The White Falcon - 02.10.1998, Side 1

Time to Have Your Say in COLA
By J03 Mike C. Jones
One of the first things a service member
can expect when reporting to Keflavik is the
vast differences in prices between Iceland
and the States. To help adjust this differ-
ence to accurately reflect your pay, the DoD
maintains a Cost of Living Allowance
(COLA) for members stationed overseas.
“COLA exists to help service members
overseas, in high-cost areas, maintain their
purchasing power, so they can afford to pur-
chase about the same goods and services as
they would in the States,” said Lt. Col. John
Simpson, IDF COLA coordinator. “That’s
the bottom line.”
COLA not only coincides with high
prices on the economy, but is relative to
members’ spending habits, he explained.
“If you buy 100 percent on base, then
COLA is based on on-base prices. If you
buy half on base and half off base, the
COLA is the average of the two prices.”
Although a COLA survey took place in
March, the COLA Commission, made up of
base leadership, convened last week to pre-
pare for a different survey this month. “In
March, we conducted a retail-price survey.
That’s conducted every year. We didn’t
conduct a living-pattern survey,” Simpson
said. “A living-pattern survey shows exact-
ly what the service members are spending
their money on whether it be on base or
downtown.”
figure prices from the stores and sources
you shop at. That way, you get credit for
how much you spend, where you spend it.”
Surveys distributed this week need to be
filled out carefully and accurately, Simpson
stressed. “COLA equals expenses. The
only people we can blame for the COLA
rate is ourselves. If you don’t spend the 30
or 40 minutes to do an accurate job on the
COLA survey, don’t blame anyone when the
results come back and the COLA rate is not
as strong as you think it should be.”
Simpson suggests members filling out a
living-pattern survey keep detailed records
of their expenses in Iceland. “Try to con-
solidate information you have, how much
money you’re paying vs. what you’d pay in
the States.”
Every expense on the economy, no matter
how seemingly insignificant, should be
reflected on the survey, he added. “Before
you complete the forms, think hard about
your spending patterns. Where do you
spend your money? What percentage do
you spend on and off base? Where do you
See COLA Survey, page 2
A Place of History ... "ingvellir (“parliament plains”) is explored by contribut-
ing writer, Karin W. Tramm, in the first edition of her two-part series detailing the Golden
Circle tour. See related story, page 6 (Photo by Karin W. Tramm)
The COLA Commission appointed unit
Fire Prevention Week scheduled
possible number of participants in
the living-pattern survey. The liv-
ing-pattern survey asks where you
spend money and the percentage
of money you spend on base, off
base, through catalogs, on the
internet and any other areas.
The living-pattern survey is
conducted to ensure an accurate
retail-price survey, he said. “We
By J03 Mike C. Jones
Icelandic Comer
When will it snow again?
Hvenaer snjoar aftur?
(\ten-air sno-year af-tur)
The NAS Fire and Emergency Service (FES)
will hold its annual Fire Prevention Week begin-
ning Sunday, with many activities aimed at educat-
ing base residents in proper planning and safe
evacuation. This year’s theme is “Fire Drills: The
Great Escape!”
The fire department will hold approximately 100
lectures including information on how to report
hazardous chemical spills and fires to FES. Fire
extinguisher demonstrations will be conducted for
personnel on base, and poster stands and fire extin-
guisher display racks will be installed in places of
public assembly.
Operation EDITH (Exit Drill In The Home) was
introduced to elementary school students Monday.
They were given materials used for making family
escape plans at home. Students who turned in
completed family exit plans were given awards by
FES.
Operation EDITH will be conducted basewide
Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. Fire engines will sound
sirens throughout the housing areas while Naval
Media Center radio and television stations
announce the arrival of the drill.
The Fire Prevention Week Fun Run begins
Friday at 1:30 p.m. at the fire station running track.
During the run, participants will be able to use a
charged water hose to shoot water through a target
located on the ramp south of Hangar 830. All par-
ticipants will receive a pen, bookmark and a soda
upon completion of the run.
Serving the joint-service community since 1941