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Show 2a HEADS UP Friday, April 10, Supplement to tha 19t7 New chief inieeiniiroes ini 'KDoiibow MILL TOP TIMES FDiiglhitf ' Praises 'Hill family ' attitude. . . behind more support personnel on deployments AFRES Headquarters, but left latitude for units to adapt and improvise, according to their needs. "It's important that we build confidence," Chief Derrick said, "but not overconfidence. There's a limit to what we can and should try to do, and we don't want to cross over that line." The wing's senior enlisted adviser shared some other thoughts as he settled into his duties. "I'd like to see more support people involved in our deployments," he said. "They need the trainBy Maj. Len Barry ing and experience as much as the operations and 419th TFW Public Affairs Office (Reserve) maintenance folks." now is 'Rainbow the "My biggest project right One idea the chief is contemplating is having a Flight' program," said the 419th Tactical Fighter "fatigues day" on Sunday of each training assemWing's new senior enlisted adviser, CMSgt. Jerry bly, similar to Hill's active duty people, who wear Derrick. In a recent interview, he outlined some of them each Tuesday as a reminder of their combat his perspectives from the vantage point of Hill's top mission. A bonus would be ensuring that personreserve enlisted post, which he officially assumed nel who don't normally wear fatigues have their in March. combat uniforms "up to speed," Chief Derrick said. "It's great to get people all enthused and signed, The chief said he greatly values the relationship up for the reserve, but the job doesn't end there," developed over the years between the reserve and Chief Derrick pointed out. "We have to get them active duty people at Hill. "If there's anything I involved, keep them busy and their spirits high need, I just call and they're there. We've got to conright through to basic and tech school." tinue to have that 'Hill family' attitude to make The primary objective of the Air Force Reserve's things work. Training Orientation program, dubbed "I want to spend time in work areas visiting with "Rainbow Flight" locally, is to help prepare our people," the chief added. "I want them to know recruits for basic training. The term I am and that I'm there to help them. If anywho "Rainbow" alludes to the fact they can't wear unione forms until after basic training, so they must wear brings a problem to me, I'll ask first whether they've talked it over with their supervisor. If they civilian clothes in the meantime. According to Chief (U.S. Air Force Photo by Maj. Len Barry) can't talk to their supervisor, I'll listen and work Derrick, who currently heads the local program, CMSgt. Jerry Derrick... with them to try to solve it. As far as I'm concerned, reservist training involves seven basic areas: Air Force I'm on duty 24 hours a day." Reserve history and policies, Uniform Code of MiliOne of Chief Derrick's favorite quotes is "Don't tary Justice, wearing of the uniform and personal tary Airlift Wing (Associate), Dover AFB, Del. If Reserve-widthe could customs be wait for it to happen; let's go out and make it hapand courtesies, successful, appearance, grade insignia, applied program Lackdrill and ceremonies and first aid. Only two reserve The 8050th Military Training Squadron, pen." Perhaps that: best sums up the chief's units are currently involved- in the "Rainbow land AFB, Texas, set up the guidelines and provid- philosophy of the reserve and his job and what can Flight" test program: the 419th and the 512th Mili-- ed some training materials, in coordination with be expected of him in the years ahead. Pre-Basi- c non-prior-servi- ce 20-ye- ar e. - Direct Deposit guarantees fa mm Sly cash fl w Newspaper headlines read, "Local Air Force Reserve Unit Mobilizes to Designation X," but the story describes the financial woes ex- perienced by the family of Sergeant Jones, who failed to make necessary arrangements to ensure his wife and children had financial support during a mobilization. The above scenario is a possibility when one considers today's world situation. For example, Central America and the Middle East have both seen "hot spots" for some time. Demonstrations, aimed at U.S. policy, occur in nearly every major country and many smaller ones. Hardly a day goes by that we do not read of internal fighting and friction among neigh' boring countries. In some cases, this bickering spans continents. How can reservists avoid financial problems in the event of a ? Simple. A reservist can make arrangements with the reserve Pay - - call-up- Office to have their military pay sent to, a financial organization. Deployments are difficult on families, but reservists compound the issue by failing to make adequate Direct Deposit Program simply makes, good common sense, but it plays an even greater role from a financial viewpoint in the event of a mobilization. It enables a reservist to provide the financial wherewithal to carry on the activities of everyday life despite his or her absence.' said only 35.7 percent of the Air Force Reserve population participates in the Direct Deposit Program. Those enrolled will lessen the impact financial problems create should a mobilization ; occur.. The pay staff encourages reservists to consider direct deposit to minimize disruptions brought about by mobilization. "A little forethought and planning goes a long way in preventing serious financial woes," she Disability and death benefits revised Final Tribute A reservist is injured in a car accident while driving to his monthly weekend drill or develops a seriannual ous illness while serving his unit's durdisease rare a infected with Another is training. is killed Still another overseas during training. ing a routine training exercise. What benefits can these people or their survivors expect? Until recently, they often got nothing. Whether they were eligible for benefits varied, based on whether the reservist or guardsman was serving on a weekend drill (and often wasn't covannual training period or tour ered) or a of extended active duty (and often was). To further complicate things, criteria for benefit eligibility varied depending on what service the person belonged to and whether he was in the Reserve or National Guard. , two-wee- k two-wee- k IP pppppp- .p P, Sharon Farmer, 419th Tactical Fighter Wing pay clerk supervisor, financial arrangements for the family in their absence. The distance itself which separates family members during such times is very trying, but the problem is magnified if inadequate financial arrangements exist. Participation in the P PpMW ; Disability retirement and death benefits (U.S. Air Force Photo by TSgt. Susan Morin) Saluted by Utah's U.S. Congressman Jim Hansen for 39 years of military service, CMSgt. Dale Hansen receives a flag flown over the nation's Capitol honoring his retirement. The Department of Defense Authorization Act of 1987 ensures that all members of the Reserve components get the same protections. According to Dennis Shaw, principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for Reserve affairs, it provides for disability retirement and death benefits as well as pay and allowances for disabled members. The new law provides for disability retirement for all reservists who develop an injury, disease or illness at or during travel to. or from active duty or inactive duty training, such as weekend drills. It also authorizes death benefits for survivors of reservists and guardsmen killed while on duty or while traveling to or from that duty. Under the previous law, Mr. Shaw said, they could receive disability or death benefits only in the case of injuries, not illness or disease. Pay, allowances for disabled members The new law authorizes pay and allowances for those who lose civilian pay because of an injury, illness or disease developed at or while traveling to or from active duty or inactive duty training. If this disability causes a reservist to lose civilian pay because he is unable to work in his civilian job or is forced to reduce his workload, the military will make up the difference. However, the military will pay only up to the amount that person would receive on active duty, based on rank and service time. If he makes less than that at his civilian job, the military will pay only up to the civilian rate. The law specifies that pay and allowances can continue only up to six months. Extensions can be approved only by the service secretary. Mr. Shaw said reservists and guardsmen could receive pay and allowances only for disabling injuries received in connection with duty before the law was enacted. No time limit was placed on these benefits, and some people received payments from the military as Well as their civilian employers or insurance companies. Those who developed illnesses or diseases were entitled to medical and dental care, but no pay and v.5. allowances. . . |