From: bergman@AFPAN.PA.AF.MIL (CMSgt Mike Bergman)
Newsgroups: soc.veterans
Subject: Army News Svc 08/20/92
Date: 21 Aug 92 16:14:28 GMT
Organization: Hq Air Force News Agency/SCC


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September promotions

      WASHINGTON (ARNEWS) -- The number of officer, warrant officer 
and enlisted promotions fell this month, according to figures released 
by Army personnel officials.
      September promotions are on the way for 5,522 NCOs and 624 
officers. Also, 42 CWO2s will advance to CWO3, and 10 CWO3s will move 
up to CWO4.
      Personnel officials reported 422 fewer NCO promotions in 
September compared to the previous month, and 245 fewer officer 
promotions. Warrant officer promotions were 20 fewer to CWO3 and 13 
fewer to CWO4.
      NCO promotions, with list and sequence number, are:
RANK          NO. PROMOTED    THRU SEQ. NO.        LEFT ON LIST
Sgt. Maj.          42              735                    77     
Master Sgt.        60             By MOS               1,351
Sgt. 1st Class    600             By MOS               3,068
Staff Sgt.      1,262               -            List kept by field
Sgt.            3,558               -            List kept by field
      There are no merit promotions to sergeant or staff sergeant in 
September.
      September officer promotions, by category, are:
RANK     ARMY   JA    CH    MC    DC    MS    SP    VC    AN
Col.        0    0     2    23     7     3     0     0     4
Lt. Col.  107    8     2    12     4    21     0     0     6
Maj.        0*   0*    0    18     9     0*    0*    0*    0*
Capt.     285   32     5    NA    NA     1     1    NA    74
Total     392   40     9    53    20    25     1     0    84
     * - Promotions in these categories are delayed due to a fiscal 
year field-grade end-strength ceiling. Promotions will occur Oct. 1 
for those promotions delayed from Sept. 1.  Normal promotions for 
October will occur Oct. 2.


Black schools receive Army research grants

      WASHINGTON (ARNEWS) -- Two historically black institutions of 
higher learning were awarded Army research grants in a ceremony at the 
Pentagon Aug. 18.
      Clark-Atlanta University and Morris Brown College, both in 
Atlanta, each received three-year grants of $2.25 million to establish 
Army Centers of Excellence.
      Formally accepting the grants from Under Secretary of the Army 
John W. Shannon were Dr. Kofi Bota, vice-president of Clark-Atlanta 
University, and Dr. Gloria Anderson, acting president of Morris Brown 
College.
      Clark-Atlanta University and Morris Brown College are the first 
historically black schools to receive Army COE grants. There are 15 
Army COE programs at 14 of America's leading colleges and 
universities.
      "The Army is setting the standard for working with historically 
black colleges and universities as well as with other minority 
colleges and universities," Shannon said.
      "The schools were selected from among 20 applicants. Their 
selection testifies to the Army's continuing commitment to strengthen 
the long-term competitiveness of America's historically black colleges 
and universities," he added.
      Participating schools perform research to help sustain the 
nation's technological edge into the 21st century. A key goal of the 
program is to increase the number of minority scientists and 
engineers. 
      "The awarding of the grants to Morris Brown College and Clark-
Atlanta University is the start of something very significant for 
historically black colleges and universities," Anderson said.
      Clark's COE will specialize in information science. It will 
provide the Army with support to collect, sort, manage and evaluate 
data used in battle management and combat operations.
      Morris Brown's COE will focus on training research that's 
important for ensuring future soldiers receive the best training for 
various military operations. 
      The COEs strengthen the Army's ties with leading colleges and 
universities in critical research areas. Each center conducts world-
class research important to the Army and its planning, while enhancing 
the flow of information among academia, private industry and Army 
laboratories. Attracted to its work are some of America's brightest 
graduate students seeking degrees in subjects essential to the Army's 
future, federal officials said.

Health care benefits part of separation package

      WASHINGTON (ARNEWS) -- Extended health care benefits are being 
offered to soldiers leaving the Army involuntarily under honorable 
conditions and to those taking the Special Separation Benefit.
      These benefits include medical care at military treatment 
facilities and care through the Civilian Health and Medical Program of 
the Uniformed Services. The benefits will be extended 120 days for 
soldiers with six or more years' active service, and 60 days for 
soldiers with less than six years, according to 7th Medical Command 
officials.
      CHAMPUS care does not normally include medical coverage of the 
active-duty soldier, only family members. During the extended benefit 
period, soldiers themselves are eligible for care under CHAMPUS, in 
addition to their family members.
      Soldiers, regardless of length of service, may enroll for up to 
one year in a conversion health insurance policy with the Uniformed 
Services Voluntary Insurance Program. U.S. VIP is a DoD-negotiated, 
private-pay health conversion policy designed to cover soldiers until 
they enroll in permanent coverage or become eligible for group 
insurance, according to 7th MEDCOM.
      The policy can be purchased at the end of the 120- or 60-day 
CHAMPUS benefit period, and can be renewed by paying quarterly 
premiums.
      Soldiers or family members leaving the service with pre-existing 
medical conditions are also eligible for coverage. DoD is providing 
health insurance coverage through a contract with Mutual of Omaha 
Insurance Company. The coverage requires the purchase of U.S. VIP and 
is limited to one year, with a benefit limit of $1 million per person.
      Soldiers leaving the Army under the Voluntary Separation 
Incentive may also purchase coverage under U.S. VIP. However, VSI 
takers are not eligible for the 120- or 60-day CHAMPUS extension 
period, and the pre-existing medical condition clause does not apply.
      The Office of the Secretary of Defense released the following 
U.S. VIP quarterly premium rates, which are effective through March 
31, 1993.
              Smokers            Nonsmokers
         Age   Male      Female    Male      Female
through  29   $240.09   $318.54   $266.76   $353.93
         30    240.09    348.92    266.76    387.68
         31    240.09    358.83    266.76    398.70
         32    242.55    368.91    269.51    409.91
         33    251.60    383.25    279.54    425.84
         34    262.37    398.36    291.51    442.62
         35    274.64    413.34    305.15    459.36
         36    286.95    428.90    318.83    476.55
         37    299.22    444.50    332.46    493.88
         38    310.56    458.30    358.25    525.92
         39    322.43    473.33    358.25    525.92
         40    334.35    487.34    371.39    541.49
         41    346.97    500.18    385.52    555.75
         42    360.17    509.78    400.19    566.42
         43    375.89    525.93    417.65    584.37         
         44    392.13    539.79    435.69    599.76
         45    409.05    553.64    454.50    615.15
         46    427.16    567.53    474.62    630.59
         47    447.08    581.39    495.76    645.98
         48    462.75    589.11    514.17    654.57
         49    479.52    596.90    532.80    663.21
         50    497.03    605.24    552.24    672.48
         51    516.78    612.93    574.20    681.03
         52    538.70    620.70    598.55    689.67
         53    553.38    625.13    615.42    694.58
         54    569.39    629.01    632.66    698.90
         55    587.25    633.47    652.50    703.85
         56    606.17    637.35    673.52    708.17
         57    626.70    641.81    696.33    713.12
         58    635.00    641.81    705.56    713.12
         59    642.95    641.81    714.38    713.12
         60    651.12    641.81    723.47    713.12
         61    658.49    653.51    731.66    726.12
         62-64 665.78    671.85    739.76    746.51
         Each child - $150.03
      Premium rates are subject to change at any time, but they may 
not be applicable until after March 31. Premium rates for ages not 
listed are available from Mutual of Omaha. The premium rate per child 
(under 19 years) is for the first three children. There is no charge 
for additional children.
     (From a 7th MEDCOM release.)

-- 
         
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   \  Mike   /   
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