From: bergman@AFPAN.PA.AF.MIL (CMSgt Mike Bergman)
Newsgroups: soc.veterans
Subject: AF News Svc 08/11/92
Date: 12 Aug 92 13:31:06 GMT
Organization: Hq Air Force News Agency/SCC

634.  Air Force environmental program
635.  NCO retraining
636.  E-5 promotions
637.  CHAMPUS regional care
638.  General officer announcement
639.  CJR system changes
640.  Voting Information Center
641.  AAFES concept store
642.  DOD preseparation guide
643.  Georgia Guard
644.  Illinois Guard
645.  New York Guard
646.  Recruiting officers
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634.  Air Force environmental program
by TSgt. Sarah L. Hood
Air Force News Service
     WASHINGTON -- Faced with the major task of environmental cleanup and
compliance, the Air Force's top environmentalist is enlisting the help of
people in work places throughout the Air Force to get the job done.
     There is no reason to wait for the "grand solutions," said Gary Vest,
deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for environment, safety and
occupational health.
     Air Force leadership is working on the solutions as well as the budgets
to implement those solutions, he said.
     "But if everybody in the Air Force sort of stepped back a bit and said,
'What am I doing in terms of protecting the environment?  What am I doing in
making sure that something that is a pollutant doesn't become pollution? --
the Air Force would be so far ahead in the environmental business, you just
couldn't believe it," Vest said.
     With a goal of cleaning up the past, complying with present regulations
and reducing pollution to help protect natural resources for the future, Vest
said the Air Force is organized to accomplish the task.
     Things have fallen into place and the next few years can be spent
effectively "getting our arms around the environmental challenge."
     Environmental cleanup will be a $6 billion to $7 billion program by the
turn of the century, Vest said.  Nearly $2 billion has been spent so far as
progress increases in actually removing contamination such as fuel and
cleaning solvents from leaking systems, spills and old landfills from the
environment.
     In terms of the past, the Air Force has about 4,500 contaminated sites,
some of which will be cleaned up, while some will not require cleanup.  More
than 1,100 of the sites have been finished already.
     For the present, the Air Force aim is to comply with existing
environmental laws and regulations as they apply to current operations.
     Key laws in the compliance include the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water
Act, and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.
     Compliance involves reducing air pollution, water pollution such as
surface and ground water, and the proper handling of hazardous materials.
     Setting the stage for the future is pollution prevention.
     Initial funding from the fiscal 1992 supplemental budget request will
cover the first elements of a major pollution prevention program in the Air
Force, Vest said.  The full-scale program will begin with fiscal 1994 funding,
with a goal of reducing the amount of potential pollutants in the Air Force.
     One of the most important milestones in the compliance part of the
program is a full funding request to Congress for fiscal 1993.
     The funding ensures Air Force compliance in areas where discrepancies
were noted.
     Also fully funded are the initiatives needed to avoid non-compliance at
some point in the future.
     Part of that environmental compliance program is nearly $300 million in
environmental military construction projects for Air Force-wide environmental
compliance and upgrade programs.
     Projects include waste water treatment plants, corrosion control
facilities, underground storage tanks and fire training pits.
     "What we're really talking about here is a very aggressive program to get
the resources to do the job," Vest said.
     The challenge for the commands is to continue to effectively identify the
requirements, and do the necessary planning, programming and budgeting to
continue to get the funding.
     Well on the way to meeting the president's goal of ending ozone-depleting
chemicals by the end of 1995, the Air Force hopes to eliminate their use by 85
percent by the end of 1993.
     The Air Force is one of the leaders in the country and, in some respects,
the world in dealing with the ozone layer protection problem, and a leader in
finding substitutes for an ozone depleter called halon, Vest said.


635.  NCO retraining
by TSgt. Sarah L. Hood
Air Force News Service
     WASHINGTON -- The Air Force hopes to retrain about 1,900 NCOs in fiscal
1993 under a three-phase program which began Aug. 10, military personnel
officials said.
     The 1993 NCO Retraining Program is driven primarily by the need to adjust
NCO manning among various skills.  Many specialties fell short of voluntary
separation incentive and special separation benefit targets, and some skills
are facing significant technical and master sergeant overages, officials said.
     Under the retraining program, the Air Force is looking for volunteers to
retrain from overage skills into shortage skills.
     Retraining will be limited to master sergeants with less than 18 years of
service, and technical and staff sergeants with less than 16 years.  An
exception is less than 21 years for retraining into the first sergeant career
field.
     Phase one started Aug. 10 and continues through Sept. 30.  Anyone in
overage skills who is eligible to retrain can choose from specialties listed
on the Air Force retraining advisory.
     In phase two, voluntary retraining will continue but people who are at
risk of being involuntarily retrained will be notified.  Personal notices will
be sent advising that they can volunteer for retraining into a skill of their
choice if they meet qualifications.
     If enough volunteers are not found, people may be identified to retrain
into a specific shortage skill needed by the Air Force.
     Phase two is scheduled from Oct. 1 to Dec. 15.
     Finally, if necessary to meet program goals, NCOs will be involuntarily
retrained out of skills where there are still significant overages.
     NCOs in over-manned skills holding a second or third Air Force specialty
code in a shortage skill will be returned to those career fields, if it is in
the best interests of the Air Force.
     If overages still exist after that, the Air Force will select from the
population at risk and involuntarily retrain people.
     Overmanned AFSCs by grade are:
     AFSC           SSgt           TSgt           MSgt
     116X0            5              5
     361X0           40             10
     451X6A          50
     451X6B          10
     45176                          25             25
     452X3B          25
     452X3C          50
     45273                          35             35
     452X4C         250             75             50
     452X4M         150             30             25
     452X5                                         10
     455X1A                          5              5
     455X1B                         17             12
     455X1C          26             13             15
     455X2B                         19              8
     455X2C          10              6              5
     455X6           10             10              5
     491X1           50             25
     542X0           50             25
     542X1           10             10             10
     542X2           15             10             10
     545X1            4              5              2
     545X2           30             20
     551X0           15             10             10
     551X1                          10             10
     552X0                          15             10
     552X5                          10              5
     60273                          20             15
     603X0           90             35             15
     811X0                         175
     811X2                          45             38
     Second-term or career E-4s with less than seven years' total active
military service may volunteer for retraining out using staff sergeant quotas.
     Shortage AFSCs by grade are:
     AFSC           SSgt           TSgt           MSgt
     100X0                                        278
     113X0C          50             32             12
     201X0           38             30             15
     242X0            7              9              9
     277X0                          16              8
     304X6           14             10              3
     361X1           30              5
     452X4A         175             15             10
     491X2           12             11
     651X0           20              5
     672X1           45             30             20
     672X2           40             25             23
     674X0           30             15             15
     702X0           59             41             27
     732X0           40             64             30
     734X0A          21             16              5
     734X0B          25             15              5
     751X1            7             15             15
     881X0           21              6
     906X0           15             10              9
     Some restrictions may apply, depending on an individual's skill.
     Local personnel offices have complete details on the retraining program,
including eligibility criteria.
     The Air Force is encouraging interested NCOs to check on opportunities as
soon as possible while a greater variety of skills are available for
volunteers.


636.  E-5 promotions
     RANDOLPH AFB, Texas (AFNS) -- The Air Force has selected 13,535 for
promotion to staff sergeant during the 93A5 cycle, the first annual E-5
testing cycle.
     A total of 82,758 people were considered for an overall selection rate of
16.35 percent.
     The average score for selectees was 305.27 points, based on:
     -- Time in grade, 30.2 points.
     -- Time in service, 15.80 points.
     -- Performance reports, 127.68 points.
     -- Decorations, 1.89 points.
     -- Promotion fitness examination, 66.79 points.
     -- Specialty knowledge test, 66.18 points.
     Average time in grade was 3.97 years, average time in service 6.75 years,
and average age 27.14 years.  Promotions to staff sergeant are based on the
combined value of points awarded for TIG, TIS, performance reports,
decorations, PFE and SKT.
     Promotion quotas are based on projected grade vacancies caused by such
actions as retirements, separations and changes to end-strength requirements.
     During the last semiannual staff sergeant promotion cycle the Air Force
selected 5,027 out of 85,581 eligible for a 5.87 percent selection rate.


637.  CHAMPUS regional care
     AURORA, Colo. (AFNS) -- Health care received in civilian medical
facilities covered by CHAMPUS will be reviewed and monitored on a regional
rather than a state-by-state basis, CHAMPUS officials said.
     Under the regional review system, CHAMPUS established five review centers
nationwide, one in each of the CHAMPUS claims processing regions.  These
centers will oversee civilian medical and surgical care being provided to
CHAMPUS-eligible persons.
     These offices will decide whether that care is medically necessary,
delivered at the appropriate levels and whether it meets acceptable standards
of quality.
     The change does not apply to CHAMPUS mental health services, which are
currently reviewed by another contractor.
     Certain health care services require advance authorization under the
review system.  The authorization is needed before a patient is admitted or a
procedure performed, and is not the patient's responsibility.
     The following conditions or procedures must have advance authorization
from a CHAMPUS contractor serving the area where the are is provided:
     -- Removal of plaque deposits from coronary blood vessels.
     -- Bronchitis and asthma.
     -- Cardiac catheterization.
     -- Cesarian section.
     -- Surgical removal of the gall bladder.
     -- Coronary bypass graph.
     -- Gastritis and dehydration.
     -- Hysterectomy.
     -- Simple pneumonia.
     -- Abortions.
     Regional review centers will also investigate patient complaints about
the quality of care received in civilian hospitals.
     More information is available by calling (703) 695-5016.


638.  General officer announcement
     WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Gen. Hansford T. Johnson, commander in chief of the
U.S. Transportation Command and the Air Mobility Command, will retire, the
Pentagon announced Aug. 10.
     Lt. Gen. Ronald R. Fogleman has been named to replace Johnson and
selected for promotion to general.
     Fogleman is the 7th Air Force commander, Osan AB, Korea; deputy commander
in chief, United Nations Command Korea; deputy commander, U.S. Forces Korea;
and commander, Republic of Korea-U.S. Air Component, Combined Forces Command,
Osan.


639.  CJR system changes
     RANDOLPH AFB, Texas (AFNS) -- All new career job reservation applications
are now filed by rank to ensure the best qualified airmen receive job
reservations, Air Force personnel officials said.
     The Air Force eliminated the protected month aspect Aug. 1.  The
protected month aspect was when first-termers were eligible to apply for a job
reservation.
     Rank-order criteria are:
     -- Most recent enlisted performance report rating of 1 or 2.  Airmen are
automatically placed at the bottom of the waiting list if their most recent
EPR rating is a 1 or 2.
     -- Grade.
     -- Projected grade.
     -- Last three EPRs.
     -- Unfavorable information file, if one exists.
     -- Date of rank.
     -- Total active federal military service date.
     Applicants compete for available job reservations on a monthly basis.
The rank-order process controls the issue of CJRs in all cases.
     More information is available from local personnel offices.


640.  Voting Information Center
     WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Voters can now hear their candidates' opinions about
current issues and voice their own concerns through the Department of Defense
Voting Information Center.
     The Voting Information Center provides recorded messages from candidates
for governor, and U.S. Senate and House of Representatives through a
voice-response system.  Candidates are notified of the opportunity to address
voters through the center.
     Individuals can also leave their elected officials messages on any issue
or concern they may have.
     The center offers a direct line to voting action officers as well as
other election information and receives calls 24 hours a day, seven days a
week at DSN 223-6500 or commercial (703) 693-6500.
     The Voting Information Center is operated by the Federal Voting
Assistance Program in joint cooperation with the Non-commissioned Officers
Association.


641.  AAFES concept store
by TSgt. Sarah L. Hood
Air Force News Service
     DALLAS -- Certain exchange stores will sport a bold, new look when the
Army and Air Force Exchange Service starts testing a new concept store this
fall, exchange officials said.
     Customer preference analysis concept stores have been under development
since February.
     An AAFES research team was assembled to redesign stock assortment and the
store's physical setting to create an environment that stresses value,
officials said.
     The project is needed to dispel the misconception that exchanges do not
satisfy customers' basic needs, and to design the stores AAFES needs for 1995
to 2000, AAFES Commander Army Maj. Gen. Albin Wheeler said.
     Key to the project are high visibility and the lowest prices, officials
said.
     The research team focused on a core of 400 high-visibility, basic items
that customers need, to provide price lines that meet everyday needs of the
majority of AAFES customers.
     Three exchanges will serve as laboratories for the project, Fort Eustis,
Va., Fort Lewis, Wash., and another site yet to be determined.  These stores
will be completely reformatted for the test, which will run for about one
year.
     Each store is located in an area that offers a sister store nearby.  That
sister store will not change, so customers have a choice, officials said.
     Fort Eustis is scheduled to open in September and is paired with Langley
AFB, Va., while Fort Lewis has an October opening planned and is paired with
the exchange at McChord AFB, Wash.
     Sales data will indicate shopping habits.  Customer preference will also
be measured through other means, including inspector general visits and
surveys.


642.  DOD preseparation guide
     WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- The Defense Department's new booklet, "A
Preseparation Guide," answers many questions concerning separation and
highlights special programs for servicemembers facing involuntary separation.
     Available through base transition offices, the guide explains separation
programs; education, medical and dental benefits; reserve duty requirements;
and federal employment opportunities.
     Transition assistance programs offered by DOD include family centers,
resume service, electronic bulletin board, job verification data and job
seminars.
     The guide lists all transition program DOD sponsors and veterans'
benefits.  The addresses and telephone numbers of military service
organizations, and federal and state offices offering help are also listed.
     The Department of Veterans Affairs, state and local employment offices,
and local chamber of commerce also have programs and are listed in the guide.

643.  Georgia Guard
     SAVANNAH, Ga. (AFNS) -- The Georgia Air National Guard has part-time
openings for individuals leaving the Air Force through Palace Chase or Palace
Front programs.
     Air Force specialty codes with vacancies include 304X0, 304X4, 305X4K,
454X1 and 472X2.
     More information is available by calling the Georgia ANG at DSN
860-8112/3, or collect (912) 355-5372/5610.


644.  Illinois Guard
     PEORIA, Ill. (AFNS) -- The Illinois Air National Guard has openings with
the 182nd Fighter Group for enlisted members leaving the Air Force.
     Vacancies exist in Air Force specialty codes 452X2A/B/C, 452X4B, 454X1,
472X2 and 623X0.
     More information is available by calling the Illinois ANG at DSN
724-4267.


645.  New York Guard
     SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AFNS) -- The New York Air National Guard has part-time
openings for officers and enlisted members leaving the Air Force.
     Officers are needed in Air Force specialty codes 9016, 9125A, 9256, 9326,
9396 and 9586.
     Air Force specialty codes with enlisted vacancies include 247X0, 305X4,
454X1, 542X1, 551X1, 901X0, 902X0 and 924X0.
     More information is available by calling the New York ANG at DSN 489-9158
or commercial (315) 454-4681 or by writing to 174th FW/RS, Hancock Field ANGB,
Syracuse, N.Y. 13211-7099.


646.  Recruiting officers
     RANDOLPH AFB, Texas (AFNS) -- Air Force Recruiting Service is looking for
junior officers interested in recruiting duty.
     Several operations officer, Reserve officer, and advertising and
promotion officer positions across the United States are available for
captains and first lieutenants with three years' time on station.
     More information is available by calling Capt. Jackie Harry at DSN
487-3512.

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   \\  {*}  //                   bergman@afpan.pa.af.mil  
   \  CMSgt  /      ___________________ /____________________________________
   \  Mike   /   
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