-Caveat Lector- WJPBR Email News List [EMAIL PROTECTED] Peace at any cost is a Prelude to War!
0027. Commanders approve 82 percent of Stop-Loss waivers RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) -- More than 80 percent of Stop-Loss waiver requests have been approved by major command commanders who have reviewed about 900 requests from airmen currently affected by the program. An approved waiver allows an airman to leave the Air Force despite the Stop-Loss order which began Oct. 2. Stop-Loss action keeps people from retiring or separating from the service during national emergencies. The current Stop-Loss action specifically cites operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom and any associated operations. The waiver process was included in the original program guidance that set the rules for temporary Stop-Loss implementation. "[Waivers] allow for MAJCOM commanders to judge, on a case-by-case basis, whether someone has compelling enough personal reasons to leave the service that outweigh the Air Force's need for [that airman] to stay," said Lt. Col. Richard Binger, chief of retirements here at the Air Force Personnel Center. As of Jan. 3, MAJCOM commanders approved waivers for 82 percent of enlisted people and 81 percent of officers requesting them. About 11,500 people with original retirement or separation dates of Oct. 2 to April 30 are affected by Stop-Loss -- 2,182 officers and 9,334 enlisted. "What's interesting is that less than a thousand of those affected have asked for waivers," Binger said. "It seems that people are accepting that their country needs them right now." "We're happy that the waiver authority exists for those people who face things in their personal lives that really make it hard for them to stay," Binger said. The Air Force expects a review of Stop-Loss will be completed and announced by the end of January. The first review, after 30 days, led the Air Force to continue Stop-Loss for everyone on active duty. The current review, like the first, is exploring which, if any, career fields can allow people to retire or separate at the end of their commitments, or if Stop-Loss will continue for everyone, officials said. "The goal with Stop-Loss is to not keep anyone from leaving the service whose skills and abilities are not specifically needed to accomplish the mission," Binger said. (Courtesy of AFPC News Service) 0026. CSAF survey ready to launch by Master Sgt. Jim Greeley Air Force Print News SAN ANTONIO -- The Air Force chief of staff wants to know what changes Air Force people want in their organizations, and what those people think of the leaders they work for, from the squadron level through higher headquarters. To that end service officials will launch the 2002 Chief of Staff survey Jan. 22. This survey, which has been done every two years since 1997, is an avenue directly to the top. "This is a great opportunity to provide direct feedback about how we're doing in our organizations," said Gen. John P. Jumper, Air Force chief of staff. "To sustain the world's pre-eminent aerospace force, we must ensure excellence in the work environment for everyone. The survey provides me, and leaders at all levels in your chain of command, valuable information." The survey was originally slated to start in October, but was delayed when operations Enduring Freedom and Noble Eagle started. Developers have gone to great lengths to make the survey fast and easy to take. The Web-based survey will take about 30 to 45 minutes, and has about 100 questions covering three major areas: organizational climate and leadership, A-76 competitive sourcing and major command-specific questions. Another key in developing the survey was ensuring anonymity. "We've taken every measure to ensure all inputs are identity-masked," said Lori Marcum, a member of the survey development team at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. "Anonymity is crucial because it allows people to be brutally honest without fear of retribution." The survey will be available for you to take during the entire seven-week period. Also, in order to optimize Web traffic flow, scheduled regional e-mails will be sent out to stateside bases to remind people to take the survey. Honesty is exactly what the Jumper wants. "I expect you to give direct and candid feedback," Jumper said. "That's why the survey is anonymous, and that's why the questions on the survey are intentionally hard-hitting." The survey begins on Jan. 22 and runs through Mar 8. You can take the survey from a government computer (dot-mil or dot-gov) at http://csafsurvey.af.mil/ and a non-government computer (dot-com) at http://www.csafsurvey.com/ at any time during the survey period. However, if you start the survey on a dot-com Web site you must finish on a dot-com Web site. 0030. DOD establishes Missile Defense Agency WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld has announced the redesignation of the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization as the Missile Defense Agency. Consistent with the president's emphasis on missile defense, Rumsfeld also provided direction necessary to meet the top four priorities for the United States. These are: -- To defend the United States, deployed forces, allies and friends from ballistic missile attack; -- To employ a ballistic missile defense system that layers defenses to intercept missiles in all phases of their flight (i.e. boost, midcourse, and terminal) against all ranges of threats; -- To enable the services to field elements of the overall BMDS as soon as practicable; and -- To develop and test technologies, use prototype and test assets to provide early capability, if necessary, and improve the effectiveness of deployed capability by inserting new technologies as they become available or when the threat warrants an accelerated capability. Elevating BMDO to agency status recognizes the national priority and mission emphasis on missile defense. The current director of BMDO, Air Force Lt. Gen. Ronald T. Kadish, will assume the title of director for the Missile Defense Agency. He will continue to report directly to Edward C. "Pete" Aldridge Jr., undersecretary of Defense for acquisition, technology, and logistics. The secretary has tasked Aldridge with the responsibility of implementing his direction and will look to the senior executive council for oversight of missile defense activities. Also, the full and cooperative efforts of the military services, Joint Staff and defense agencies are essential, officials said. The overall objectives for missile defense include establishing a single program to develop an integrated missile defense system, assigning the best and brightest people to this work and applying a capability-based requirements process for missile defense The MDA is charged with developing the missile defense system and baselining the capability and configuration of its elements. The military departments will procure and provide for missile defense operations and support. (Courtesy of American Forces Information Service) 0028. Drug abuse survey to hit 23 bases RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) -- The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration will conduct its annual congressionally mandated National Household Survey on drug abuse and mental health issues at several Air Force bases this month. This year, based on geographic sampling, the study includes 23 Air Force bases in the United States. The first phase begins this month as military family addresses for each base are identified. Typically eight to 10 households are selected on any given base. Interviews also begin in January. Representatives from the Research Triangle Institute, the contractor conducting the study, will identify and solicit the voluntary participation of eligible family members living in selected households across the United States, including those on military bases. The 23 bases selected are: Beale Air Force Base, Calif; Bolling AFB, D.C.; Columbus AFB, Miss.; Dover AFB, Del.; Eglin AFB, Fla.; Ellsworth AFB, S.D.; Elmendorf AFB, Alaska; FE Warren AFB, Wyo.; Hickam AFB, Hawaii; Laughlin AFB, Texas; Luke AFB, Ariz.; Malmstrom AFB, Mont.; Minot AFB, N.D.; Nellis AFB, Nev.; Pope AFB, N.C.; Seymour-Johnson AFB, N.C.; Shaw AFB, S.C.; Sheppard AFB, Texas; Travis AFB, Calif.; Tyndall AFB, Fla.; the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.; Whiteman AFB, Mo.; and Wright-Patterson, AFB, Ohio. Questions about the survey can be directed to the Air Force Survey Branch at the Air Force Personnel Center here at DSN 665-2448. (Courtesy of AFPC News Service) 0029. Air Force people vie for GEICO awards RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) -- Five Air Force enlisted people will represent the Air Force as they vie for the 2001 Government Employee Insurance Company Military Service Awards. The Air Force representatives (in their respective categories) are: Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention: Master Sgts. Vaughn Gates and Henry Holguin Jr., and Tech Sgt. Leroy Jensen. Gates is an Air Force Reserve Command first sergeant for the 940th Security Forces Squadron at Beale Air Force Base, Calif. He provides ongoing training to active-duty and Reserve security forces squadrons concerning driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs to help reduce DUI driving on military bases. He has served for 29 years with the California Highway Patrol where he is currently assigned as a drug-recognition expert instructor and state-wide course manager for the CHP academy. Holguin is from the directorate of the command surgeon general at the U.S. Air Forces in Europe headquarters. He manages the Department of Defense congressionally mandated military and civilian drug testing programs, distributing an annual quota of more than 21,000 drug tests. He also oversees six demand-reduction programs. Jensen is the Idaho National Guard's drug demand-reduction noncommissioned officer from the 124th Security Forces Squadron in Boise, Idaho. He is responsible for community drug-prevention support and has been instrumental in the development of a course that supplements drug-prevention initiatives within middle and high schools. Fire prevention and fire safety: Senior Master Sgt. Robert Simpson Simpson, from the 9th Civil Engineer Squadron at Beale AFB, Calif., managed fire crews in more than 200 emergency responses. He also initiated Beale's first joint wildland-fire training and coordinated the construction of 35 miles of fire breaks to protect the base's mission-essential facilities. Traffic safety and traffic accident prevention: Tech. Sgt. Benjamin Howard Howard is from the 19th Refueling Group at Robins AFB, Ga. His implementation of monthly seatbelt checks directly led to the group achieving and maintaining a 98 percent compliance rate. As a certified instructor for car seat installation, he teaches parents how to properly install child safety restraints. The five will compete against other members of the armed forces in their respective categories. The recipients, who are now authorized to wear the Air Force Recognition Ribbon, will be honored at a ceremony in Washington. (Courtesy of Air Force Personnel Center News Service) 4001. Commentary: Families can overcome stress from separation by Lt. Col. Gregory Ditzler 90th Security Forces Squadron commander F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. (AFPN) -- The global-reach capability of the Expeditionary Air Force is an exciting change to our Air Force culture. However, with EAF comes separation from home and family. As a commander, the results of that painful separation are all too clear when my first sergeant and I assist families in coping with separation-related problems. The Air Force has increased its focus on family support over the years, but separation causes unique problems within the family that only the family members themselves can overcome. Here are some tips to combat separation problems: Realize that before the deployment begins, stress and anxiety will build. Take time as a family to plan how you'll maintain communication during the separation. Build a reliable family support net consisting of squadron and local community contacts, relatives and friends. Discuss known future events that will occur in the family during the separation (such as major purchases, birthdays), so some joint decisions can be made face-to-face in advance. Assure one another of the confidence you share in the relationship and the strength the family possesses to overcome challenges. Communicate before and during a TDY or remote. Communication is key to maintaining a strong and peaceful relationship during the time apart. My wife doesn't mind me sharing that our first big argument in our marriage occurred when I was half way around the world starting a remote tour. We were married only three months, and I was busy feeling sorry for myself. I got really upset at her over a trivial matter -- what a wasted morale call that was. Looking back, I should have realized my young wife was also going through a difficult period being on her own for the first time. Keep your phone calls positive at all costs. You might need to discuss difficult subjects, but remember each of you will review negative words many times after you hang up. E-mail is a great tool to keep each other updated, so consider investing in a home computer and possibly a laptop for the deploying member. Some deploying members have even purchased video capability for their personal computers. Videotapes are a great way to share birthday parties and your baby's first steps. Regular mail, while slow, delivers valued greeting cards and treats from home. I still have my daughters' drawings that decorated my area while far from home. There is no substitute for the good old love letter. Communicate after a TDY or remote, too. Homecomings can create lifelong memories. However, remember real-life homecomings don't necessarily look or feel like those in the movies. Realize family and friends change and the member has as well, so build in plenty of time to adjust to one another. Routines at home may have changed in the military member's absence, so allow time to adjust. Understand your spouse may have increased his or her sense of independence during your TDY, but this doesn't mean the returning military member isn't needed or important. It's important to understand that military family members serve the Air Force as well and make sacrifices to keep our country free. 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