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Show ocu f family Secretary of the Air Force Verne Orr and Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Gen. Charles A. Gabriel recently presented the U.S. Air Force's fiscal 1985 report to the 98th Congress. The following excerpts are especially relevant to Air Force families. effect on active duty members, retired military peo- ing $1 billion, a $228 million increase over fiscal ' 1984, eliminates housing maintenance and improve-- ; ple, disabled veterans and their families. Across the Department of Defense, more than ment backlogs by fiscal 1990 and begins effective951,000 married careerists rely on commissaries. ly to reduce our large housing deficit. With today's high technologies, we need more Additionally, commissaries are especially important d to many Junior enlisted families to time to train our enlisted people and officers at make ends meet, more than 39,000 widows of Air even higher costs. For example, a fighter pilot Force members and more than 139,000 totally dis- - represents more than $1 million invested for traind abled veterans who are eligible to use commissaries. member in inadequate ing. Placing this Service members would view the loss of comor substandard housing only creates discontent and missary savings, tantamount to a pay cut; as a a strong wish to leave the service. Adequate fami- -' serious breach of contract. Such a loss would ly housing can save substantial sums of money. negatively affect retention and readiness. ; : . Air Force families hard-presse- . Air Force families face demands not routinely associated with civilian life. These include frequent moves, repeated separations, long and unusual hours and member participation in hazardous well-traine- . missions. Most Air Force families are coping well. Studies show that the attitudes of family members and their satisfaction with Air Force life are major factors in career decisions and member attitude, morale and Military family housing Military compensation . The military family housing fund supports the g fundamental needs of all Air Force families by housing services. These services include housing referral assistance, operating and maintaining more than 145,000 Air Force owned or con- productivity. pro-vidin- The Air Force recognized the needs of our families by opening base-levFamily Support Centers to service to family provide centralized, members. These centers supply information, referral and coordination, mcluding PCS relocation assistance, spouse employment information, aid for families in crisis, support during family separation, financial management education, programs for special needs and family development education. Recent evaluations of Family Support Centers indicate they are having a positive effect on members' el ! one-sto- p trolled family housing units, upgrading or replacing a majority of the existing units that, are not energy efficient and lack modern amenities, and acquiring new units through either construction or - v productivity and are greatly helping commanders handle numerous, often complex, family-relate- d , issues. With full funding, we will have 43 Air d centers by the end of fiscal 85. Force-sponsore- Commissaries Commissaries in the United States and overseas are a major advantage of military service and are part of the total compensation package. Eliminating these activities would have a significant, adverse . ' ' lease. All of the operation and lease funding, and portions of the maintenance funding, are for must-pa- y activities including management, utilities, refuse collection, fixed rent, recurring maintenance, emergency repair and furnishings, along, with associated manpower, supplies and contracts. Improvement and repair funding is required .to preserve the substantial capital investment 'worth more than $11 billion, and to upgrade those older units with modern amenities and energy efficiency levels now found in private sector housing. New construction and lease funding corrects existing housing deficits. The fiscal 85 request, total utfDime mroedoccol and retired militarv Dependents of active-dutmembers who are not enrolled in DEERS after Oct. 1 will not receive routine medical care at military medical facilities in the United States, according to Department of Defense officials. DEERS, standing for the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting: Svstem. is a data bank that confirms eligibility for uniformed benefits such as medical care. If dependents of active-dut- y or retired Military pay must be fair, equitable and keep pace with the private sector if we hope to compete for quality volunteers and retain an experienced military force. The 1980 and 1981 pay raises were key factors contributing to the dramatic improvements in recruiting and retention. For the first time in a decade, military members saw their pay ; restored to the relative level of with comparability the private sector. While the military compensation system is intended to provide military members a reasonable standard of living, it is also designed to help instill vital institutional values to include cohesiveness, esprit de corps and dedication to the mission above self, which is essential in any military organization. Since our mission is to be prepared to fight and. win wars, our compensation system must include features different from those in the private sector mcluding housing and food allowances, stable retirement system, and medical care. The current pay and allowances system, with its unique institutional supports, has been tested in peace and war. It works exceptionally well when allowed to function as designed and we should continue it. . eoire ireejuDires DESKS members are not registered in DEERS, they will be denied medical care, officials said "I want to emphasize- that no one will be denied emergency medical care in a military facility," said Dr. William Mayer, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs. At present, the rule applies only to facilities in the United States. Worldwide extension of the policy is planned, health officials said. The program is v . non-emergen- designed to improve resource management and eliminate fraudulent use of military benefits. cv - Information on active-dutand retired military members is automatically entered into DEERS. Dependent registration is not automatic, however. Sponsors must register their dependents at the Customer Service Center, Consolidated Base Personnel Office, Bldg. 180. (AFNSl y . Receiving advice eft setftflledl The Family Support Center offers a Settled" seminar every in, prarac-- f Thursday at 1 p.m. in the Family port Center, Bldg. 308. Sup-"Gettin- g yuir eMdlireifi) The seminar will include answering immediate questions about getting settled at Hill AFB and the surrounding area, meeting added expenses and enrolling children in school. For more information, call the Center at Ext. 75735 or 75854. Parents will also be able to fingerprint their children for identification purposes at the center from 2 to 6:30 p.m. May 23. The film provides ; preventative measures that will teach children to lessen their chance of being kidnapped or abducted. While you do not need a reservation for the fingerprinting, enrollment to the film and discussion is limited because of space, so call the Family Support Center for your reservation ; rftJ:-- : Messages Protect your children unfeer receives Irnonoir ; During a Family Services awards luncheon held April 18, Col. Joseph .: Battaglia, base commander, present ed honors to Phyllis Crenshaw as" Volunteer of the Quarter. ; Jeanette Post was officially in stalled as coordinator for Family Services. She succeeds Iil Sprong who has served as coordinator for the past J six months. Vear. pins were earned by Porgie; Swanson with 14 years of service; Lil Sprong with five years; Shirley Sanders, three years; and Michelle . 9 , -- The Security Police and the Family Support Center will present a film and discussion titled "Better Safe Than Sorry " at the Family Support Center, Bldg. ,308, May 23 at 7 p.m. Sprong for serving 1,500 hours; Jeanette Post with 500 hours; and ' Cheryl Grandmaison, 100 hours. Linda Shock, Vickie Block and Leona Hachmeister each received Family Service shield. ' Other volunteers attending the luncheon were Carol Taylor, Christine Clinton, Kim Wilcox;, and Anne ;'' ; . Verhage, Advisors and guestsTattending included: Colonel Battaglia, Dr. Eleanore Davis and Larry Dawson of the Family Support Center, Michael . at Ext. 74681. inle'Dtrfeiree their-25-hou- - v- - Trr?2?nts recruited four g"18 and one boy into the Heirforce at USAF Hospital, Hill, during the past month. Those who sponsored the new members were: GIRLS ............. ..... ...... v Robert and Jan Travis . '. .". . . . Mr. and Mrs. Burt T. Reehling Mr. and Mrs. Richard E. Chacon Ricky L.- - and Vickie M. Moore . . . ; .... . . ..... DOYS Greg and Sonia Alexander . . . :. . .V ; April 9 April 10 .April 11 ADril 13 Aoril 7 : |