The White Falcon - 10.04.1992, Blaðsíða 3

Armed Forces News Briefs
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efense Budget debate
TSgt. David P. Masko
WASHINGTON (AFNS) — “The debate over the Defense Budget
will continue until Congress makes decisions based on what’s in the
national interest and not on what’s needed for the nation’s economic
ills,” said Defense Secretary Dick Cheney.
Congress seems too eager to implement savings from the Defense
Budget, but at the same time, is not allowing the Pentagon to manage
the drawdown properly, Cheney told reporters at a Pentagon briefing
recently.
“For instance,” Cheney said, “Congress is balking about the
Pentagon’s recent proposal to cut the guard and reserve in the same way
it’s cutting the active-duty force.
“The decisions we’re making here have to do specifically with doing
what we’ve never done right before, and that is taking down the force
in an intelligent fashion so that when we get through we’ve got the kind
of quality force that will satisfy requirements.” Cheney said.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Colin Powell, shared
Cheney’s concern, saying he still sees high morale when he travels
around to visit troops, but he also sees “high anxiety.”
“I tell those young men and women, trust your leaders - your leaders
in uniform, your civilian leaders - and trust Congress to do what is right
and not break the force apart,” Powell said. “They get anxious,
however, when they see all of these statements flying around saying
we’ve got to cut more.”
Although Powell agrees that the nation has severe economic prob-
lems, he believes every problem in the U. S. cannot be solved if the
government takes more funding away from the military.
As the House and Senate have debated for Fiscal 1993 Defense
dget, Cheney and other government leaders have repeatedly warned
not to cut the proposed funding too deeply.
For instance, Cheney told the House Foreign Affairs Committee
recently that he would be forced to fire 300,000 active-duty people in
one year, on top of the 236,000 that will be cut in 1992-93 if new
reductions are approved. Some members of Congress are agreeing with
the Pentagon and voicing their concern over more defense cutbacks.
“The President and the Pentagon’s leaders have proposed a respon-
sible drawdown for national defense, but some on Capital Hill are
looking for more cuts in the Defense Budget,” said Sen. Robert Dole (R-
Kan.). “No doubt about it, it’s a lot easier to make a tough speech
against defense than to make the tough votes on spending and it’s a lot
safer to talk about all the weapons systems you’d like to scrap than to
talk about all the good people you’re about to toss into the unemploy-
ment lines.”
Although Dole agrees that defense should be scaled back in light of
the collapse of the Soviet Union, he said there is still great uncertainty
that exists in the world today.
“Our watchwords should be caution, common sense and compas-
sion: caution, recognizing that the world remains a dangerous place;
common sense, reminding us that reason, not politics should guide our
policies; and compassion, making certain we never forget the human
toll of defense cuts,” Dole said.
Air Force officer release
WASHINGTON (AFNS) — The Air Force is offering early separa-
tion and retirement to certain officers, allowing them to leave the
military between now and September 1993.
With the exception of medical officers, virtually all officers can now
ask to be released from their service commitment, Air Force personnel
” Icials said.
le program, dubbed officer voluntary early release, allows all
igible officers to ask for a date of separation of Sept. 29, 1993, or
earlier, or a retirement date of Sept. 1, 1993, or earlier.
Officers and specialties excluded from the program are:
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— Health profession officers in all grades and categories, Air Force
specialty codes 9XXX and C-5 pilots on flying status.
— Officers being involuntarily separated.
— Officers under investigation of pending court-martial proceed-
ings, appellate leave or dismissal.
Overall, the program waives all active-duty service commitments,
permitting the greatest number of the officers on active duty to leave.
However, there are some limitations for officers with certain specialty
commitments. Call Sgt. Johnson at ext. 4507 for more information.
Navy 90-day early separation program
WASHINGTON (NNS) — The Navy is offering sailors with an end
of active obligated service (E AOS) date of Dec. 29,1992, or earlier, the
opportunity to request early separation. Commanding officers (COs)
now have the authority to approve early outs, for up to 90 days prior to
EAOS, to sailors at their commands. Details and eligibility require-
ments are contained in NAVADMIN 030/92.
Early separation from active duty under this program is strictly
voluntary and no separation incentive is offered to those who request
separation. COs will consider each request on a case-by-case basis,
considering the impact of the sailor’s early separation on unit readiness.
Missouri, South Carolina voting changes
WASHINGTON (AFNS) — Missouri will conduct its State Pri-
mary Aug. 4, instead of Aug. 5. South Carolina changes its State
Primary from June 9 to Aug. 25.
The Voting Information Center receives calls 24 hours a day at DSN
223-6500 or commercial (703) 693-6500. Questions which cannot be
answered locally may be addressed to Director, Federal Voting Assis-
tance Program, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Room 1B457,
Pentagon, Washington, D.C. 20301-1155 or call DSN 225-0663.
A ceremony for the opening of the relocated Navy Exchange (NEX) Uniform
Center and Toy land took place last Saturday as CAPT James I. Munster-
man, Commanding Officer, U. S. Naval A ir Station and SHCM(53F) Domie
C.Tungol, Deputy NEX Manager, cut the ribbon allowing the first custom-
ers through the doors. The relocation added 200 square feet to the size of
the Uniform Center. Door prize winners were: Dean Deloach - bike, and
Triny Garcia - $50 Uniform Center gift certificate. (U.S. Navy photo)
April 10,1992
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