lackland hosts DOD Worldwide Invitational Canine Trials by Senior Master Sgt. Denton Lankford Air Force Security Forces Center Public Affairs LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) -- Fifty-eight military working teams from all services converged on Lackland April 14-16, to compete in the Department of Defense Worldwide Invitational Canine Trials. Bob Dameworth, DOD Military Working Dog program manager, said the event was a great success. "We had an Army team come from Korea, which was the furthermost away team in the competition," Dameworth said. He also said that team did very well in the overall competition. Dameworth explained the first day was a seminar environment, with the actual competition beginning early April 15. "We had ideal weather conditions for this type of competition -- not too hot and not too cool," he said. Since teams came from all climates, this was an important factor in how the dogs performed. "The weather conditions helped level the playing field," he said. About 150 spectators watched the teams put through their paces each day. "These military working dog teams represent the 'best of the best' from their respective commands," Dameworth stressed. According to Master Sgt. Gary Bowling, a judge, dog teams were tested in the following events: explosive detection, drug detection, scouting, building search, handler protection, and tactical obedience/confidence course. Bowling, who judged the explosive detection event, said "We really tested the capabilities of these dogs and they responded. It is important that bomb dogs be at the top of their game at all times, because they often help protect the president and vice president." Dameworth said the overall winner, who is called the "Top Dog" team was Senior Airman Robert Pullin and Britt from Goodfellow AFB, Texas. The top patrol dog team was Army Spc. Jeremy Riley and Tarzan, Fort Lewis, Wash. Master Sgt. Richard Landgrebe, assistant to Dameworth, said that last year's competition was canceled because of the high-operational tempo in Kosovo. Dameworth added the event is co-hosted by the 341st TRS and Air Force Security Forces Center and he looks forward to it becoming an annual event. There were 25 Air Force, 19 Army, seven Navy and seven Marine military working dog teams competed in this year's event. The winners in each category were: Drug detection team: First place - Senior Airman Robert Pullin and Britt, Goodfellow AFB. Second place - Army Sgt. Michael Forrest and Bruno, Fort Hood, Texas. Third place - Marine Cpl. Donald Garland and Iraq, Quantico, Va. Explosive detection team: First place - Senior Airman Albert Demello III and Robby, Hanscom AFB, Mass. Second place - Army Staff Sgt. Paul Eldridge and Daisy, Fort Stewart, Ga. Third place - Army Staff Sgt. Kenyatta Mack and Bradley, U.S. Army Europe. Building search team: First place - Staff Sgt. Greg Myers and Bruno, McConnell AFB, Kan. Second place - Senior Airman Christopher Papson and Barry, Lackland AFB. Third place - Staff Sgt. Clayton Klaver and Blitz, Aviano Air Base, Italy. Scouting team: First place - Army Sgt. James Crane and Nessy, Fort Knox, Ky. Second place - Marine Sgt. Michael Headrick and Blek, Quantico, Va. Third place - Staff Sgt. Lloyd Evans and Dido, Osan AB, Republic of Korea. Tactical obedience team: First place - Marine Cpl. Shawn Gibbons and Amber, Marine Corps Barracks Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. Second place - Army Staff Sgt. Kenyatta Mack and Bradley, U.S. Army Europe. Third place - Staff Sgt. Clayton Klaver and Blitz, Aviano Air Base, Italy. Handler protection team: First place - Army Spc. Jeremy Riley and Tarzan, Fort Lewis, Wash. Second place - Marine Sgt. John Bonville and Boy II, Camp Pendleton, Calif. Third place - Staff Sgt. Hector Barrios and Bruno, Eglin AFB, Fla. 000616. Global hawk deploys for six-week exercise by Sue Baker Aeronautical Systems Center Public Affairs WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFPN) -- The U.S. Air Force's Global Hawk Unmanned Aerial Vehicle has begun a six-week deployment to the Air Armament Center at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., to demonstrate its unique reconnaissance capabilities during two major exercises. As part of this deployment, Global Hawk will fly its first flight along the East Coast, and its first trans-Atlantic flight to Europe. The two events are "Linked Seas 00" and Joint Task Force Exercise, also called JTFEX 00-02. The first exercise will involve joint and service warfighters, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's Supreme Allied Command Atlantic and its regional command SOUTHLANT, and several NATO nations, among them Portugal. The second exercise is sponsored by U.S. Joint Forces Command. In a related activity on April 20, while enroute from the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., to Eglin, Global Hawk Air Vehicle No. 4 conducted demonstration operations for the U.S. Coast Guard along the Gulf Coast. "These activities focused largely on exploring Global Hawk's capabilities to assist civilian agencies in counter-drug and contraband interdiction operations," said Lt. Col. Mike Trundy, deployment commander, Global Hawk Program Office, Reconnaissance Systems Program Office here. "These are really 'graduation exercises' for the Global Hawk Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration," Trundy indicated. "All three events are part of an ongoing military utility assessment of the high-altitude endurance UAV concept and technology, scheduled to run through June to determine how U.S. military forces might use Global Hawk in the future." During the first exercise, Linked Seas 00, planned for May 1-12, Global Hawk will provide direct support to amphibious operations, in a NATO environment involving air, sea, sub-surface, and land-based assets, according to Trundy. "SOUTHLANT will command this exercise, which will involve amphibious landings on the coast of Portugal, near the city of Setubal, and maritime operations in the vicinity of the Madeira Islands." In the second exercise, JTFEX 00-02, slated to run from May 14-19, Global Hawk will provide direct support for the joint maritime mission of a Navy Carrier Battle Group and an amphibious ready group/Marine expeditionary unit in a littoral (land-sea) environment, according to Trundy. "Global Hawk will provide the joint force commander with flexible capability to acquire near-real-time reconnaissance information at extended ranges and duration, in day or night, all-weather conditions," he said. "Since this will take place in an operationally-realistic environment, we've also planned exercise-specific opportunities for Global Hawk to demonstrate its unique imagery collection, processing and transmission skills to warfighters." Exercise scenarios will involve challenges by a mobile enemy operating in littoral areas, according to Trundy. "Our intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance objectives will key on a rapid targeting cycle, during which Global Hawk will demonstrate wide area search imagery for fleet defense; direct support to amphibious operations; and special operations," he said. "The UAV also will provide continuous intelligence about the battlespace; bomb/battle damage assessment; and time-sensitive targeting." In addition to the Global Hawk Program Office, several other agencies are supporting these exercises, according to Trundy. They include: Detachment 1, Air Force Operational Test & Evaluation Center, Kirtland AFB, N.M.; and the 412th Flight Test Wing, and Air Combat Command's 31st Test Evaluation Squadron, based at Edwards. A developmental flight vehicle under the advanced concept technology demonstration program, Global Hawk will provide Air Force and other joint-service commanders high-altitude, long-endurance battlefield reconnaissance imagery in near real time. When operational, Global Hawk will be able to fly autonomously at altitudes greater than 60,000 feet and remain on station for more than 24 hours. 000616a.gif and 000616a.jpg Global Hawk No. 4 launches from Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. on it's way to Eglin AFB, Fla., and an endurance record by flying 31.5 hours nonstop. While deployed to Eglin, the unmanned aerial vehicle will participate in two exercises. (Photo by George Rohmaller) 000615. DOD revamping, simplifying PCS move process by Rudi Williams American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- The Defense Department is revamping and simplifying its permanent-change-of-station process to make it easier, faster, less expensive and less stressful for more than 700,000 service members and their family members who move around the world each year. The initiative is targeted at scrapping mountains of paperwork, eliminating out-of-pocket expenses and creating a user-friendly, Internet-based, personalized, state-of-the-art relocation system. When the new system is implemented, service members will, among other benefits, save hundreds of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses, spend less time filling out paperwork and visit fewer offices to in- and out-process, according to Stephen Rossetti, director of the Defense Integrated Travel and Relocation Solutions Office in Arlington, Va. Rossetti said under the plan, that includes proposals before Congress, service members would be offered no-receipt-required, lump-sum payment for temporary lodging expenses, temporary lodging allowances and even a monetary incentive not to ship "junk" cars overseas. Many service members found a loophole that circumvents the requirement by some services that only those who ship a vehicle overseas can ship one back home. Some service members' ship "junk" vehicles with major mechanical problems overseas so they'll be eligible to ship a car home when their tour is over. "Military people are ordered to move. They have no choice. We need to do all we can to make it easier," Rossetti said. If approved, the cash incentive would equate to a percentage of the cost of shipping the "junk" car overseas. The shipping cost often exceeds the value of the vehicle. The incentive proposal would guarantee that service members could ship vehicles back home, thereby eliminating unnecessary shipping costs for the government. Service members and DOD civilian employees' ship more than 75,000 cars to and from overseas locations each year. The only requirement is that the vehicle be in working condition. One of the biggest concerns is out-of-pocket expenses for PCS moves, Rossetti noted. "Surveys have shown that people in the military don't get as much in their reimbursements as they're spending," he noted. "We want to give them the wherewithal to make the most of the money they get and eliminate out-of-pocket expenses." Service members in grades E-5 to E-9 incur nonreimbursable expenses of more than $1,000 each time they move. That amount increases for higher ranks, Rossetti said. "Our people are captives to the process," Rossetti said. "We want to flip the current process controls on its back and have the traveler controlling the process. "There also is a vast network of relocation experts in DOD," he said. "We need to empower them with tools to help our people." Rossetti noted that revamping and simplifying the PCS system is an important objective of Secretary of Defense Williams S. Cohen and Deputy Secretary Rudy de Leon and is a key aspect of the effort to reform business processes in DOD. "They realize the difficulty of the moving process in the military and asked us to make it easier," Rossetti said. "We see that as a quality of life objective that's important for retention and readiness." DOD is overhauling pieces of the process, including travel and movement of household goods, he said. "We want to ... raise the ante to solve the difficult PCS process for our people," Rossetti said. He said the effort is orchestrated through a steering board that includes the services and other key DOD officials. Administrative costs soak up a major chunk of the more than $3 billion DOD spends moving people each year, Rossetti said. "Every dollar we can save in administration and give to our people is a dollar they don't have to take out of their pocket to make the move," Rossetti said. Initial savings are estimated at about $150 million, he said. The amount is expected to swell as other initiatives are implemented. He said 85 percent of the people who move are dissatisfied with the relocation process. They're upset because their household goods are lost or destroyed and they waste a lot of time in-processing at the library, veterinarian, commissary, personnel office and a host of other places. It's estimated that more than 40,000 man-hours are wasted each year in- and out-processing. Simplifying the process includes cutting a 10-volume set of books and nearly 2,000 pieces of PCS entitlement data down to about 100 pages. Likening the current entitlement rules to the tax code, Rossetti said people who have the time to understand it will get the most money back, but those that can't end up spending more. The current process covers 10 functional areas including transportation, household goods, medical, and morale, welfare and recreation, and 406 sub-processes that require 117 forms and information from 36 automated systems. The plan will incorporate the "one-stop-shopping concept," with the Internet as the integrator. "The Web is transforming America, and we want it to transform this process," Rossetti said. The new system will be a "stress reducing," user-friendly process that reduces waiting time. "I will also have a personalized Web page outfitted with instructions and 'prepopulated' forms showing the service member's name, family members, entitlements and answers to questions," Rossetti said. "We want to have the computer take care of service members during their move," he said. "We have something working in the lab called P-3 Quantum a personal PCS page. When you key your name, social security number and PIN number into the system, your personal profile comes up. The computer knows already, based on our manpower database, who you are, how many kids you have and all the other information that used to go on nearly 100 forms." The Internet enables relocation personnel to tailor the PCS process to fit each individual's moving situation, Rossetti noted. When the personal profile is validated, the traveler keys in the "from/to" destination and the computer will tell them how much money they'll get for the move. If they select the lump sum option, the money will be electronically transferred to the service member's bank account. Preparing for household goods shipments will be made easy and take the guesswork out of figuring weight allowances. All service members will have to do is click on a piece of furniture and its approximate weight will be shown and automatically added to the inventory. The information will be stored on the personal Web page. All the service member has to do on the return trip is delete and add items. A personalized travel calendar for in- and out-processing will have information pertaining to the losing unit, gaining unit, family information, date of departure, moving pets, firearms, and shipping vehicles. Information about updating drivers licenses, passports, drivers manuals from foreign countries, settling claims, the defense travel system, entitlements, per diem rates and other information needed for a PCS move. Rossetti said changing the PCS move process is not only a quality of life issue, but a retention and readiness objective. "If you allow people to get on the ground quicker, we're more productive in terms of use of their time. And, if a PCS isn't so painful, maybe people will be more likely to re-enlist," he said. Rossetti emphasized that the proposal doesn't increase temporary lodging and temporary housing allowances. "It allows an up-front payment that can be used for any expenses," he said. "For example, it wouldn't require receipts. So if you have an alternative to staying in temporary lodging, you can stay with a relative or friend and use the money for something else associated with a PCS move. What we care about is you get to your duty station on time and with the least pain." DOD is also asking Congress to sanction cost avoidance incentives for household goods. "Right now, if you're authorized a 10,000-pound weight allowance, you're going to keep shipping that 10,000 pounds around the world for your whole military career," Rossetti said. "But if you get an incentive not to ship your whole weight allowance, then you won't be tempted to move these barbells or books you've carried around for years." Several projects are under way concerning household goods moves, including the Full Service Movement Project and relocation section of the Air Forces Crossroads Web site. "We'll have a demonstration of the capability in April and the Web site will be up for use this summer," Rossetti noted. "It will be a virtual moving experience. If we can't be like Star Trek and beam you to your new location, we hope to come close." **COPYRIGHT NOTICE** In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. 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