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Show Hill AFB, "S , I , A'jvki vf N ""x t vt' 4 " INSIDE: Commanders Call questions answered Page 2 Family Day Saturday Page 7 t Shop alters uniforms free Page 8 Crafters plan boutique Page 12 388th Fighter Wing A-- C j Vol. 55 No. 43, 84056-582- 4 Wildlife refuge affects pay, changes TRICARE by Jim Garamone American Forces Press Service 1 & A 3.7 percent military pay WASHINGTON (AFPN) TRICARE raise, changes, military modernization and lifetime medical benefits are just some of the aspects of the Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 that President Clinton signed into law Oct. 30. The act gives DOD permission to spend an authorized overall budget of $309.9 billion. The fiscal 2001 appropriations act signed in August actually provided the money. The authorization act set total military fiscal 2001 end strength at 1,382,242. The Air Forces end strength is 357,000; the Armys, 480,000; the Navys, 372,642; and the Marines, 172,600. The Selected Reserve end strength is 874,664 with the Air National Guards set at 108,022 and the Air Force Reserve at 74,358. The Army National Guards end strength is set at 350526, the Army Reserves 205,300 and the Naval Reserves at 88,900: The Marine Corps Reserve will have 39,558 members and the Coast Guard Reserve, 8,000. End strength is down 3,190 from fiscal 2000 for the active force and up by 4,366 for the Selected Reserve. In addition to the 3.7 percent across-the-boar- d pay raise that goes into effect Jan. 1, service members in pay grades E-- 5 to E-- 7 will receive a targeted, one-tim- e monthly raise of $32 to $59 starting July 1. ' Congress has added funds to the basic allowance for expenses service mem- housing to reduce out-of-pock- 4 s - if u $ t. Photos by Master Sgt. Werenskjold wheres the best place for bucks and does to hide? Answer: On Hill AFB where hunting is illegal. These u mule deer were among seven seen Friday inside the perimeter fence on the northeast part of the base. 1 & et Q 1 See Authorization, page 5 Family members influence military decisions Hilltop Times a staff Not all members of the Air Force family wear a uniform. As the Air Force struggles to retain members up for reenlistment, its addressing key quality Hill hosting ski meet Page 16 reintroducing some of the benefits long in place in hopes of preventing attrition among first and second term airmen and the midgrade ranks. When you talk about being an Air Force family, we truly are that The families act as a catalyst for the military members job deci- sions, Ogden ALC Command Chief Master Sgt. Deborah Brian said. And in most cases the spouse is the primary reason many of our military members stay. From a perspective of the outside looking in, they value those benefits and entitlements that we might take for granted medical care, a steady paycheck or base housing. Brian said surveys help the Air Force determine priorities, noting those priorities can shift from year to year depending on how successful the Air Force is at working with Congress to get required legislation passed. Tuesday is Election Day For example, last year we focused on quality of life issues Air Force wide primarily pay and benefits ' and getting back that 50 percent retirement at 20 years to make sure r . i V x Our people are the foundation of our ' I vS V x of life issues affecting families and Page 15 Neil With the annual Utah hunting season in full swing, by Mary Galbraith Base athletes roll to victory November 2, 2000 'smmmmffimm Authorization act Fighter Country Page Utah yy . - t i y jtmiLi yjO X' y A. V we erased that perception of unfairness, she said. This year, pay and benefits arent as high on the list Brian said housing and TRICARE are high on this years list. And base-wid-e, commanders are work- ing to improve the local situation for active duty. Reservists and retirees. As far as quality of life on Hill AFB, weve had a great year, she said. Weve inserted some things in this past year focusing on people. Focus groups are helping facilities like the Commissary attract more young airmen and their families as regular customers, so they arent paying an extra 20 percent at supermarkets. Brian said in addition to using focus groups to identify areas for off-ba-se force... We will never forget the trust the American people place in us. They count on us to protect their ideals , their security and their prosperity , and they give us their finest young men and women to sustain that effort. We are America's Air Force. No one comes close. Gen. Michael E. Ryan U. improvement, standard programs like the base advisory committee, S. Air Force Chief of Staff sion of the Youth Activities Center and Child Development Center and new Base Exchange are providing Hill with some of the newest and best facilities in the Air Force. " Other programs are helping famthat had been open for several ilies cope with necessary, but difmonths. Wing leadership changed the ficult separation dm ing deployments. way that they did business and The Aerospace Expeditionary Force brought about action response helps families forecast major deployteams. In other words, questions ments, which remains a major retencome in and we bring in division tion issue. And Brian pointed out chiefs, group commanders, what- several of the Family Support Cenever. We get an answer and move ters programs support families of on. Its even to a point where we deployed members through supgo to the base advisory council and port groups and access to calling dont have a lot of input because cards as well as video teleconferpeople are satisfied weve fixed the ences. Our Family Support Center also quality of life issues, she said. Brian said construction projects has an incredible amount of suplike the recently completed miniport groups. Weve had a tremen- mall and new projects like the expan See Family, page 3 remain in place. When Brian arrived on base, the committee was often dealing with over a page of items |