-Caveat Lector- WJPBR Email News List [EMAIL PROTECTED] Peace at any cost is a prelude to war! 992292. DFAS delivers on new military pay and entitlements ARLINGTON, Va. (AFPN) -- "DFAS is ready to pay our uniformed members and entitled individuals," says Gloria Harris, deputy director for Military Pay, in response to sweeping changes in military pay and entitlements made in the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2000. The act contains some of the biggest changes since the 1949 pay reform act that established the current entitlement program for the nation's military. The changes include two basic pay increases during fiscal 2000, implementation of 10 new entitlements, increases to eight existing entitlements as well as repeal of the dual compensation/pay cap restrictions and introduction of a retirement bonus for those choosing to return to the REDUX retirement system. In April 1999, DFAS recognized the potential magnitude of these proposed legislative changes and began working with the office of the deputy assistant secretary of defense (military personnel policy) and the military services to establish policy guidance and identify eligible members so, DFAS could update affected service members' pay accounts. Since that time, DFAS has established either automated or manual procedures to issue the newly authorized payments. All military members will receive their basic pay increase in the first payday in January. Likewise, increases for other entitlements, such as enlistment and reenlistment bonuses, nuclear bonuses, special warfare and surface warfare officer bonuses and the elimination of dual compensation offset, have either already started, or will be once the military service notifies DFAS of the eligibility of a member. Several increases, such as foreign language proficiency, career enlisted flyer incentive and judge advocate continuation pays, cannot be paid until both policy and required personnel information are provided to DFAS. However, in all cases, service members will be paid -- in full -- any retroactive entitlements back to the date authorized by law or by their service, as soon as possible following receipt of required entitlement information by DFAS. A few of the entitlements, such as the retirement REDUX bonus, have future effective dates and are not, therefore, scheduled for payment. 992291. Housing rates set, rate protection in place by Jim Garamone American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- The recently released basic allowance for housing rates, effective Jan. 1, were computed using a new method of measuring housing costs for service members in the United States. DOD officials said this more accurately reflects the actual cost of housing. DOD computes BAH for more than 400 locations in the United States. DOD-wide about 752,000 service members are eligible for BAH. About 73 percent receive BAH at the "with dependent" rates. While the rates are different for each area, overall, the new BAH rates mean junior enlisted will receive more money. Further, rates in high-cost areas will go up for all ranks. "The major change in BAH was to find a way to more accurately reflect housing costs for service members in the areas they are assigned," said Vice Adm. Pat Tracey, deputy assistant secretary of defense for military personnel policy. "We found that under the old (Basic Allowance for Quarters/Variable Housing Allowance) system that people would move into housing that was less costly. And, because we surveyed them on where they were living, we kept driving down the rates in some areas, and people found it more and more difficult to find affordable housing. "We ended up setting rates that drove people into less acceptable housing in more and more risky neighborhoods," said Tracey. Under the new system officials compute the BAH rates based on surveys of what it costs to live in particular communities, rather than service members' reports of what they paid. The old system worked to the disadvantage of junior enlisted members and to all service members living in high-cost areas, officials said. Service members in lower cost areas may see the published rates for their area go down, but will not see this mirrored on their leave and earnings statements. "In areas where the rates go up, service members will receive the new rates," said Navy Capt. Elliott Bloxom, DOD's director of compensation. "But in areas where the rates go down, individuals will be protected. They will not see their allowance drop. But new people moving in will receive the lower rates." This rate protection applies throughout the country. Service members will not be penalized in 2000 if the rate drops. "They may have negotiated their lease payments at the higher rate," Bloxom said. "As long as members stay in their current locations they will not see their rate drop." When they move to their next assignments, they will be paid the published rates at the time for their new locations. Rate-protected service members sponsoring a family should be aware of the new rates, however. "If they are sponsoring someone who is moving to the area, those new people will not receive the same rate they do," Bloxom said. The changes this year essentially complete the transition from the old system of BAQ/VHA to BAH four years early. DOD officials have resolved the potential problem caused by differences in the fiscal 2000 defense authorization and appropriation acts. The authorization act pledged $225 million more to the BAH program, but the appropriations act -- the act that actually appropriates money -- set the amount at $100 million. DOD officials said the military services cut other programs to come up with the additional $125 million. BAH does not cover all of service members' housing costs. By law, service members should pay no more than 15 percent of the national median housing costs out-of-pocket. In 1999, the percentage was 19.8 percent. Making this transition will allow DOD to reduce the typical service member's out-of-pocket costs. Officials estimate the out-of-pocket costs will be at 18.8 percent in 2000 and 15.8 percent by 2003. Tracey and Bloxom said the 2000 rates should be a pleasant surprise for service members. "BAH allows us to increase rates in the higher cost areas while allowing us to provide rate protection," Bloxom said. "Nobody will lose. People in areas where the rates go up will receive them, people in areas where they go down will be protected." You can view the fiscal 2000 BAH charts at http://afishp6.afis.osd.mil/bah/fy2000.pdf. 992293. F-15 Midair accident report released LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (AFPN) -- Officials investigating the June 19 midair collision of two F-15 aircraft near Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., have determined the accident occurred when one of the pilots lost track of the other's position during a training exercise. The pilots of the two aircraft, Maj. Bruce Till and Capt. William Cooley, both ejected and sustained minor injuries. The two aircraft were destroyed when they hit the ground, about 19 miles north of Rachel, Nev. Both pilots were assigned to the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron based at Nellis. According to the accident investigation board report, Cooley failed to clear his flight path before entering into an engagement where Till -- his wingman -- was already established. The collision occurred when the radome section of Till's aircraft hit the engine nozzle area of Cooley's aircraft. The two aircraft were flying an offensive counter-air mission during a Y2K readiness exercise at Nellis. Investigators determined the Y2K testing was not a factor in the accident. Air Combat Command officials completed the AIB report. (Courtesy of ACC News Service) 992288. Results of Global Hawk accident investigation board released by Sue Baker Aeronautical Systems Center Public Affairs WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFPN) -- The Air Force accident investigation board has released its results concerning the possible causes of the March 29 crash of Global Hawk Unmanned Aerial Vehicle No. 2. The mishap occurred when Global Hawk inadvertently received a test signal for flight termination from a test range on Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., which was outside the frequency coordination zone in which the UAV's mission was being flown. This caused Global Hawk to go into a termination maneuver involving a pre-programmed, rolling, vertical descent from an altitude of 41,000 feet. Global Hawk No. 2, valued at approximately $45 million, crashed at 10:14 a.m. PST at the South Range at China Lake Naval Weapons Center, Calif. When it crashed, there was no fire, and China Lake personnel secured the site. "While this incident was unfortunate, and caused a temporary delay in our flight test program, we resumed flying May 18 from Edwards," said Col. Craig McPherson, director, Global Hawk System Office, Reconnaissance Systems Program Office at Aeronautical Systems Center here. "The flight termination approach for Global Hawk has now been modified to preclude the type of incident experienced on March 29." Global Hawk is one of two UAVs currently under development/acquisition by ASC. Predator, a medium-altitude UAV, has entered the Air Force acquisition process, has seen service in Bosnia and in Operation Allied Force in the skies above Kosovo, Yugoslavia. Release of the accident report is the responsibility of Air Force Materiel Command's Office of the Staff Judge Advocate. Individuals requesting a copy of the report may contact the office by mail at the following address: AFMC Office of Staff Judge Advocate ATTN: General Law Division 4225 Logistics Ave, STE 23 WPAFB, OH 45433-5762 992294. RQ-1 Predator accident report released LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (AFPN) -- Officials investigating the April 18 crash of an RQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle near Tuzla Air Base, Bosnia, have determined the accident resulted from a combination of mechanical and human factors. The Predator, which belonged to the 11th Reconnaissance Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., was returning from a reconnaissance mission over Kosovo in support of Operation Allied Force. It was destroyed upon impact. According to the accident investigation board report, the Predator experienced a fuel problem during its descent into Tuzla. Upon entering instrument meteorological conditions and experiencing aircraft icing, the Predator lost engine power. The two Predator pilots, who control the aircraft from a ground station, executed critical action procedures but were unable to land the aircraft safely. It crashed in a wooded area four miles south of Tuzla. According to the report, the pilots' attention became too focused on flying the Predator in icing and weather conditions they had rarely encountered. The report also cites lack of communication between the two pilots during the flight emergency as a cause of the accident. Air Combat Command officials completed the AIB report. (Courtesy of ACC News Service) 992290. Sexual harassment hotline remains available RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) -- The Air Force's senior leaders continue to want military and civilian employees to remain aware of the service's sexual harassment hotline, reminding those associated with the Air Force that the hotline remains open. The Air Force Personnel Center here operates the hotline, which is set up to receive sexual harassment and other forms of discrimination inquiries. The numbers are: toll free 1-800-558-1404; DSN 665-2949; or commercial (210) 565-2949. "First we expect our people to use their chain of command," said Maj. Gen. Don Lamontagne, AFPC's commander. "However, the hotline opens another channel of communication for those who have a question, concern or complaint about sexual harassment or discrimination. The Air Force has 'zero tolerance' for sexual harassment and discrimination and we take each call very seriously." AFPC Call Center representatives initially answer all hotline calls. Callers with a sexual harassment or discrimination concern are forwarded to a qualified military equal opportunity counselor. Counselors ensure callers understand what avenues are available and also ensure complaints are channeled to the proper authority. Counselors are standing by to take calls during normal duty hours from 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., CDT. After normal duty hours, voice mail is available for callers to leave messages. Counselors return after-hours phone calls at the beginning of the following duty day. Counselors are available 24 hours a day for emergencies or when an immediate response is desired. The call center voice mail will instruct callers how to reach an after-hours counselor. (Courtesy of AFPC News Service) 992284. DOD defers decision to cut Reserve components by Paul Stone American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- Defense Secretary William Cohen has deferred plans that would have cut another 25,000 personnel from the Army National Guard and Reserve. The 1997 Quadrennial Defense Review had recommended reserve component cuts of up to 45,000 personnel. Reductions of 17,000 in the Army National Guard and 3,000 in the Army Reserve have already been completed. Charles Cragin, principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for reserve affairs, said three factors prompted deferment of the cuts. First the Army is currently conducting a redesign of Army National Guard divisions and is developing a new vision of how the Army will work and fight in the next century. "Secretary Cohen did not want to do anything at this time that would hinder those plans," Cragin said. Second, DOD will begin the process of conducting another QDR in January 2001, which will provide another opportunity to analyze existing force structures and future requirements. Third, and perhaps most important Cragin said, DOD is highly dependent on reserve component forces for operations throughout the world. "We couldn't do it without them," he said. "They are critically important, and in many instances they have at least a majority of core competencies needed in ongoing operations." He cited civil affairs and medical specialties as examples. Cragin said current missions in Bosnia, Kosovo, Kuwait and over Iraq are heavily dependent on reserve forces, and pointed out that a total of 32,000 reserve component service members have supported the Bosnia mission during the past four years. "This is not just an Army issue, it's a total force issue," the reserve chief said. "There's been a dramatic change in the way we're using the force today compared to when the decision to make the cuts was made." For example, Cragin said that several years ago DOD was using reserve component personnel at a rate of about one million duty days a year. "In the last three years, with a guard and reserve force that is about 25 percent smaller than a decade ago, we are using reserve component personnel at a rate of about 13 million duty days a year." This change, Cragin said, is the equivalent of adding 35,000 men and women to the active end strength of the total force. 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