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Show 1f MIL TOP TIMES Friday, Nvmbff, 1984 Wild Weasel completes successful check might. Vest Wild Weasel aircraft was restored to the 2952nd Combat Logistics Support prime by fire caused extensive Squadron. An cells fuel to number three through seven damage all repairs were a After during training flight. it check received first functional its complete, flight Oct. 26. During testing, some minor avionics and environmental systems problems were detected, and a second flight was scheduled and accomplished Nov. 2. Its second functional flight check proved a success and the aircraft has been cleared to be put back into operation. The aircraft will now be turned over to Headquarters Tactical Air Command for release to the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing, George AFB, Calif., later this month. This F-4- G in-fli- ght . Q ... " nni. hcj ' ' " ' (Photo by Thomas H. Maske) Chief off Staff sees bright ffytyre for Air Force Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles A. Gabriel says the Air Force is better than it was a few years ago, and is still getting better. The general met with military newsmen while visiting the San Antonio, Texas area Oct. Readiness is always on General Gabriel's mind. He lays much of the blame for recent criticism about readiness on the lack of a good indicator. s "We don't have a good way of indicating to Congress and the American people about what our combat readiness is from one year to the next," he said. He stated that the criteria for determining readiness has changed several times since 1980, which has led to misinterpretations. "We're going to change that," he said. "It is going to take a while because it is a complicated process, but we've got to have a way to measure combat capability from one year. to the next." The general cited the large increase in combat capability in Europe in the past four years. "We have 62 percent more combat sorties available today than we had in 1980. That's not too shabby," he said. "Those sorties are a lot more effective than they were back in 1980 because now they're mostly and he added. In 1980 more s and than half of the sorties were flown by the general said. Other examples of increased readiness noted by General Gabriel include the five-fobombing ac6 of the demonstrated a at weapons meet curacy at Nellis AFB, Nev., last year. The previous best was 29 feetr from the target, delivered by an A-In addition, General Gabriel noted that modifications to the 2 have doubled its accuracy. And fleet has provided 28 percent stretching the more airlift capability. The general also had good news about the "horror stories" of spare parts. "Over the last few months," he said, "we have saved $500 million and it's still growing. "In many cases, we're getting our parts now at half the price that we were paying before. We are buying in larger quantities and for longer periods of time," he said. The general added, "We are trying to get rid of $7,000 coffee pots. There are some specifications that were written in the past that were not really B-5- 18-1- 9. C-14- s, F-1- A-lOs- 5s Turning to the service's alcohol and drug abuse policies, the general said, "I think our drug policies are correct." He added, "It breaks your heart to see some kids ruin their whole lives by fooling with drugs." He subject to overly rigid military specifications. "We're going to have to work real hard to make sure that everybody is spending Air Force money as though it were his own. Does it make sense to build a special system or can you just take one off noted that the Air Force, in his opinion, has done a much better job than society in managing this problem. "We have tough, strict measures we have to take and we want everybody to understand that before they come into the service," he said. "We don't intend to compromise on the policy in the future," he added. (AFNS) the shelf?" he asked. Turning to recently signed legislation giving the military a four percent increase in basic pay and a A-7- F-10- new education program, the general said the bill did not contain everything he wanted and he intends ot to try again next year. F-1- b could." He explained that the Air Force is looking for inexpensive equipment that works, and will not be , ," F-4- s, 1 necessary' . F-16- "We are going to go for all those things we fought for in the past," he said. Among those are restored pay comparability, a temporary lodging allowance and increased weight allowances. "I'm pretty optimistic," he said, "that we'll see a good catch up next year, perhaps twice as much as we're getting Jan. 1." The new education assistance program, according to General Gabriel, is not entirely what the Air Force wanted. However, he added, "It's better than nothing and it's really not that bad." The new program requires payment of $100 a month for a year. That $1,200 investment will result in a $10,800 return. The previous program required a $2,700 investment for an $8,000 return. "I don't know whether the young airmen are going to be able to spend $200 a month," the general said, "but it would be the wise thing to do if they 7. u General manager grade employees see revised rating system changes The Air Force has until the end of this year to set into motion a revised merit Dav svstem for all pay system. Provisions include: Any GM employee in the lower third of the pay range who receives a "fully successful, " "excellent," or "superior" rating will receive the equivalent of a step increase, about a 3 percent raise. ... p civilian workers in general manager grades The Reformed Merit Pay Plan was part of a Civil Service legislation package passed by Congress Oct. 10. The complex changes call for a five-tie- r rating system for performance appraisals that will be the basis for merit pay cash awards. About 6,500 middle-an- d upper-levmanagers and supervisors in the Air Force will be affected. There are about 103,000 pec-13-1- 5. s For GM empldyees in the upper of the pay range, a "superior" will earn the full equiva- lent of a step increase; an "excellent" will earn one-hathe amount; and a "fully successful" will earn the amount ?. 'mmimally acptkbls" or "un ' .'liV f Those receiving 'pie affected go yemment-ttH" win 1 3b2sd. on e- - m.i fceceptc!3 ratings reicive pzisstit pky:ylz-yM."ployeeV pay range and 'eppraistl fating. iThia is ' U: Although the increases are to be paid bsf era Dec."" .separate irom tne general pay rais 01 3.5 percent- y 1 31 cfflf::3 say they working toward payment that will take place in January,,Ment pay will also." in late November. Along with the changes, the be awarded in January; however, it will be retroacpresent merit pay cash awards will be replaced by tive to the first pay period in October. performance awards; A plan for these awards is ber : The Office of Personnel Management 13 now draft- - ' ing developed, of fidals said; and is expected to, be;' ing a new regulation that will implement the merit announced shortly after the merit increase payouts." lf el cne-thir- d - -- a. r : . aV'ior-Deriormsm- - ce : .,.'':-- . "; ,;;,'"' : 'V- - ' ' (Courtesy photo.. Richard Ketley, commander, Veterans of Foreign War Post 0868, collacts donations for popples at the base commissary. The VFV post is active on base with many charUc'- -l activities, including helping in the Guide Dog for the Blind program. t?ti ; c ' two-third- - ' ! .' I 3 ! I 0f |