From: bergman@AFPAN.PA.AF.MIL (CMSgt Mike Bergman)
Newsgroups: soc.veterans
Subject: AF News Svc 10/07/92
Date: 9 Oct 92 13:26:59 GMT
Organization: Hq Air Force News Agency/SCC

794.  Hiring freeze extension
795.  Disaster entitlements update
796.  Emergency leave fares
797.  Peacekeeper Challenge result
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794  Hiring freeze extension
by TSgt. Sarah L. Hood
Air Force News Service
     WASHINGTON -- The Defense Department has extended for a third time the
civilian hiring freeze in effect with all the services since January 1990,
Pentagon officials said.
     Defense Secretary Dick Cheney initiated the hiring freeze to reduce the
size of the civilian work force in conjunction with reductions in the armed
forces.
     It was intended to last only through the end of 1990 but was extended
twice through 1991 and 1992, and will continue through fiscal 1993, officials
said.
     The number of both part-time and full-time civilian employees has already
gone from 1,156,000 in fiscal 1989 to 1,015,000 in September.
     The freeze initially applied to all DOD civilian positions, including
non-appropriated fund jobs and foreign national positions.  It also prohibited
the filling of positions from any source, either inside or outside the
department.
     In February 1990 non-appropriated fund positions, vacancies in Berlin, or
foreign military sales or security assistance program offices became exempt to
the freeze.
     A change allowing the services to fill commissary vacancies regardless of
hiring limitations was also announced in February.
     Other exemptions included positions directly supporting child care and
day-care centers overseas.
     DOD announced further policy revisions in March 1991 for the rest of the
fiscal year, allowing the Air Force and other defense  agencies to hire two
employees from outside DOD for every five who leave.
     The hiring limitation applied to civilian employees paid from
appropriated funds but not non-appropriated fund jobs or civil functions.


795.  Disaster entitlements update
     WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- While the location of family members on Aug. 28
still counts as the first safe haven location for Homestead AFB, Fla.,
evacuees, servicemembers can claim some allowances prior to that date.
     The 1992 Emergency Department of Defense Supplemental Appropriations Act
includes expanded authority for disaster relief for military people evacuated
from Homestead to cover Aug. 23-27.
     Andrew devastated southern Florida Aug. 24, destroyed the base and caused
an estimated $20 billion to $30 billion in damages.
     Retroactive payments for allowances, including travel to the original
safe haven, and food and lodging, should be claimed on the family member's
travel voucher.  Any travel before then is not reimbursable.
     Household goods and private vehicle entitlements are also retroactive to
Aug. 23.
     Unaccompanied family members in the Homestead area who evacuated to a
safe haven are now eligible for entitlements.
     People assigned short or unaccompanied tours overseas at first could not
get evacuation allowance for their families in the Homestead area.  The
appropriations act opens up entitlements to those families as long as they
were at Homestead because of official orders, such as the sponsor's
unaccompanied assignment.
     The servicemember's permanent duty station does not affect the
entitlement, officials said.
     Safe haven allowances entitle 12-year-olds and over full per diem on a
lodging-plus basis for up to 30 days, using the rates for the safe haven
location.  For children younger than 12 the per diem rate is 50 percent.
     After 30 days, the rates for family members 12 and over are reduced to 60
percent of the lodging and per diem rates for that area.  The rate drops to 30
percent for children under 12.


796. Emergency leave fares
     FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AFNS) -- Several major airlines are offering special
fares for military members and their families traveling on emergency leave,
officials at the Military Traffic Management Command said.
     Delta, Continental, United, American and Northwest Airlines and USAir,
will waive advance purchase restrictions on seven-day purchase fares for
round-trip travel within the continental United States.  Trans World Airlines
has similar fare provisions.
     People on active duty must present their military identification card and
a copy of emergency leave orders to the airline at time of ticket purchase.
     Family members are also eligible for the fares provided they travel with
the military sponsor.
     More information is available from individual airlines.


797. Peacekeeper Challenge results

by A1C Paul F. Gritton
     Kirtland AFB, N.M. (AFNS) -- For the second year in a row, a security
policeman from the Air Force Material Command took first place honors in
Peacekeeper Challenge '92 Chief's Challenge.
     Sgt. Ronald M. Desjardin of Air Force Materiel Command won the Chief's
Challenge and covered the fitness course with a record time of 11 minutes, 55
seconds.
     Desjardin beat the second-place competitor by almost two minutes in
setting the event record.
     The week-long competition, which ended Oct. 3, included 14 security
police teams competing in seven events. The United Kingdom's Royal Air Force
Regiment, Royal Australian Air Force's Airfield Defence Squadron and 12 U.S.
Air Force major command teams gave the competition a worldwide flavor.
     In five of the seven events, teams earned gold, silver and bronze medals.
The other two events produced individual winners
     The following teams and individuals earned trophies:
     -- Physical fitness: 1. Air Force Materiel Command, 15:16; 2. RAF, 16:40;
3. U.S. Air Forces in Europe, 16:4.
     -- Chief's Challenge: 1. Sgt. Ronald M. Desjardin of AFMC, 11:55, record
time; 2. TSgt. Kenneth Chrapkowski of Pacific Air Forces, 13:51; 3. SSgt.
Keith McCormack of Air Mobility Command, 14:11.

     -- M-9 pistol: 1. Air Force Space Command; 2. Air Training Command; 3.
USAFE.
     -- M-60 machine gun: 1. ATC; 2. RAAF; 3. RAF.


     -- M-203 grenade launcher: 1. Desjardin; 2. Sgt. Ron Johnson of ATC; 3.
SrA. Charles Brown of Air Combat Command.
     -- M-16 combat rifle: 1. PACAF; 2. USAFE; 3. Air Combat Command.
     -- Defender Challenge: 1. ACC; 2. AMC; 3. RAF.
     The Air Force District of Washington team earned the Non Commissioned
Officers Association Award for displaying the best team spirit, enthusiasm and
unity of effort.
     MSgt. Daniel Lickteig, AFMC's team captain, earned the RAF Commandant
General's Award, which goes to the enlisted member showing the most
professionalism, drive and leadership throughout the competition.
     SrA. Michael Ross of Dover AFB, Del., earned the Combat Arms Training and
Maintenance Support Award.
     Desjardin received the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Award from
the Air Force Sergeants Association for being the most dynamic competitor in
this year's challenge.
     In the four-man physical fitness event on the first day of competition,
teams battled hot, thin air, gusty winds, and sand blown in their faces as
they traversed the 21-obstacle, 1.5-mile course.
     The showcase event, Defender Challenge, involved a base defense mission
which tested all aspects of tactical maneuvers, command, control, and
communication.
     Weapons used in the events included the M-9 9-millimeter pistol, M-16
rifle, M-60 machine gun and M-203 grenade launcher. (Gritton is assigned to
542nd Crew Training Wing public affairs division at Kirtland)


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