# 99021. Troops Share Views During Cohen Asia Visit

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By Douglas J. Gillert
American Forces Press Service

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- For Air Force Staff Sgt. Phillip 
Machrael, Defense Secretary William S. Cohen's promise to 
improve the military retirement system couldn't come at a better 
time.

You serve 20 years in the military and that retired pay check is 
the most visible proof of it, Mackrael said during lunch at a 
dining facility here. He and other airmen and sailors assigned 
to Misawa were there to hear Defense Secretary William S. Cohen 
tell them what he's doing to improve their quality of life 
during and after military service. 

Mackrael plans to take his 20-year, 50-percent retirement 
annuity in 18 months and open a business in his native 
Huntsville, Ala. He joined the service well before a 1986 reform 
took effect that cuts retired pay to 40 percent after 20 years' 
service. He said Cohen's plan to scrap that 1986 reform should 
encourage younger airmen.

Of his three years at Misawa, a small base in rural northern 
Honshu, Japan's main island, the security forces specialist said 
he particularly likes the quality of the base schools and 
teachers. He said medical care is adequate. He thinks the base 
exchange and commissary are understocked because of the remote 
location, but rated Misawa a good assignment overall.

Senior Airman Wesley McMackin shares Machrael's like for Misawa. 
"I've lived in mostly small towns all my life, so I really enjoy 
the environment here," he said. "The people are friendly, and 
plenty of housing is available at a reasonable price." The 
recently married McMackin said he chooses to live off base even 
though Misawa has ample family housing.

Housing was a problem six years ago, though. "When I first came 
here, housing was very limited," said Senior Master Sgt. David 
Tavernese, the security forces first sergeant. "A married person 
assigned here wasn't authorized to bring his family over until 
he found housing, and it took six to eight months to find a 
place even off base. That's no longer a problem."

The issue Tavernese hears most often from his 160 airmen is 
manning. "There are so many different operations we support, 
sending folks off to different locations," he said. "It impacts 
the folks left behind, because you have that many fewer people 
to do the job."

About 300 miles to the south, Air Force Lt. Col. Dave Adams 
commands the 374th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron at Yokota Air 
Base. After several years in Washington staff positions, he 
said, he finds this opportunity truly invigorating and 
challenging.

"Morale here is super, because people are aware of what their 
wartime role is. There's a strong sense of commitment to the 
mission," Adams said. He gives equally high marks to quality of 
life programs at Yokota. "Off-duty education opportunities are 
great, the recreation programs are excellent, and housing is 
getting better." He said everyone who wants to live on base can.

Quality of life still isn't consistent from base to base or 
service to service, admitted Air Force Lt. Gen. John Hall, 
commander of U.S. forces in Japan. He said Cohen's visit here 
and his scheduled high-level talks are important to helping 
Washington understand and resolve some of the stress people 
serving here encounter. 

During visits at both bases, Cohen told service members he came 
for "a reality check," to learn what issues are bugging them 
most, and let them know Washington cares and is working to 
improve their lives. He was scheduled Jan. 14-15 to carry a 
similar message to service members in Korea before returning to 
Washington Jan. 16.

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 Air Force Lt. Col. Dave Adams and other U.S. service members at Yokota Air Base, Japan, listen as Defense Secretary William S. Cohen outlines his plan for higher pay raises, improved retirement benefits and a lower operations tempo. Cohen visited Yokota and Misawa Air bases Jan. 12 during a one-week visit to Japan and Korea. Douglas J. Gillert