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Show 18 HILL TOP TIMES Wednesday. July 3, 1985 Qualify of life highest pnonfy, Secretary says' we have in the milof our life and is the first priority is betquality itary ter housing, both here and abroad," Secretary of the Air Force Verne Orr told members of the National Military Family Association Inc. during an address "I think the highest priority in Washington, D.C. Turning specifically to those items which the Air Force feels will help improve the quality of life, the secretary said, "I think Congress has been very understanding in the past. We in the Air Force have 1,800 new housing units this year and we're asking for 1,800 more next year. "Since 1980, in our service, we've built 24 new commissaries and 32 new base exchanges, 26 gyms, six youth centers, 35 child care centers, 28 bowling centers, 10 golf courses, 25 open messes, six arts and craft centers and six recreation centers." ' Secretary Orr stated, "If you go to any one of the military bases today I think you would have a hard time finding a single base where there hasn't been substantial improvement in the quality of life in the last four and a half years." A believer in the family support center concept, the secretary noted, "We're working very hard in the Air Force ... to increase the number of family support centers." He explained that family support centers were never intended to replace either military or civilian facilities, but to compliment them by helping families and commanders improve living conditions. Family support centers serve a preventive role, Secretary Orr said, and added that they are a place "where families can go to help themselves. They cost us about a quarter of a million dollars apiece to operate them. The largest is in Yokota, Japan and' the smallest is in Bitburg AB, (West Germany). "Not a one of them is in a new facility. Probably the best planned is at Moody AFB (Ga.). But at A Dover AFB (Del.) we even put one in a building that had been scheduled to be demolished. So they're not luxuries," he stated firmly. "We have at the present time 34 of these family support centers, with 10 more to be completed this year." Secretary Orr noted that eventually the Air Force will have a total of 123 family support centers. "Incidentally, retention at those bases where we've already built family support centers runs between two and three percent better than on bases where there is no family support center. "And when you consider the costs of retraining personnel to replace those who leave, they are a bargain! If we can get two or three percent better retention on a base for a quarter of a million dollars we would spend that in training two or three people to come up to the skill levels of those who left," he said. The secretary said that he was disappointed rather recently to read in a survey that only 35 percent agreed with the statement: "Air Force leaders are sensitive to the needs of Air Force families." "That is discouraging because the people I talk to at the higher levels I think are extremely sensitive to the needs of families. And, somehow we need to get the families certain that we are as interested in them as I think we are. "Many of you have heard me say that I think the Air Force and to a great extent, I think, it's true of all the branches of the military is composed of two families. The first, or larger family, is the total people who serve in that branch of the military. And if they don't think it's a good family, if they're not challenged and satisfied, they are going to get out. "And the second family is the small family, the individual family, of which we have literally hundreds of thousands. And if the spouse in that 627-111- 208V2 25th A 84028 J POCAlfuO JACS0N HOll lAif MiltS 10NC B( iDmO 30 GABOtN C H-! 10 I MILES Vjl1 lVhS'Ql rZTT nr.nf WiK PLAN YOUR NEXT FAMILY & GROUP OUTING WITH US! "But to the families who support them, who keep them on the front line and convince them that their sacrifice is worthwhile, who celebrate with them when things go well and console them when everything seems bleak, for that strength and that loyalty and that patriotism we salute you, the members of those families," Secretary Orr concluded. (Family News) Ollir 776-213- 1 CATERING TO THE WOMAN'S FITNESS & NUTRITIONAL NEEDS - $9600 WITH COUPON ONLY Offer Expires D n D D Reg.14500 Aug. 15, 1985 8 Clearance Off Spring and Summer SttocEr Summer Tops Swim Suits Pants Blouses' Shorts Shirts I SALT L CUt l KABIN RENTALS STORE GAS PROPANE ICE SWIMMING AND WADING POOL ARCADE MINIATURE GOLF TENNIS BOAT & R.V. STORAGE R.V. WASH u ing their defense jobs. SUNSET Week Services VISA JO He added that the military members' commitments take them to all extremes of climate, and they too suffer disappointments and uprooting while do- Hilton LAKEMKAMPGROUND Phone: A DCSL (801)946-345- 4 UT "Now all of us in leadership positions know the sacrifices our families make," he added. "We know the sacrifice goes clear down to the youngest member of the family who periodically has to be uprooted and has to make new friends. "The commitment goes well beyond pay and benefits and retirement. It's a commitment of families that what that member does is important, is worthwhile to the defense of the nation and to the peace of the world," Secretary Orr emphasized. Street, Ogden 25th St. entrance) 24 Hours 7 Days 89 two-third- 0 Bodily Injury Adoption Property Damage Criminal Law (Park in back of Ogden Garden City. and I'm leaving,"' the secretary said. "Will and Auriel Durant in one of their books said, 'The family is the nucleus of civilization.' And that is certainly true in the military. Sixty-seve- n s of all our people are family percent people. Our Recruiting Service says that 'individuals enlist, but families reenlist.' In a recent survey it was determined that without family support only 30 percent of the men and 26 percent of the women would have made their career a commitment. "FC3YCMEII Immigration Bankruptcy U.S. at pay, quarters, and location, it won't b long before that particular family member will say, 'I've had enough Kelly Cardon, Attorney At Law Drunk Driving Divorce BEAR family is unhappy, if the spouse grumbles PLUS DISCOUNT COUPONS FOR LAKE ACTIVITIES! INCLUDING SHOE OEPARTMENT APPAREL 7 yywywy.vwfcwy.y.wy 5348 So. 1900 West |