From: bergman@afnews.pa.af.mil (CMSgt Mike Bergman)
Newsgroups: soc.veterans
Subject: AF News Svc 11/05/92
Date: 6 Nov 1992 07:59:45 -0600
Organization: Hq Air Force News Agency/SCC
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu


862.  Compensation hike
863.  VA toll-free information
864.  AAFES shoplifting
865.  Emergency aid
866.  C-17 climate testing
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862.  Compensation hike
     WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Compensation for disabled veterans will increase 3
percent Dec. 1, the Department of Veterans Affairs said.
     The cost-of-living increase was included in legislation signed by the
president Oct. 24, and will appear in the January checks to veterans.
     Affected are about 2 million people with monthly payments between $85 for
a single veteran with a 10-year disability rating to $1,730 for a single
veteran with 100 percent disability.
     Additionally, about 312,000 survivors of service members who died from
service-connected causes are affected.
     Veterans with disabilities rated at 30 percent or more may receive
additional allowances for dependents, based on the numbers of dependents and
the extent of disability.


863.  VA toll-free information
     WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- A nationwide, toll-free number went into service
Oct. 26 as the source of information on Department of Veterans Affairs
benefits.
     The number, 1-800-827-1000, can be dialed anywhere in the United States,
Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.  Veterans and their families can be
connected to their nearest VA regional office during regular office hours.
Prior to the one nationwide number, each regional office had its own toll-free
number.
     There is at least one VA regional office in each state that processes
applications for veterans benefits and provides information and referral
services for veterans interested in VA care and non-VA programs.
     People living in the local area of a regional office are asked to use the
local number when calling that office.
     VA also maintains a national toll-free number accessible to deaf and
hearing-impaired callers and their families.  People with this special
equipment can call 1-800-829-4833 for VA-related information.
     Calls received after regular office hours, on weekends or holidays, will
be returned the next business day.


864.  AAFES shoplifting
     DALLAS (AFNS) -- Security measures in base and post exchanges are being
increased in anticipation of a heightened rate of shoplifting during the
upcoming holiday season, Army and Air Force Exchange Service officials said.
     AAFES statistics show the shoplifting incidents increase dramatically
each December and, during the last holiday season alone, store detectives
detained more than 1,700 suspected shoplifters.
     During the 1990 holiday season, about 1,400 suspects were detained, a
figure which reflected numbers seen elsewhere in the retail industry.
     Overall 1991 figures show that 15,653 people were caught as they
attempted to steal more than $805,000 worth of AAFES merchandise.  The number
of shoplifter rose more than 15 percent from the previous year.
     Hiring additional security workers and training other store employees are
just two measures AAFES is taking to curb shoplifting, officials said.  Video
surveillance equipment is also being installed or upgraded.
     Military customers caught shoplifting are subject to punishment under the
Uniform Code of Military Justice.  Civilians may be charged with theft of
government property in a federal court and could be fined up to $1,000 and
sentenced to one year in prison.
     Exchange privileges for convicted shoplifters must be revoked for at
least six months, but many commanders go beyond this and pull other privileges
as well.  For example, shoplifters risk losing access to installation housing
and services.
     If caught at an overseas exchange, people may find themselves and their
families being returned to the United States before their scheduled return
date.
     Most people caught said they never shoplifted before and thought no one
was watching them.


865.  Emergency aid
     SCOTT AFB, Ill. (AFNS) -- The United States began shipment of more than
236 tons of flour to Armenia aboard Air Mobility Command transports Nov. 1.
     Two C-5s from Dover AFB, Del., a C-5 from Westover AFB, Mass., and one
from Travis AFB, Calif., were scheduled to leave Kelly AFB, Texas, for
Rhein-Main AB, Germany, and then on to Yerevan, Armenia.
     The first C-5 took off from Kelly Nov. 1 and was scheduled to land at
Yerevan by Nov. 4.  The operation was scheduled to be completed by Nov. 6.
     The U.S. Department of Agriculture provided the flour which was trucked
from USDA suppliers in Kansas City, Mo., to Kelly AFB.  The United States has
also shipped 56,000 tons of wheat to Armenia which is due to arrive around
Nov. 16.  Turkey has also agreed to sell Armenia about 100,000 tons of wheat.
(Courtesy of AMC News Service)


866.  C-17 climate testing
     EGLIN AFB, Fla. (AFNS) -- A C-17 transport arrived at Eglin Oct. 31 to
begin six months of climate testing.
     The aircraft will undergo temperature control testing at the Air Force
Flight Development Center's McKinley Climatic Laboratory.  The aircraft will
be exposed to temperatures ranging from minus 105 degrees to 165 degrees.
     Following the test, the aircraft will return to Edwards AFB, Calif.
     The Air Force plans to buy 120 C-17s, with the first delivery to
Charleston AFB, S.C., in early-1993.

-- 
         
      // \\
    //     \\                    Air Force News Agency 
   |         |               Kelly Air Force Base, Texas, USA
   \\  {*}  //                   bergman@afpan.pa.af.mil  
   \  CMSgt  /      ___________________ /____________________________________
   \  Mike   /   
   \ Bergman /
     \     / 


Newsgroups: soc.politics.arms-d