The White Falcon - 23.09.1977, Side 3

September 23, 1977
White Falcon
Page 3
Hispanic Week - USO style
WITH A BREAKING
PINATA, a race
for goodies be-
gins for the
children who
vie for the
most in their
hands or pock-
ets or both.
The USO spon-
sored the event
together with
its Mexican
dinner last
week.
Military News
Around the world
AIR FORCE
Airman preference sheet changed
New selection priorities and a
revamped airman assignment preference
sheet are scheduled later this year for
enlisted personnel volunteering for
overseas assignment.
Airmen volunteers for overseas will
be selected in order of their time
on station, rather than the date they
last returned from an overseas assign-
ment.
The preference change means personnel
completing overseas assignments or con-
trolled three and four-year tours
stateside may receive higher selection
priorities for overseas areas or
countries of their choice.
Officials encourage volunteers to
contact their consolidated base
personnel office to determine how the
system will work in their particular
case.
The new Air Force form 392, Airman
Assignment Preference Statement, will
offer eight ways for listing assignment
preferences and a volunteer status for
each choice.
For example, an individual will be
able to volunteer for an extended long
tour in the United Kingdom or Germany,
a normal long tour in Japan and a
normal short tour in Korea at the same
time.
On the old form, enlisted personnel
were limited to one overall volunteer
status which applied to all countries
listed.
NAVAL FACILITY STUDENTS receive instruction in a noontime Los Angeles Com-
munity College Overseas management supervision course. OTCS Franklin R.
Harwood is the instructor, (photo by PH3 Vic Caffaro)
Off-duty education
Ohio mayor joins Air Force
The mayor of Liberty Center, oh.
has resigned to enlist in the AJ
Force for training as a weapons
mechanic. Craig Myers was elected mayor
of Liberty Center in 1975 at age 18
NAVY
and was acclaimed the youngest mayor
in the United States. He signed up for
the Air Force in April under the delayed
enlistment program and begins basic
training this month.
CHAMPUS certificates expire
Navy people Who use the benefits of
the Civilian Health and Medical Program
of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS) will
have to obtain new eligibility
certificates in order to use the program
after Oct. 1, 1977, the start of the new
fiscal year.
The certificates are for outpatient
deductible services, where the user must
pay an initial amount each fiscal year
before CHAMPUS assistance is available
for outpatient expenses, $50 for indiv-
iduals or $100 for a family of two or
more. Command CHAMPUS benefits
counselors can provide further
information.
More states to deduct tax
Military personnel who are residents
of Maine, Minnesota and Oregon will have
state income taxes withheld from their
paychecks by those states begining
Nov. 1, 1977.
Maine and Minnesota previously
exempted military pay but recently
revised their tax laws. Oregon has
accepted a new agreement with the
treasury department for withholding
state income taxes from military pay.
G.l. Bill ends: New program explained
Information now is available on the
educational benefit program which re-
placed the G.l. bill. Navy people who
joined the service on or after Jan. 1,
1977, are affected by this program.
Basically, the post-Vietnam era
veterans educational assistance (VEA)
program allows Navy men and women on
active duty to plan financial aid for
education while in the service or after
they are discharged. They must
contribute $50 - $75 per month for at
least 12 months. The Veterans Adminis-
tration then will match the service-
member's contribution on a $2 for $1
basis. Between the two, wavy people
could have up to $8,100 (the maximum
amount allowed) banked for their
education.
The VEA replaces the G.l. bill, which
did not require contributions by
servicemembers, yet guaranteed romparable
educational benefits.
NavFac tops the list
by J. N. Miettinen
Self-improvement is the keyword today
and everyday at Naval Facility Keflavik.
The NavFac's particular brand of self-
improvement is in advanced adult educa-
tion.
Basewide, according to Sandi Lang,
NATO base education specialist, 11 per
cent of the enlisted personnel stationed
in Iceland are involved in off-hours
educational programs, either Los Angeles
Community College or University of Mary-
land Overseas.
But, at NavFac, that percentage is
more than double; 27 people out of 119
assigned to the Naval Facility, or 22
per cent of its enlisted personnel are
taking college courses. That is the
highest percentage of any tenant com-
mand and particularly exceptional when
considering that more than 70 of the
119 people are on a rotating watch
bill with limited off-time.
Currently, Senior Enlisted Advisor
OTCS Franklin R. Harwood teaches a
LACCO course in management supervision
NavFac presents two awards
OTC Gary L. Feterson, Naval Facility
Keflavik training chief petty officer,
was presented a fourth Good Conduct
medal by Commander Harry W. Benter
during a command inspection recently.
CT03 Allen J. LaBott Jr., a special
intelligence communications operator,
received his first Good Conduct medal
during the inspection. CT03 LaBott
will leave NavFac in October for Guam,
with his wife, 0T2 Vickie L. LaBott.
at NavFac during the lunch hour.
Eleven people participate in the
class five days a week for eight weeks
and will earn three credit hours by
mid-October.
OTC Barry Millard, one of the stu-
dents, states that the course is
"thought provoking," and he has enjoyed
having the opportunity to take it, a
sentiment echoed by his classmates.
At NavFac, self-improvement is a
popular pastime these days.
(continued from page 1)
202 next month
The Navy Exchange officer also stated
there will be special bargains at the
gas station. For example, any au-
thorized patron who comes in for gas and
fills the tank has a possibility of get-
ting that tank of gas free. If, after
filling their gas tank, patrons end with
the three digits of the gas pump all the
same (i.e. 9.99) they will get that
tank free.
A very special "Candlelight Dinner'-'
will be held at the enlisted dining
facility on Sunday, Oct. 16 and will
feature steamship round, Icelandic fish
and chicken. All NATO Base personnel
are invited to attend between 3 and 6:30
p.m. A wine bar will also be featured.
As the date for the Navy's birthday
gets closer, so will the festive plans
for this occasion become more final.
All base personnel should begin making
plans now to attend any or all of the
activities and help the Navy celebrate
its 202 years.