From: bergman@AFPAN.PA.AF.MIL (CMSgt Mike Bergman)
Newsgroups: soc.veterans
Subject: AF Feature Package No. 6
Date: 27 Jul 92 14:14:21 GMT
Organization: Hq Air Force News Agency/SCC

022.  Don't be fooled when getting out
023.  Coping with unemployment
024.  Insurance decisions in transition
025.  Remembering Mount Pinatubo
026.  Just a pinch; just as deadly
027.  Examine your auto insurance needs
028.  Politics and you
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AFNEWSIIB022  Don't be fooled when getting out
By Special Agent JAMES E. BACKUS Jr.
     You're getting out.  You've decided to take the Air Force's VSI/SSB offer
and you'll be separated by December.  There's planning to do, so you scour the
local papers and come across an ad.
     "We're the job search professionals," it reads.  It goes on to say that
if you send them your resume, they'll circulate it among overseas companies
that may be able to use your valuable knowledge and services.
     No harm, no foul, right?
     So you drop one of your new resumes in an envelope, and off to California
it goes.  A couple weeks later they send you a return letter.  "A company is
interested, are you available for an interview?" it reads.  "If so, we'll need
to fly you out there."  Later in the letter it communicates you should mail
them several hundred dollars for air fare and other miscellaneous expenses
related to the process.
     If you're getting near your separation window and are in the process of
finding post-Air Force employment, a deal like this might seem attractive.
But be careful.
     In several recent cases, Air Force people have been duped and found
themselves without their money -- an average loss of about $790 -- and no
closer to finding a job.  When they tried to contact the company about the
status of their ticket or for a refund, the telephone was no longer in
service.
     With people being asked to separate in such large numbers and the
publicity associated with the cutbacks so great, this company and others like
it will undoubtedly make their offers, wait until they've collected enough
money, then fold their operation.  Usually, they appear again at another
location and start all over again.
     Don't throw away your hard-earned money this way.  Things that seem too
good to be true usually are.  Be especially wary of companies advertising with
a post office box or a suite number as a return address.  Consider calling the
region's Better Business Bureau or the U.S. postal inspector and ask questions
about the company first.  The cost of the call could save you hundreds of
dollars.  (AFNS Features.  Backus is assigned to the OSI at Dover AFB, Del.)


AFNEWSIIB023  Coping with unemployment
     In difficult economic times it's not uncommon for someone who has been
with a company for years to be suddenly unemployed.
     Only the death of a family member or divorce is thought to cause more
stress than unemployment.  Why is this?  Loss of any kind is painful, but when
you lose your job you're deprived of more than just a steady income.  The
familiar routines, structures and work relationships which made up your day
are gone as well.  When this happens, it's hard to keep your sense of purpose
and self-esteem.
     If you're out of work, you may view the future with hope one minute, and
despair the next.  Your weight and health may change, or you may find it hard
to get along with those around you.  These aren't signs of weakness -- they
are all natural responses to the loss you have suffered.  To help cope with
them, the National Institute of Mental Health and the Department of Labor
offer the following information and suggestions.
     Don't let pride stand in the way of claiming welfare or unemployment
compensation.  Remember, you paid for these programs while you were working,
so you have every right to receive their benefits.  File claims with your
state employment office as soon as possible after losing your job.  Make sure
to investigate all sources of assistance for which you may qualify, including
benefits from previous employment retirement plans and possible continuation
of health-care coverage.
     A daily routine is important for avoiding depression and boredom.  A
detailed schedule which includes 35 to 40 hours a week for job hunting will
provide you with a sense of structure and purpose.  Plan time for holidays,
long weekends, and other breaks from job seeking; but make sure these times
are scheduled in advance, not taken indiscriminately.
     To keep active, consider volunteering your services or learning a new
skill.  Regular exercise will help you feel better both mentally and
physically, and low-cost recreational activities will provide relief from
stress.
     Support groups designed to assist those out of work can also be helpful.
These may be organized by individuals, labor councils, churches, or unions of
unemployed workers -- ask your local social service agency for help in finding
one.  Many offer workshops on resume writing and interviewing, and may be able
to provide information on job leads. By joining, you'll have the chance to
discuss what you're going through, and to listen to others in the same
situation.  More important, you'll realize that you're not alone.
     Publications with more information on writing resumes, interviewing,
finding jobs, and claiming benefits are listed in the "Employment and
Education" section of the free, quarterly Consumer Information Catalog.  You
can get a copy of the catalog, which offers more than 200 free and low-cost
federal publications on a wide variety of subjects, by sending your name and
address to Consumer Information Catalog, Pueblo, CO, 81009.  (AFNS Features.
Courtesy Consumer Information Center.)


AFNEWSIIB024  Insurance decisions in transition
By BRENDA CUDE
     Moving from active duty to civilian life means making many decisions.
Some of the most important ones will be related to insurance.
     How your insurance needs change when you leave the military will depend
on how much your lifestyle changes.  For example, you will need homeowners
insurance if you move off base and buy a house.  Your auto insurance needs may
change if you drive greater distances because of your new job.  And, you will
have a much greater need for liability insurance if you leave the military to
open your own business.
     One important change will be in your health insurance coverage.  You may
have the opportunity to continue to use CHAMPUS for a period of time but at
your own expense.  Unless you are eligible for a group policy through some
other organization, you may find the CHAMPUS premiums lower than other options
available to you.  That may not be true, however, if your spouse is employed
and you can extend that coverage to you and/or your dependents.  Remember also
that when you accept employment in the civilian world, you are also usually
choosing which group insurance benefits will be available to you.
     Regardless of the type of insurance coverage you are considering, get as
much information as possible each step of the way.  Start by thinking about
what kinds of insurance you will need and the features you will want.  To do
that, make sure you understand what insurance coverage will end when you leave
the military.  Then about how your life will change and how those changes will
influence your insurance needs.  Learn all that you can about insurance.
Start by looking for personal finance books and magazines at the public
library.
     Learn more about the insurance companies and agents that sell coverage
that interests you.  Check with the state insurance department.  It can tell
you which companies are authorized to sell which types of insurance in a
state.  Most departments can also tell you how many complaints it has received
about a company or an agent and if the state considers a company to be in
financial trouble.  Visit your public library to learn how the different
rating services evaluate the financial situation of companies.  Most experts
recommend you choose insurance companies that have been top-rated service
companies.
     Choose an insurance agent that is licensed.  Interview the person and
learn his/her qualifications, attitudes, and style.  Choose a professional
that you are comfortable with and that seems to have your interests in mind.
(AFNS Features.  Cude is a cooperative extension consumer economist at the
University of Illinois.)


AFNEWSIIB025   Remembering Mount Pinatubo
By Special Agent EDWARD F. LAWTON
     (Editor's note:  The explosion of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines
occurred more than a year ago.  The violent eruption caused disruption to
thousands of American servicemembers and their families assigned to Clark Air
Base, now closed, and Subic Naval Air Station, slated to close.  For many,
time has not healed the pain and trouble incurred by such a catastrophic
event; even today the volcano continues to erupt.  The following are
reflections by one Air Force captain who vividly recalls his experience.)
     June 10, 1991.  Another workday in America.  But for nearly 30,000 Air
Force and Navy personnel at Clark Air Base and Subic Naval Air Station in the
Republic of the Philippines, it marked the beginning of the end.
     What began was the first evacuation of an entire air base because of a
natural disaster.  In this case, it was an erupting volcano -- Mount Pinatubo
-- shrouded by a violent tropical typhoon.
     Our terror began that June day when we abandoned our homes and property
-- directed to take one day's worth of food, and three days change of
clothing.  We hoped to return and prayed we'd have something to return to.
But most of us never saw our homes again.
     My family and other Clark evacuees were instructed to remain with our
host Navy families at Subic Bay until the emergency subsided.  But a week
later, and following the horrific eruption and calamitous events of June 15 --
the day Pinatubo erupted -- Air Force dependents were ordered to leave the
Philippines, and later were followed by their sponsors.
     I can vividly recall the fear in my wife's face, her tears of sorrow as
she boarded the bus headed for the USS Abraham Lincoln -- one of several Navy
aircraft that began our families' long journey back to the United States.  Her
face and her emotions were indelibly etched in my mind as neither of us knew
when we would see each other again.
     It's now been more than a year since the catastrophe that forever changed
so many of us.  Many informal reunions of former Clark personnel are
materializing.
     A year ago, we literally helped each other survive.  Today, we're still
helping one another, informally networking around the world, sharing
information on how to overcome the bureaucratic obstacles of immigration
forms, monumental claims, missing mail and destroyed medical records.  You
might try to imagine being told on a Friday afternoon to pack your valuables
in one suitcase and be ready to evacuate on a moment's notice -- abandoning
your home, relatives and friends.
     But now we have returned to America.  Along with the miraculous
deliveries of many household goods and vehicles, we've run the gauntlet of
property appraisers, repairmen and mechanics.  Although we're safe here, we
must not forget our Air Force comrades still in the Philippines, completing
the final pullout of Subic Bay, which will close this year.
     America's military forces served for nearly 100 years in the Philippines.
Their presence will soon disappear.  Just like the poem says, "Ashes to
ashes, dust to dust.  Bye, bye PI ... no more GI."  (AFNS Features.  Lawton is
assigned to the OSI at Randolph AFB, Texas.)


AFNEWSIIB026  Just a pinch; just as deadly
By Maj. (Dr.) ERIC W. KRAMER
     Tobacco has been smoked, chewed and inhaled in various forms for more
than 500 years, tracing its development and folklore to the time of the first
voyages of Columbus to the Americas.
     In the early 20th century, the use of smokeless tobacco fell into
disfavor largely due to the influence of noted scientists who developed the
"germ theory of infection" and characterized the habit as unsanitary.  In the
1970s, a resurgence of smokeless tobacco use in the United States occurred and
since 1974 has risen 11 percent annually.
     What was once an adult habit has now found its way to primary, middle and
high schools with alarming speed, where it has met wide social acceptance.
Young users often imitate the balloon-cheeked, juice-spitting athletes and
snuff-dipping country-western singers they admire.  Older persons may be
seeking an alternative to smoking.
     Snuff dipping consists of placing a pinch of powdered tobacco between the
cheek and gum of the lower teeth where it stimulates the flow of saliva and
mixes with it.  The saliva must either be swallowed or spat out frequently.
     Chewing calls for a golf ball-sized wad, also known as a chaw or quid, to
be placed in the pouch of the cheek and sucked.  These sensitive tissues
rapidly absorb the nicotine into the bloodstream and give users a "buzz" like
that obtained from cigarette smoking.  But the blood level of nicotine is
greater in smokeless tobacco users than in smokers.
     The buzz is followed by a letdown, leaving the person wanting more.  This
can lead to a craving that is medically defined as addiction.
     Nicotine also decreases athletic performance, increases blood pressure
and heart rate, narrows the blood vessels, produces an irregular heartbeat,
causes stomach ulcers and has been linked to fetal illness and death.
     But nicotine isn't the only chemical in smokeless tobacco -- not by a
long shot.  It gets plenty of company from 2,550 other chemicals including 19
known cancer-causing agents.
     Treatment of these conditions usually involves horribly disfiguring
surgery with no guarantee of a cure.  An internal medicine doctor at a
stateside Air Force hospital had a sad story to relate.  The first person he
ever had to pronounce dead was an 18-year-old dipper who died of widespread
cancer of the mouth and throat as a direct result of his habit.
    Aside from the cancer risk, the product also contains salts and sugars
which can accelerate dental decay and burn gums.  In addition, there's a
concentration of sand and grit used during processing which abrades the teeth
and increases sensitivity to hot and cold.  Other users have reported problems
with bad breath, stained teeth, a numbness in the cheek and gum where the
tobacco is held, and lessened sense of taste and smell requiring overseasoning
of food.
     The most common and obvious sign that damage is being done to the mouth
is a thickened, white, leathery or corrugated patch inside the cheek on the
spot where the tobacco is held.  This patch is called "leukoplakia."
     Approximately 7 percent of diagnosed leukoplakias are cancerous.  If the
habit is discontinued, the majority of these patches disappear.  If the patch
doesn't disappear, it should be biopsied to determine if cancer has started.
     Other warning signs of cancer include sores that bleed easily, reddened
areas mixed in with the white, persistent sore throat, difficulty in speaking
or swallowing, and limitations to the movement of the tongue or jaw.
     Nicotine addiction is the reason why so many people continue to use
smokeless tobacco in spit of the known dangers.  The majority of addicted
users would probably quit if they only knew how.  (AFNS Features.  Kramer is
base dental surgeon at Ankara AS, Turkey).  Note to editors:  The following
was provided by Kramer to accompany AFNS Feature :  Aside from sheer
determination of will, a few other tips might be helpful:
     - Choose a stress-free day to quit
     - Reward yourself each day of abstinence
     - Exercise
     - Eat well-balanced meals
     - Drink plenty of water
     - Sleep at least eight hours a day
     - Go where you can't dip or chew
     - Promise yourself you will not dip or chew for one week
     The war can be won through success in consecutive short battles:
     - Ask family and friends for help
     - Be informed about the risks of tobacco use
     - Bet someone you can quit
     - Recruit a friend who dips or chews and try quitting together
     - Think about dying from cancer or having disfiguring surgery


AFNEWSIIB027  Examine your auto insurance needs
By BRENDA CUDE
     In the insurance business, some factors that determine insurance rates
are fixed, such as sex and age.  Other factors that influence rates may change
over time.  Knowing how these factors affect the premium may save you money.
     The right coverage is very important, but unless you examine your
insurance needs periodically, you're probably paying for unnecessary or
duplicate insurance coverage.
     To pay the lowest rates for the best coverage to suit your insurance
needs, consider these tips:
     - Choose the right car.  Insurance companies can tell you which cars are
less expensive to insure.  Premium rates are partially determined by accident
rates, repair costs and theft losses for each model of automobile.
     - Choose the right company.  Identical coverage can cost up to 50 percent
more or less for drivers with similar backgrounds and safety records.
     - Avoid unneeded options.  If you belong to an automobile club that
provides towing, you won't need that option on your coverage.  Similarly, your
auto insurance coverage may pay for rental car insurance, so you won't need to
pay the extra $9 a day for collision coverage on a rental car.
     - Reconsider optional medical coverage.  Medical payments insurance may
duplicate health insurance coverage you already have through employment.
Purchase only coverage that supplements the medical policy you have.
     - Take the highest deductible that you can afford. A higher deductible
can mean significant savings in premium rates.  Plan to pay for low-cost risks
through a savings fund.
     - Pay for premiums on an annual basis, not quarterly or monthly.  That
way, you avoid the additional charges that are added with more frequent
billing.
     - Take advantage of discounts.  Discounts might be available to
youngsters who have completed an approved driver education course and to
seniors who have had a safe driving course.  Some companies offer discounts to
young drivers with a B average or better, non-smokers, non-drinkers, car
poolers and retirees.
     Remember, though, that discounts are no bargain if the premium is already
far higher than you would pay at other insurance companies.
     Finally, realize that the services a company provides are often an
important factor in determining if the coverage of your policy is worth the
cost.  An agent should be readily available and should work with you to
identify coverage that meet your needs.  (AFNS Features.  Cude is a
cooperative extension consumer economist for the University of Illinois.)


AFNEWSIIB028  Politics and you
By DAVID F. BARR
     We're proud to be Americans and we are free to like or dislike a  person.
Right?  We can even say what we think about a candidate and we're in uniform
-- Right?  WRONG!
     Some people don't understand that the very people willing to fight for
America's freedoms voluntarily gave up some of those freedoms when they put on
their nation's uniform or went to work for the government.  For instance,
uniformed people can't openly challenge the decision of a superior.  They
can't even voluntarily quit their jobs if they feel like it.  During election
time, there are even more "Do's" and "Don'ts."
     Civilian employees and military members, like all Americans, should
register to vote for the person they  choose.  After all, the president, 35
senators, all members of the House of Representatives, 12 state governors and
a host of state and local officials are running for office this year.  These
governmental employees, when in civilian clothes, may openly discuss
candidates, issues and politics in general; wear buttons or pins; or speak out
against the opposition.  They may even join political clubs and attend legal
rallies for "their candidate."  But all of this must be done wearing civilian
clothes and in a way that doesn't even hint that the military service endorses
the candidate.
     The "Don'ts" say: Don't use official authority or influence in relation
to political candidates or parties.  Don't ask for votes or contributions for
any candidate or issue and don't display large political signs or banners on
cars -- but bumper stickers are all right.
     Political rules apply to more than people.  Base newspapers, as you may
have noticed, don't carry political ads, discussions, cartoons, editorials, or
commentaries; they don't conduct polls or surveys or hold "straw votes."
     Overseas, Armed Forces Radio and Television stations provide a free flow
of balanced, non-paid coverage related to political campaigns, and use
materials provided by commercial and public networks.  Even with the provided
materials station managers ensure that coverage is balanced and without local
comment, criticism, analysis or interpretation.
     You have a right to be proud to be an American, to speak your mind and
work for the candidate of your choice -- just make sure you do it when wearing
the right clothes and that you don't make it appear that the Air Force or
Defense Department endorses your candidate, party or issue.
     You, as an American, should speak loudly -- and one of the loudest voices
you have is your vote -- use it.  (AFNS Features.  Barr is chief, command
products branch, AFNEWS.)


-- 
         
      // \\
    //     \\                    Air Force News Agency 
   |         |               Kelly Air Force Base, Texas, USA
   \\  {*}  //                   bergman@afpan.pa.af.mil  
   \  CMSgt  /      ___________________ /____________________________________
   \  Mike   /   
   \ Bergman /
     \     / 




-- 
         
      // \\
    //     \\                    Air Force News Agency 
   |         |               Kelly Air Force Base, Texas, USA
   \\  {*}  //                   bergman@afpan.pa.af.mil  
   \  CMSgt  /      ___________________ /____________________________________
   \  Mike   /   
   \ Bergman /
     \     /