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Show i ACTION LItfEfiXT. 77000. Note from the commander The following is my reply to the numerous inquiries received regarding traffic problems that were generated by the implementation of 100 percent identification checks at the entrances to the base: I would Lke to say that I appreciate your patience and understanding involving the traffic problems we've been experiencing. As you are probably aware, our security police manning is stretched due to Operation Desert Storm; we've asked for and received augmentees from several base agencies. Let me assure you that we are studying many options. Traffic flow is a dynamic situation; however, there are some key choke points that we are focusing on. We appreciate your suggestions, and the 2849th Air Base Group commander and his staff are investigating all types of alternatives. But, as I mentioned, there are manpower limitations. I'm encouraging directors to be flexible in work schedules and work with employees who have pressing personal problems. I believe that the traffic situation has already improved some and should continue to improve. In the meantime, I appreciate your concern and ask for your continued patience. would Lke to know hy civilian employees h ho activated for Desert Storm as reservists are from raiuction-iforce actions. Since it was their exempt decision to join the Reserves. I don't feel they should be given preferential treatment. What is the policy that provides for this and ho was responsible for it? QI ACTION LINE is your opportunity to make Hill AFB a better place to live, work and play. When you call Ext. 77000, your comments will be recorded and staffed through the responsible agency for action. Hease give your supervisor and chain of command the opportunity to work with you in answering questions and solving problems before calling ACTION LINE. This w ill help me better serve your interests through the ACTION Irs c r- - Sff LINE. W. Moj. Thompson Jr. Cn. ALC Dal commander Clean ramp, avoid Icicles QI A Thanks for your call. While it isn't true that Bldg. 1221 is the only one in the West Area with the docks chained off for icicle danger (several in the row have also been restricted), we appreciate difficulties the it can cause for pedestrians and have removed the chains and cleared a path near the railing on the dock. However, you and all other pedestrians should be aware of a danger to which this path could expose you. It was to protect pedestrians that the docks were closed, not laziness on the part of building occupants. The condition which causes the icicles can often cause a build-uof ice slabs along the eaves back from the icicles. Under some conditions, such build-ucan become very heavy. unlike the icicles, they are not readily visible to However, below and under the right combination of people walking and freezing conditions, these large chunks of wanning ice can suddenly slide off the roof onto the docks and pose a much greater threat to pedestrians than the r 1201-120- 9 p Kudos I'd like to extend my deepest appreciation to SSgt. Larry Hunt of the 388th Component Repair Squadron for his efforts at my home. I'm a Desert Storm wife and my pipes froze up the day before Christmas Eve. Sergeant Hunt had company from out of town for the holidays, but came to my rescue without hesitation. He worked out in the below zero weather for three hours until the job was done. Thanks so much for your unselfish help. We appreciate your taking time to thank Sergeant Hunt for his assistance. Many of our people, as well community folks, are eager and willing to assist family members of our deployed workers. Thanks for your words of appreciation. I would like to commend the snow removal crews for the great job they have done this winter. They have taken care of our roads very well and we appreciate their work. We've passed your compliments on to the snow removal crews. Thanks. p icicles. The problem is worsened by the fact that such avalanches do not drop straight down from the eaves, but can travel several feet out onto the dock. That's why the dock was blocked off. It was done last year after a similar block of ice damaged some vehicles when it slid off the rear side of the building. You're welcome to use the docks to avoid being exposed to traffic, but please be aware that conditons we don't have the capability to detect or control may pose an even greater danger. What is protocol for saluting? a Reserve officer and my auto decal states I'm also a civilian employee. What is the protocol when a security guard salutes me at the gate when I'm in civilian clothing? Do I return the salute or just drive by? I would like to relay a kudos ior Duaine Bullock and A1C Tony Corwin. In this day and age it's once in a a blue moon that you find such sincere customer-orientepeople. I spoke to Mr. Bullock about seme help in getting some phones into my new location, and a day later he had researched the status of what was required and then looked me up to let me know what I needed to do. He kept me updated on the status and in two weeks I had my phone service. To me, this is total quality service. We are satisfied customers who appreciate the outstanding service the 1881st Communications-Compute- r Systems Group provides, and we'd like to you pass our thanks onto them. appreciate your taking the time to pass on the superb efforts of these two individuals. It's this positive incentive that makes our Hill AFB team so special Kudos were passed onto the individuals by the Air Force Standards, states security police officers performing base entry control duties salute occupants of vehicles displaying authorized officer decals and occupants recognized as officers in vehicles that have no decal. Therefore, when the occupant can't be recognized as an officer, the SP will salute the decal. Even though there is no regulation that states the occupant must return the salute, customs and courtesies dictate this action. Saluting is deeply rooted in military custom. It's an exchange between members of the same honorable profession used as both a greeting and a symbol of mutual respect. Therefore, when your vehicle is saluted by the guard, it is only appropriate and proper that the salute is returned in the same spirit as it is given. r Air Force Regulation 30-1- , director. Why can't we volunteer? the situation, why isn't it QWith to volunteer to be laid off in the face of reduction-in-forc- e cutbacks rather than having to resign? i There is no provision for people to be laid off voluntarily. The large number of permanent reductions required for the remainder of this fiscal year can only be handled through a RIF. Management also has to determine which positions are essential for mission requirements, and the RIF procedures will determine which employees are entitled to the remaining positions. Some separated employees may be in the future, but most employees will need to find permanent employment with other organizations. Many will need to get on with their lives by finding other employment rather than waiting for a limited number of jobs that may be available in the coming year. I commend you for your desire to reduce the adverse impact of a RIF on our employees at Hill AFB. If you have further questions, call Tom Dunroe at Ext. 76808. Offer healthy food choices a lot about weight control but AFB QHill don'tpreaches seem to want to help us with it. At the What grades does law restrict? cafeteria they even fry all the fish instead of baking it. Can't they teach them to cook without soaking everything in grease so we can make an intelligent choice of what we eat? The base restaurant has had its menu selection 4 previewed by an Air Force dietician and the local American Heart Association's dietician. A great many selections are available daily which meet standards approved by both agencies. Fish and chips are fried in shortening, but the halibut is grilled. The deli bar and salad bar offerings are always available. If a menu fails to meet the expectations of any patron, the restaurant manager would like to hear about it immediately. For more information, please call Ext. 72043. 1 n 4 The Code of Federal Regulations. 356404 A, states that employees absent on miLtary duty are not included in RIFs. This reference was transmitted to us by Headquarters U.S. Air Force personnel message on Sept. 27. 1990. In addition, Headquaters Air Force Logistics Command personnel letter of Oct. 16. 1990. referenced the recent Air Force guidance with regard to civilian employees called to active duty for Desert Storm. This letter again advised that activated reservists would be excluded from the retention register, and that they are not affected by RIF actions. Civilian employees called to active duty are given RIF exclusion because they are serving their country in a military capacity. Federal regulations provide for a restoration to their former position or a similar position upon return from active duty. Should you desire to review the federal regulation, please call Tom Dunroe at Ext. 76808. Rocks create a safety hazard have that rocks on the south end of QNow 1257,they1277 andput1278. pedestrians have the option of walking on the rocks or out in the street with the traffic. Those aren't very good options, and with the bad weather we're having now, it's even more difficult for a pedestrian to walk from the parking lot to the build- ings. Can you help us? 4 Thank you for your concern. Base civil engineers have looked into your inquiry. The rocks on the north end of Bldg. 1278 have been there for several years and are not part of the problem. The rocks on the south end of Bldgs. 1257 and 1277 were recently installed under the program by the organizations in those buildings, but the engineers admit they should have reviewed the self-heljobs more thoroughly before approval. When the weather breaks, a sidewalk will be constructed immediately south of Bldg. 1277, and the sidewalk south of Bldg. 1257 will be continued westerly to the road. All rocks south of this sidewalk will be removed along with the curbs and gutters to provide more parking area. We were hoping to complete this project before winter, but with the severe weather, it cannot be done until spring. Watch for the work in the spring, or earlier if the adopt-a-corn- er p weather gets better. d Ql'm M H.litep Times Exemption seems unfair Ogdea park in the open lot at the north end of the 1200 In the summertime it is no problem to our walking buildings, but when there is snow and ice on the road, you have to walk on the ramps to avoid sliding cars. The ramp on Bldg. 1221 is chained off and a sign is posted saying it is closed due to icicle danger. It's the only building in the West Area where they close the ramp. People could walk along the railing and still stay far enough away to avoid falling icicles if they would just clear the snow. Could you get them to clean and open that ramp so we don't have to walk in the road? .Feb. 8. 1991 0 Concerning the new law restricting federal employees from moonlighting, are there restrictions for the lower grade people who have to work two jobs to maintain a living? il m As the law stands, the restrictions are the same for all civilian employees, regardless of grade. On the military side, the restrictions apply only to officers and not to enlisted members. That's the downside. The upside is that the restrictions really apply only to freelance writing and speaking. They do not limit your ability to hold a second job as an employee in any fashion even a job that involves writing and speaking. Kids don't belong at work Several months ago you addressed a question about whether or not military members should bring dependent children to work with them. The response was that it shouldn't be tolerated because there are many child care facilities available to them. Recently a child was brought to our work place because she had a doctor's appointment. She was here in the work area about four hours at the beginning of the shift and an hour at the end of the shift. Would this be an exception to rule? Q il The rules regarding children in the work place are the same for military and civilian employees. The situation which you described is an excessive period of time for a parent to have a child in the work area. The child care facility on base is available, as are many licensed family home day-car- e providers. A list of these licensed care providers can be obtained at the child care facility. One of these options should be used instead of having a child in the work environment. r Calls are listened to 0 First of all, I would like to point out when people call complaints in to you on the Action Line that the organization involved very often has someone listen to the voice recording to find out who the person is, and then the pressure is on. This is something you shouldn't allow to happen. Secondly, I would like you to address supervisors pressuring people into retiring. I think it's really unfair when you are doing an adequate job. i It concerns me that you believe that people in your organization are allowed to listen to the voice recording of calls made to the Action Line. This simply is not true. My staff and I take every precaution to protect the confidentiality of Action Line callers, and I expect the same precautions to be taken by my managers. The tapes are erased immediately following transcription, and names are never released if anonymity is requested. Unfortunately, prior events and information given in the call will sometimes reveal the identity of the caller. Also, sometimes, due to the nature of the call, it is impossible to investigate the problem unless identity of the caller is known. Although we can't guarantee that a caller's identity will not become known for the above reasons, I can assure you that identification will not be released from this office when anonymity is requested. You indicated that supervisors are pressuring people into retirement. I do not condone that type of coercive management and will not tolerate supervisors who use pressure tactics; however, without some specifics there is little I can do to rectify your specific situation. |