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Show Page December 7. HILL TOP TIMES 28 aIf WASHINGTON, D.C. - How much backing should a goodj officer or petty officer get from his officers and what is the caliber of young men and women now coming into Force? today's These were two of several questions answered recently the Pentagon by the four top and petty officers of the Military Services during a news conference. Interviewed were Sergeant Major of the Army Leon L. Van Autreve, Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Clinton A. Master Puckett, Chief Sergeant of the Air Force Richard D. Kisling (retired) , and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Atlantic Fleet Gerald Gray. One questioner in Frankfurt, Germany, noted that there seemed to be "many bored young men in the Services" and it is the "responsibility of the leadership to change it. What can the NCOs do to help ed ed effect such a change?" Army Sergenat Van Autreve replied, "I think we have enough enlightened training today and enough that's going for us that the soldier need not be bored. It's a question of leadership. And, I'd hate to say that the NCO corps was solely responsible for this Chief Gray discounted the "amount of boredom," but believes that "... we have a lot of young fellows who are doing a job in which they are not satisfied. We're looking very strongly at getting our people into the right types of work where they feel satisfied. There is more than sufficient opportunities for young men, when they are not engaged in their work, to keep from getting bored - if they choose to do that. Just to be bored because they are in the Service, I don't believe it." The response from Air Force Sergeant Kisling was that he felt, "We have a few jobs that may be a little boring, but we now have a concentrated effort to try to place people into the career areas they would like." the He also believed program is "much better now than it was five or ten years ago. However, after duty hours, it becomes something else. And, I think it gets into leadership. We've got to make sure that we have the noncommissioned officer who is ' interested in his men, not only during the 8, 10, or 12 hours a day when he is on duty, but y time also during his as well." -- off-dut- Marine Sergeant Major Puckett summed it up like this: ' "When you start talking n 2 n CO Autreve led off saying, "I think that the NCO who is any good - a professional NCO -will get the backing he indicates by ability. We talk about the fact that the thing we can best provide our young about infantry forces, then you have an opportunity for boredom because essentially these men do not have a job to do unless it is assigned. Training is what I'm speaking of. How can the NCO effect this? By continuing training. Instead of sitting on a range waiting for something to happen, the individual's time should be utilized by putting an edge on the training. "Off duty," he continued, "I agree that this is where it really becomes important. We can come up with all kinds of soldiers programs at headquarters level and high command level but to become effective, it takes that young NCO, not the careerist, who has a little more experience plus a bit to influence more the youngster at that level, to y get him involved in build-up his mind activity, to and his body." Another query to the top s their sought opinions on the premise that "... you can be the most effective NCO going, but without proper backing your hands are tied. What tools and resources would each of you personally like to see provided to today's NCO to insure that he can truly function as a professional leader in his respective Service?" Van Major Sergeant ll, off-dut- Non-Com- leadership." Who care Suppose you were to die while you are in the military service. Do you know who your heirs are? Who will receive any money-duyou from salary or annual leave? Who will receive your life insurance? One method for deciding those vital questions is the designation of a beneficiary on your emergency data form in your personnel file. However, is a even it though most personnel requirement, fail to keep this emergency data form up U date But the e best wa to that y.uir your 'A eirs as-nr- heirs receive their inheritance, according to your desire, is through a properly executed will. Imunty." A man making a will should at least mention his children and the children of a deceased child, especially if he marries after making his will. Where the will does not mention his children, or provido for them by set- tlement, they are called "pretermitted heirs". What is slip tress ..nfy jtn prevent forest fire v "mention" in a will may be a difficult question for a court to the case decide, especially of a self written will. In many contested cases the courts have held that a will to children, referring in relatives, or other heirs served well enough to show-tha- t the testator had his children in mind. If the testator gives these persons a nominal amount, even one or dollar. intentionally disinherits them, as a rule they will have no claim to the estate. A will need not necessarily leave property to a child, though to do so t may-preven- lawsuits. Some persons draft their wills. own These often wills are "holographic" contested homemade because a will often is deficient in complying with laws regarding the mention of children. In one case the testator failed to mention a child, but said that "anyone who may contest this will" would receive one dollar. Too general and vague, the court held. The will did not mention children or spouse, directly or indirectrly, or show intent to disinherit them. Only when there is not other means available should you write your own will, but it is better to write your own than to die intestate. So, if you plan on drawing a will, which should be a must for everyone whether married or not, see your legal officer. Don't cause problems for your heirs. Make out your will properly. (A EPS) the Base Audiovisual Services Branch or other Air Force, sources unless noted. 'enlightened (o(srln)op Gray agreed and stressed, "I believe a petty officer who is doing his job in a division absolute needs no extra tools in backing. He's going to have the backing if he's doing his job and handling his men properly." The Air Force Chief Master Sergeant also agreed with his colleagues. "Within the Air Force, " he said, "we have MCPO additional provided military professional education for our senior but the authority is The there. backing is there if is the man just willing to reach out and get hold of it. "I think too many people are hidden behind the old cliche that 'No one is backing me,' without ever trying to test them. Recently, we've had a number of personnel, particularly our senior ones, question the fact that we have to justify actions. We really have to put down the time that we counsel our people and non-com- s, f what we talk to them about. This is not only protection for the supervisor, but for the man as well, because we can look back and see people that we did not treat fairly. I think the rules are there, all we have to do is be willing to assume responsibility. If we make a bad decision, we have to take the lumps." Marine Puckett added, "I agree. Personally, I have never been given a block of tools to work with. I had to earn them in each command. What I have certainly observed in my fellow staff NCOs is that once you gain confidence of those for whom you are working, they give you free rein. We don't need additional tools. What we do is need improved professionalism." Following further discussions, MCPO Gray told the worldwide military audience he would like to address "the subject of our young men in the Service today. Falls have always been a leading cause of accidental deaths, and today are outranked only by motor vehicle accidents. More than h of all accidental deaths actually are due to falls. The number of nonfatal injuries is estimated at more than a million. Adults, as well as children, should keep floors and stairs clear. If possible, there should be adequate and conveniently located storage space for all tools, playthings and utensils. Keep floors and steps in good repair. Keep carpet and from linoleum edges becoming loose, frayed and curled. Keep those scatter rugs away from the head of the them stairs; skid-proo- f wherever you use them. Use a rubber mat in the bathtub or shower. Provide a wall hand hold. If you must fall- - fall right! As with everything else. there is a wrong way right way - to fall. -- - and a One way is to follow your natural instinct as you fall. You tense up, resist, put out a hand, straight arm , to take up the shock. THIS IS THE WRONG WAY. The other way is to fall the -- way athletes, acrobats, and paratroopers have trained to fall. Don't resist. Instead, relax, to limp, try to roll as you land, easing yourself down with bent arms. That is the right way. It's not easy to go against the natural instinct to tighten up. But if you think about it enough, let it sink deeply into your subconscious mind, you could help it become an automatic response - a sort of conditioned reflex. Think about it. In your imagination, act out situations in which you fall - and let your muscles respond. Relax - go limp - roll - it could save your life. -- -- -- Help available on money problems Managing money is a problem for many families as evidenced by the numerous complaints received where employees are failing to meet their credit obligations. Easy credit and unscrupulous lenders sometimes contribute to this condition. Regardless of such influences, it is the sole responsibility of the borrower to manage his affairs properly to meet his legal obligations. In considering cases, we find that very few have sought professional help in solving their money problems. Most have indicated they were not aware of such services. There are several reputable family counseling services in the Ogden - Salt Lake City areas. Some of these organizations charge for their services based upon their assessment of ability to pay. In deserv ing cases there is no charge. To find out about their services and charges, check the yellow pages under "Debt Adjusters" or call the Chamber of Commerce or the Better Business Bureau in either city. E. Riley Skeen. Employee Relations Section, Personnel Editorial Office-Offi- ce of Information, Bldg. 1102. Room 103, Ext. 7321 PHOTO CTtEDITS-AIJpfKJt-os in the Hill Top Times are from is leadership.' "If we provide it we don't need any backing. We're going to get the response that we want. A young soldier doesn't mind discipline, but he wants to look at that noncommissioned officer and realize that the NCO not only looks the part, but that he's articulate, is in every sense of the word a professional, someone that a young soldier should emulate and look up to. Backing? I've never looked around for backing. If you're any good (as an NCO) things are going to happen. And, they are going to happen favorably. You don't have to look around to see who's in back of you or who is backing you." one-fourt- e Some factors to keep in mind when making a will are the "natural heirs of your 1973 Advertising CMMee- - MorMfflia Sales. Inc.. 345 N. Main. Iviyton. or Silt Lake City 370-551- 8 Thursday Is iho deadline for copy 277-K- WVEimsir; policy Everything advertised in this publication muM h made available for purchase, use or "My observations over the last few years," he stressed, "have been that the young fellows we're getting into the Service are tremendous. They are extremely smart, very interested, and by and large a whole lot better servicemen than some of us were 20 and 25 years ago. They know more about what's going on, and they take a lot more interest in what is going on." s The other three top in unison. agreed Chief Master Sergeant Kisling noted, "They are head and shoulders above what we had years ago and I've noticed within the past few months, since we really have got into a Zero Draft enhave vironment, that we people who are in the Service because they want to be in. They are anxiously looking ahead and planning a career as enlisted men and women." To which Marine Corps non-com- Sergeant Major Puckett added, "For Marines in general, I would just have to show what has been said by my counterparts: They are great! Provided effective leadership, jyou just can't beat them - that's all there is to it." Quote "I don't believe that there are truer words than those which state that the military man is the one who hates war the most because he's seen it and lived it firsthand..., I believe that we will continue to have conflict-- 1 believe that international conflict, bred of competition for resources, is inevitable. But I also believe that, in order to prevent war -in order to secure a generation of peace we must have a formula or a national strategy, if you will, that will permit the management and control of this conflict." (Jen. George S. Brown, Air Force Chief of Staff. patronage without regard to t ie race, creed color, national origin or sex of the purchaser, user, or patron. A confirmed violation or 'rejection of this licy of equal opportunities by an advertiser will result in the refusal to print advertising from that source. |