From: bergman@afnews.pa.af.mil (CMSgt Mike Bergman)
Newsgroups: soc.veterans
Subject: AF News Svc 01/07/93
Date: 7 Jan 1993 15:19:45 -0600
Organization: Hq Air Force News Agency/SCC
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu

008.  Relief efforts
009.  Fatal shooting
010.  King Week '93
011.  VA home loans
012.  1993 Thunderbird schedule
013.  N.J. Guard openings
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008.  Relief efforts
by TSgt. David P. Masko
Air Force News Service
     WASHINGTON -- As the Pentagon continues with its plan to aid the
famine-stricken regions in Somalia with U.S. military troops, other countries
are also lending a hand to keep the humanitarian effort alive.
     Besides U.S. personnel on the ground in Somalia, the Italians, the
Saudis, forces from Botswana, Canadians, Belgians, French, Moroccans and
Turkish troops are conducting operations in the region as part of the United
Nations' peacekeeping effort, said Pentagon spokesman Bob Hall Jan. 5.
     In addition, Hall said, advance teams from Australia, Germany, India, New
Zealand, Nigeria, Sweden, Zimbabwe, Tunisia and Kuwait are part of the
coalition.  A 500-man Pakistani force of U.N. peacekeepers was in Somalia
prior to the U.S. deployment, and remains in the Mogadishu area.
     Although Defense Secretary Dick Cheney said in December that he hoped to
have most U.S. troops out of Somalia by the end of January, he said recently
that goal has changed and the United States would continue its peacekeeping
efforts for the foreseeable future.
     However, after the New Year's holiday, the Pentagon said it would cut
troop strength for Somalia by 4,000 because of help from the allies.
     "I think we announced over the weekend that the figure that we'd given
earlier of approximately 28,000 U.S. forces being involved in the operation
has been revised downward as a result of coalition contributions and
deployments," Hall said.
     "Accordingly, we think now about 24,000 will probably be in the pipeline
to go at some time.  That may not be the actual number that is on the scene at
any one time, but they'll go and be involved in the operation probably."
     Hall said the Pentagon hopes to have reversed the flow of U.S. troops to
Somalia "slightly" by the end of January.
     "I wouldn't want to give you an estimate on the number," he said.  "At
this point we don't really know, and I wouldn't say that necessarily it's
going to be a large number.  We expect to have people there for some time in
the future."
     As of Jan. 5, the United States had approximately 20,800 forces involved
in Operation Restore Hope -- with more than 16,000 operating on the ground in
Somalia and 3,900 on board naval vessels of the coast.
     In addition, there are approximately 800 U.S. troops supporting Operation
Provide Relief, which is the humanitarian airlift of food into Somalia and
northern Kenya to the refugees.
     For Provide Relief, U.S. aircraft have logged 1,644 flights and delivered
19,433 metric tons of supplies for the U.N.'s fight against Somalia's famine,
Hall said.


009.  Fatal shooting
     MYRTLE BEACH AFB, S.C. (AFNS) -- An Air Force senior airman is still at
large after allegedly shooting and killing his wife at the base legal office
Jan. 4.
     SrA. Jeromy J. Willis, 23, allegedly shot Marie A. Willis, 30, three
times before fleeing the scene in a government vehicle.  The vehicle was later
found near the perimeter of the base.
     Willis, a pavement and grounds technician with the 354th Fighter Wing
civil engineering squadron, was separated from his wife and living in a base
dormitory.  He was under investigation for possible court martial and
interviews had been set for Jan. 4 to determine the merit of charges against
him.
     The Air Force Office of Special Investigations is working with local
civilian authorities to investigate the incident.


010.  King Week '93
     WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- In conjunction with the eighth national observance
of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday Jan. 18, the Martin Luther King Jr.
Federal Holiday Commission has designated Jan. 8-18 as King Week '93.
     Martin Luther King posters supporting the theme of "Living the Dream, Let
Freedom Ring:  Building Bridges of Understanding,"  have been provided to all
major command and base-level social action offices for the holiday observance.
     Recognizing King Week '93 as an opportunity to demonstrate its commitment
to the nation's tradition of respect for individual human rights and dignity,
the Defense Department supports observing King's birthday with programs and
activities at Air Force installations worldwide.


011.  VA home loans
     ROBINS AFB, Ga. (AFNS) -- Air Force Air National Guard and Reserve
members with six or more years of service who were not otherwise qualified are
now eligible for Veterans Administration home loans.
     Guardsmen and reservists previously had to have served on continuous
active duty for at least 90 days during the Gulf War or up to two years during
other times to be eligible for a home loan. A new public law signed at the
start of the fiscal year lets them apply for loans.
     To qualify under the new criteria, individuals must have completed six
years of honorable service in the selected Reserve.  This could include
participation in weekend drills and annual training but does not have to be
consecutive service.
     More information is available by calling the local VA representative or
the VA hotline at 1-800-827-1000.


012.  1993 Thunderbird schedule
     WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds 1993 demonstration
season starts in mid-March and includes shows at 51 sites in 28 states and
Canada, Pentagon officials said Jan. 4.
     More than 150 requests were received for Thunderbird performances in the
1993 season, which ends in mid-November.  The number of requests supported is
limited by the length of the season, travel and training requirements,
operational and deployment considerations, and seasonal weather conditions.
     With safety the primary consideration, officials said demonstration sites
are selected to support Defense Department objectives and the interests of the
armed services.
     1993 show sites are:
     March 20-21, Punta Gorda, Fla.; March 27, Luke AFB, Ariz.; and March 28,
Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
     April 3, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.; April 4, Dyess AFB, Texas; April
17-18, MacDill AFB, Fla.; April 21, Lakeland, Fla.; April 24, Eglin AFB, Fla.;
and April 25, Columbus AFB, Miss.
     May 1-2, Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, Calif.; May 8-9, Little Rock
AFB, Ark.; May 14-15, Andrews AFB, Md.; May 16, Rochester, N.Y.; May 22,
Randolph AFB, Texas; May 23, Vance AFB, Okla.; May 29, Coney Island, N.Y.; and
May 30, North Kingston, R.I.
     June 2, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.; June 5, St. Joseph ANGB, Mo.; June
6, Altus AFB, Okla.; June 9, Myrtle Beach, S.C.; June 12, McConnell AFB, Kan.;
June 13, Scott AFB, Ill.; June 19-20, Montreal, Canada; and June 26-27,
Hanscomb AFB, Mass.
     July 3-4, Battle Creek, Mich.; July 10-11, Davenport, Iowa; July 17-18,
Fort Wayne, Ind.; July 24, West Chicago, Ill.; July 25, Minot AFB, N.D.; July
28, F.E. Warren, Wyo.; and July 31, Truax Field, Wis.
     Aug. 1, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.; Aug. 6-7, Abbotsford, Conn.; Aug. 8,
Fairchild AFB, Wash.; Aug. 21-22, Chicago; Aug. 28, Kalispell, Mont.; and Aug.
29, McChord AFB, Wash.
     Sept. 4, Moody AFB, Ga.; Sept. 5-6, Jackson ANGB, Miss.; Sept. 11-12,
Toledo, Ohio; Sept. 18-19, Smyrna, Tenn.; and Sept. 25-26, Denver.
     Oct. 2-3, Travis AFB, Calif.; Oct. 9-10, Fort Worth, Texas; Oct. 16-17,
Houston; Oct. 23, Edwards AFB, Calif.; Oct. 24, Castle AFB, Calif.; and Oct.
30-31, March AFB, Calif.
     Nov. 6-7, Miami, and Nov. 13-14, Daytona Beach, Fla.


013.  N.J. Guard openings
     MCGUIRE AFB, N.J. (AFNS) -- The 108th Air Refueling Wing and 170th Air
Refueling Group of the New Jersey Air National Guard have immediate part-time
openings for people leaving the Air Force.
     Vacancies exist in fields such as 454X3, 454X4, 457X0, 458XX, 623X0 and
631X0.
     More information is available by calling toll free 1-800-331-1806 or DSN
440-4137.
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