From: NAVNEWS@nctamslant.navy.mil (Navy News Service)
Newsgroups: soc.veterans
Subject: Navy News Service - 8 Jan 93
Date: 9 Jan 93 22:00:56 GMT
Organization: UTexas Mail-to-News Gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu

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Navy News Service - NAVNEWS BY EMAIL - navnews@nctamslant.navy.mil
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NAVY NEWS SERVICE - 8 JAN 93 - NAVNEWS 002/93
     Editor's Note
     This Navy News Service message follows NAVNEWS 001/93, DTG
062300Z Jan 93.  NAVNEWS 002/93 is being released as a means of
providing more timely information to the fleet; we will release
news when it is news.
                               -USN-
TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR NAVNEWS 002/93
NNS17.  Navy Ready for Action in Gulf as Deadline Passes
NNS18.  SECNAV Supports Expanded Combat Role for Women   
NNS19.  Navy Pilots Now Eligible for VSI/SSB
                               -USN-
NNS17.  Navy Ready for Action in Gulf as Deadline Passes
ON BOARD USS KITTY HAWK (NNS) -- As the 5:15 p.m. (EST) deadline
passed for Iraq to pull its missiles from the U.S.-protected "no-
fly zone" below the 32nd parallel, White House officials said the
exact movement of the Iraqi missiles was still questionable.
     "We continue to keep the situation in Iraq under close
scrutiny.  We have observed no penetrations by Iraqi aircraft of
the no-fly zone below 32 degrees north latitude since Wednesday's
coalition warning.  The disposition of surface-to-air missiles
specified in the Jan. 6 warning is less clear.  There have been a
good deal of movement involving these missiles, but we are still in
the process of determining whether Iraq is in compliance with the
terms of the coaltion demarche," said a statement issued by the
White House.
     Press on board aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63)
reported that a large patrol of Navy aircraft conducted last-hour
flights over the area.
     "Any time you have a missile pointed at you, it's a threat,"
said Commander, Cruiser Destroyer Group Five, RADM Phil Coady. 
     A force of 33 aircraft, nearly double the normal patrol of 17
planes, was fully armed and conducted a routine two-hour mission
over the zone and returned to Kitty Hawk prior to the deadline.  
     The deadline, which was set Wednesday by the United States, 
France, Britain and Russia, gave Iraq 48 hours to remove surface-
to-air missiles in the area of the "no-fly zone."
     Kitty Hawk and its battle group have been on station in the
Persian Gulf since Jan. 1.
Story compiled from official and media sources
                               -USN-
NNS18.  SECNAV Supports Expanded Combat Role for Women   
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- In a Jan. 6 address to the Brigade of
Midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., Secretary
of the Navy Sean O'Keefe went on record supporting an expanded role
for women in combat.
     Referring to the November report from the Presidential
Commission on the Assignment of Women in the Armed Forces, which
recommended opening some combat specialties to women and leaving
others closed, O'Keefe said, "I don't think they went far enough...
I believe we should expand the role of women in combat in all the
armed forces, including permitting women to fly combat missions, as
well as serve in all naval vessels."
     The Secretary further said that DoD should rescind its current
"risk rule," which is designed to prevent the risk of women being
injured in combat, and require the registration and potential
drafting of women on an identical sociological basis as men.  "This
will all be part of a spirited debate," said O'Keefe, "but one that
is long overdue.  We have been leading the way in tackling this
issue, and I believe we will resolve it this year."
     O'Keefe also addressed the continuing process of integrating
the Navy staff in Washington.  To support this integration, he said
future budgets must reflect the renewal of the Navy-Marine Corps
team and take into consideration the wider variety of operations
the Navy-Marine Corps team will be undertaking in the future. 
"Decisions on (weapons) systems must be made in the context of an
integrated staff process and a budget that accurately reflects (the
new Navy-Marine Corps strategy) '...From the Sea.'"
     The complete text of SECNAV's speech is available on the CNO
bulletin board at 1-800-582-2355/6940 or (703) 695-6198/6388, or by
electronic mail from NAVNEWS@NCTAMSLANT.NAVY.MIL.
                               -USN-
NNS19.  Navy Pilots Now Eligible for VSI/SSB
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy is expanding the Voluntary Separation
Incentive (VSI) and the Special Separation Benefit (SSB) programs
offer to more lieutenant and lieutenant commander pilots, while
extending the time limit for submission of all officer
applications.  The new deadline is Jan. 29, 1993, extended from the
original deadline of Dec. 31, 1992.
     Pilots in the VF, VFA, VA, VS, VQ (JET), VQ (PROP), VQ (TAC),
VAQ and VAW communities who have more than 13 years of commissioned
service may now apply if they have no Aviation Continuation Pay
(ACP) obligations.  To be eligible for VSI and SSB, applicants must
have been on active duty at least six years before Dec. 5, 1991,
and must have served at least five years of continuous active duty
immediately prior to separation.  Targeted are additional aviators
in year groups that are overmanned based on the Navy's current
needs and projected requirements.
     The Navy still exempts portions of several communities from
this recent offer of VSI and SSB.  Those not eligible include
nuclear-trained officers; intelligence officers; aeronautical
engineering officers; medical officers; Roman Catholic chaplains;
LDO (limited duty officer) lieutenant commanders; and TAR (Training
and Administration of Reserves) officers.  Also not eligible are
officers who still have obligated service from advanced education,
those with previously approved resignation or release from active
duty requests, and those serving in assignments outside the
continental U.S. (CONUS) with rotation dates after Sept. 30, 1993.
     VSI and SSB are programs designed to encourage selected
military personnel to voluntarily leave the service before
retirement.  VSI is paid in an amount equal to 2.5 percent times
monthly base pay times 12 times years of service.  This amount is
paid in equal installments, commencing upon separation from active
duty, and on each separation anniversary date for an amount equal
to twice the number of years of active duty service.
     The second option, SSB, is a lump-sum payment made at the time
of separation.  The amount is equal to 15 percent of monthly base
pay times 12 multiplied by the years of service.
     Participation in these programs remains strictly voluntary,
with no threat of involuntary separation or reduction-in-force
(RIF) action for those who decide to continue their careers until
eligible for regular retirement.
     All separations are to be completed by March 31, 1993.  Both
regular and reserve officers must complete a minimum of a three-
year reserve appointment in addition to any obligated reserve
service remaining.  
     Other details, including employment, pre-separation counseling
and other transition assistance programs are explained in NAVADMIN
189/92 (CNO WASHINGTON DC 181752Z Nov 92).
Story by BUPERS Public Affairs  
                               -USN-