From: bergman@afnews.pa.af.mil (CMSgt Mike Bergman)
Newsgroups: soc.veterans
Subject: AF News Svc 01/11/93
Date: 11 Jan 1993 15:35:09 -0600
Organization: Hq Air Force News Agency/SCC
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu

014.  New uniform 
015.  Non-line SERB
016.  Transition benefits
017.  Credit cards
018.  Commissary sale to benefit Women in Service Memorial
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NOTE TO EDITORS:  The following story is for use in the Jan.
14-15 editions of your publications.  A photo of the new Air
Force uniform was sent to all newspaper editors Jan. 6.  The
following caption is to accompany that photo.  Additionally,
drawings of the new sleeve rank for officers and enlisted
members were sent to all editors in the November 1991 Art and
Features package.

CAPTION:  Modeling the newly approved Air Force service
dress coat featuring braided sleeve-style rank insignia for
officers, and bigger, bolder chevrons for enlisted members are,
left to right, Capt. Cathy McGinn, Air Force clothing board chief;
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Merrill A. McPeak; Maj. Martha
Will of the Army and Air Force Exchange Service; and CMSAF
Gary R. Pfingston.
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014.  New uniform
     WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- A new uncluttered, streamlined wool
blend service dress uniform is the Air Force's choice for the
future, the Air Force chief of staff said Jan. 12.
     More than 700 people participated in a wear test of the prototype
service dress uniform, including jacket, trousers and skirt, to see
how servicemembers felt about the new design, three different
fabrics, fit and comfort.
     "The results are in and I think we have a winning combination,"
Gen. Merrill A. McPeak said.
     The Air Force has also opted for the braided sleeve-style rank
insignia for officers.
     "The officer sleeve braid links the Air Force with its rich
heritage," McPeak said.
     As plans developed to establish an independent Air Force
following World War II, air power leaders advocated a distinctive
uniform for airmen.
     Under Gen. Henry H. "Hap" Arnold's authority, the Army
developed four prototype blue uniforms in 1946.  For a
distinctive look, each of the four test uniforms had braided
sleeve insignia similar to Royal Air Force uniforms, the rank
insignia preferred by then Chief of Staff Gen. Carl A. Spaatz.
     But to speed production of the new uniform, Army rank was
adopted as an interim measure that was never changed until
now.
     The braid is similar to that currently worn by allied air forces as
well as other aviation professionals.
     "Just as the Merchant Marines' uniform looks like the Navy in
many respects, the new Air Force image will reflect our ties with
the aerospace profession," McPeak said.
     Enlisted members' rank insignia will return to tradition with the
addition of the star to all chevrons and everyone in the Air Force
-- officers and enlisted -- will wear the same quality uniform.
     Enlisted stripes will be larger and bolder on the new uniform.
Standard four-inch chevrons will be worn on outer garments with
three-and-a-half-inch chevrons on shirts.  Women will be
authorized to wear either four- or three-and-a-half-inch insignia
on the service dress coat.
     The new chevron will also be worn on both the service dress and
mess dress uniforms, eliminating the need for a separate,
expensive mess dress chevron.
     To provide greater recognition to the top three enlisted grades, a
new design feature -- one stripe taken off the bottom and put at
the top, starting with master sergeant -- will clearly designate all
senior NCOs.  Senior master sergeants will have two stripes up
with five down, and chiefs three up and five down.
     The wear test of two new women's skirts with functional pockets
was also included in the service dress coat wear test.
     The style selected was the skirt with the zipper in the back, and
featuring belt loops, pockets and a kick pleat.
     One drawback of the current service dress is that it is
manufactured in two types, Air Force officials said.
     One quality of uniform is issued to recruits at basic training, but
most career military members buy the Army and Air Force
Exchange Service version for a more professional appearance,
especially at special functions, they said.
     Since Air Force people often had uniforms they seldom wore,
McPeak directed a comprehensive review of all Air Force
uniforms with the intent of streamlining the program, eliminating
unnecessary items and saving Air Force members money.
    The result was a three-phase program.
    Phase one involved redesigning the service dress uniform with
emphasis on style, comfort, fit, quality, mass producibility and
customer satisfaction.  Three different fabrics, polyester-wool
blends in different weaves, were wear-tested in this phase with
the serge weave selected for the new uniform.
    The best practices in the civilian clothing and textile
manufacturing industry have been incorporated into the new
service dress, officials said.
    The end result is a high-quality, comfortable uniform that is
essentially a commercial design which can be mass produced at
a price comparable to what Air Force members pay for the
current service dress, they said.
    Individuals will be able to purchase the coat, trousers and skirt
as separate items rather than as a uniform set, making it easier
to find the right size and avoid the cost of major alterations in
many cases.
    Phase two eliminated seldom-used uniforms, such as the blue
ceremonial and white ceremonial uniforms, which became
optional items in February.  The new service dress coat is
designed as a multi-purpose uniform which will replace these
uniforms at functions previously requiring them.
    The service hats, or "wheel" and "bucket" hats, are now also
optional.
    Phase three involved reviewing other uniform clothing items,
insignia and accouterments, and eliminating duplication to save
Air Force people money.  For example, different size badges
were necessary for different uniforms.  Badges have now been
standardized in size and finish.
    Each component in the test, such as design, fabric and rank
insignia, was considered separately based on evaluations from
the participants, major commanders, senior enlisted advisors
and other people throughout the Air Force.
    With elimination of name tags, epaulets, metal rank insignia and
collar insignia, the new look for the Air Force is uncluttered, with
high-quality design and materials, officials said.
    The single-breasted jacket has a three-button front and a single
breast pocket to help align ribbons, and features a full inside
lining.
    The result is the first new, distinctive service dress uniform the
Air Force has had since it became a separate service in 1947.
    The overall cost to buy and maintain uniforms will be less once
the new uniform comes on line.  With fewer accouterments and
less duplication on the same items, Air Force people will save as
much as $800 over a 20-year career, officials said.
    It will be offered initially by the Army and Air Force Exchange
Service as an optional garment in 1994.  Air Force issue
uniforms will start arriving in late-1995 and the new mandatory
wear date will be late-1999.
    With the final design approved, patterns and specifications will
be delivered to the procuring agencies, who will manufacture the
uniforms for AAFES and the Defense Personnel Supply Center.


015.  Non-line SERB
    WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- A selective early retirement board will
meet Jan. 20 for approximately 23 chaplain lieutenant colonels,
and about 196 chaplain, judge advocate, nurse and biomedical
science corps colonels.
    Future end-strength projections have made SERBs necessary
to increase Air Force officer losses, officials said.  Early
retirement boards are one aspect of a comprehensive effort to
manage force drawdowns.
    Although the Air Force continues to look for ways to avoid, or at
least reduce, the impact of the selective early retirement boards,
current plans call for SERBs through 1995.
    Following an analysis of force structure requirements, the
secretary of the Air Force will determine the specific number of
selectees, not to exceed 30 percent of those eligible.
    Eligibles are all colonels with two years' time in grade as of Jan.
20, and chaplain lieutenant colonels with one promotion deferral
to colonel and at least 18 years of service.
    Officers selected for promotion or who have a mandatory
retirement date in fiscal 1993 or 1994, or any approved
voluntary retirement date will not be considered.
    Actual retirement dates of the selected officers will be at their
discretion, but can be no later than the first day of the seventh
month after the board results are approved.
    SERB eligibles cannot apply for a voluntary retirement date later
than Oct. 1, 1993, an exception to the normal 12-months policy,
officials said.
    The restriction will be lifted when the board meets.  All those
chosen will retire as commissioned officers with their current
rank.


016.  Transition benefits
    RANDOLPH AFB, Texas (AFNS) -- The 1993 National Defense
Authorization Act made significant changes to transition benefits
available to some Air Force people leaving the service.
    All transition assistance management program
benefits previously offered only to recipients of the special
separation benefit are now extended to voluntary separation
incentive recipients as well.  
     These benefits include two years of commissary, exchange and theater 
privileges.  Also included are 120 days of medical benefits, CHAMPUS 
and treatment in uniformed service facilities.  
     Personnel officials said VSI and SSB recipients will have the same 
priority as active-duty dependents for medical services.
     Additionally, both SSB and VSI recipients are authorized
enrollment in the Montgomery GI Bill, and travel entitlements
and shipment of household goods to home of selection,
regardless of years of service.
     These changes are retroactive to Dec. 5, 1991.  In early
December, military personnel flights were instructed to contact
all VSI and SSB recipients who had not yet separated and
advise them of their new entitlements.  Those who had already
separated are being notified via certified mail by AFMPC.
    Personnel officials expect to complete notification by Jan. 31.
    In another change to the law, VSI recipients no longer have to
give up part of their annual VSI payments if they draw National
Guard or Reserve paychecks.  If, however, VSI recipients ever
qualify for Guard or Reserve retirement, their retired pay will be
offset until all of the VSI received has been collected.
    Military personnel flights have more information.


017.  Credit cards
     DALLAS (AFNS) -- The Army and Air Force Exchange Service
and First USA Bank now offer a Gold Mastercard and Visa Gold
credit card with a 12.5 percent interest rate and no annual fee.
Applications for the card will be available in March at exchanges
worldwide.
    The new gold card supplements the existing Armed Forces
credit card. Applicants will be evaluated by First USA based on
their income.
    People who qualify for both lines of credit will receive both
cards.  If applicants qualify for the gold card only, First USA will
convert their current card to the gold card.
    The new cards are currently available at 12 test locations
throughout the Air Force.


018.  Commissary sale to Benefit Women in Military Memorial
     WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- A "Salute to Women in the Military"
sales promotion is scheduled throughout the commissary system
in February, Defense Commissary officials said.
     Industry sponsors will allow patrons savings from 15 percent to
38 percent on 40 separate products during the campaign.
     Savings are increased when shoppers use coupons which will be
distributed in commissaries during February.
     Participating manufacturers will donate money to the Women in
Military Service for America Memorial Foundation for each case
of their product sold.
     The money will be used to help build the Women in Military
Service Memorial at the gateway to Arlington National
Cemetery, Va.
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