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Show AIR FORCE RESERVE Supplement to th Hilltop Timts Stripe ol! I Bdr5iifi)d n n J O O bog and meals are available, the unit pays. For contract quarters, when the reservist is in individual status, the host pays, and when the whole unit is on duty, behooves It every reservist to stay current on the the unit pays. When government meals are not which govern proper use of a couple of able, the reservist pays and is reimbursed. For mandays, the reservist pays for billeting key benefits: billeting and meals. A word to the wise: Know and heed the rules now avoid problems later, and is reimbursed. Contract quarters are paid for by nic uuib. Uu iir n bums, tiic active mm ing outside the base commuting area duty unit usually finances the cost. radius). It is governed by different rules, depending on the Dining hall policy reservist's duty status. Reservists must be in duty status to use the dining facility. Those Inactive who live outside the commuting area (UTAs) For duty performed at home station, the unit and must travel on Friday before a UTA are autho of assignment finances all housing costs. It's impor rized an evening meal without charge. tant to note that when additional housing is required O Reservists on mandays must have a copy of for family members, the reservist must pay all lodg- orders and will pay for meals. ing costs, not just the cost of the spouse. When conReservists not on extended shifts or remaining tract quarters are used, two reservists share a room. beyond the UTA for active duty are not authorized For duty performed in travel status, the reser- to use the dining facility after the end of the duty vist pays for billeting (and for meals, if government day Sunday, except with a letter of authorization meals aren't available) and is reimbursed. from the unit commander. Understanding and abiding by the rules make life Active easier for everyone. If in doubt, contact your superFor annual tour, when government quarters visor, commander or the budget office. by Brig. Gen. Forrest S. Winebarger 10tfe AF 419th TFW commander Semor existed Adviser Editor's note: As he travels throughout the command, CMSgt. James R. Ruderer spends a lot of time listening to people. He takes careful notes when people tell him about problems and concerns. In this and future columns, Chief Ruderer will identify some of these concerns and what's being done about them. Throughout the years, it seems like there's always been someone visiting your unit asking about your concerns. That individual usually has a notebook and takes lots of notes about the con- cerns you express. Then he or she leaves, and you wonder what happens to all the notes... and the answers to your concerns. Well, I'm the latest individual with the notebook. And I 'm promising you that General Mcintosh, the 10th Air Force staff, and wing and group commanders are hearing and working on your concerns. Here, in your unit paper during the coming months, I'll share with you some of the concerns that have been expressed to me. And I'll tell you what's being done about them. The first six concerns we've been working on avail-guidelin- (50-mil- e es aDoarvJuc duty status duty status are: The expense of having insignia and patches sewn on uniforms. Why state income tax can't be deducted from Reserve paychecks. Unfair application of AFR Single members don't get the same B AQ as married members. The PEP program has too much paperwork. Headquarters personnel need to know more about field operations. In this column, I'll answer the first two. Many of you have expressed concern about how much it costs to get insignia and patches sewn on fatigues, especially with the conversion to battle dress uniforms. The average cost seems to range between $10 and $15 per uniform, depending on how many patches you have. A packet is on the way to each unit containing instructions and a sample contract. Units have the authority to contract with a local tailor shop for insignia.and patch service. Once the contract's in place, you can have your insignia and patches sewn on at no cost to you. Thanks to Col. Lloyd Milliman and his 10th Air Force LG staff for their work on the packet. Many have asked me, "Why can't state income tax be deducted from my Reserve check?" Some have pointed out state income tax can be deducted from active duty members' checks. Seems like many of you would rather pay as you go than be faced with the added liability at tax time. Until now, the JUMPS pay system used to compute the Reserve payroll hasn't been able to handle state income tax deductions. The active duty system can. Col. J.F. Dougherty, AFRES comptroller, looked at the problem. Good news! Beginning this month, state income tax will be withheld from reservists' paychecks in the 33 states (and the District of Columbia) that have withholding agreements with the U.S. government. Thanks to Colonel Dougherty and the AFRES comptroller staff for solving the problem. 35-1- 1. Letter corrects mistake 2 forms on ReservewhoW--claim an individual Air Force Reserve officers will have better control of their careers when a change becomes effective in the Reserve major promotion board March 5. Under a change to the unit vacancy nomination program, commanders may inform officers who are being recommended for promotion. Previously, promotion nominations were confidential. Nominees may write a personal letter to the board to explain a situation, such as why they did not have a satisfactory year of participation in the Reserve. by TSgt. Margie O. Montoya 419th TFW Social Actions Office In 1926, Dr. Carter Godwin Woodson, director of the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, inaugurated Negro History Week and 50 years later, the association expanded the commemoration to encompass an entire month. This month's celebration focuses attention on the vast and often underreported history and contribution of black Americans. Several reservists in the 419th Tactical Fighter Wing were asked, "What does Black History Month mean to you?" 1st Lt. Donald Schloth, 419th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, recalled his youth. '.'Growing up in Boston, I lived in a melting pot and there isn't much of that in Utah. A little more awareness is needed in the Reserve because, in the military, there are so many cultures. "A little more understanding of each other's backgrounds and cultures would help us all work better together," Lieutenant Schloth said. SSgt. Marvie Knox, 419th CAMS, said, "It's a s to get together and aptime for Black History Month we've come. far how preciate is exciting to me because it is a time to get together, socialize and celebrate." SSgt. Zachary Cassita, 405th Combat Logistics Support Squadron, said, "It makes people aware of things that have gone on in our history, things that s, IRS-approv- under the Constitution. The Supreme Court has wrestled with the issue of the constitutional rights of blacks since the beginning of its existence. The court in recent years has been concerned with how to ensure equality and what price, and who should pay, for past discrimination, the publication says. It concludes, "Although equal constitutional rights have been granted, but not fully delivered, to blacks... the 21st century portends more evolution in this direction. Maybe sometime in the next century, the court's docket will have fewer cases involving the rights of blacks and more concerned with the rights of other minority groups whose populations are swelling the homes of our nation." I : ( i V:..- ; ' "' 2 W-2- are not written in the history books facts. If you want to know about your neighbor, you're not going to find it in history books. "It (racism) is not a question of prejudice or discrimination. It's a question of ignorance," Sergeant Cassita said. According to a booklet on Black History Month, prepared by the Research Division of the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute, Patrick AFB, Fla., there is a great irony in the relationship between black Americans and the Constitution. The publication says no blacks attended the Constitutional Convention, blacks were not considered to be "full people" under the Constitution, and throughout history blacks have not been afforded full rights and privileges as United States citizens African-American- Air Force reservists retirement account on their 1989 income tax return should expect to receive a letter to avoid a possible audit. The Air Force Accounting and Finance Center in Denver checked a wrong block on Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard W-- forms, indicating they also have a pension plan. As a result, the IRS may audit reservists who claim an IRA deduction. Center officials do not plan to send corrected letter to membut will send an mistake. bers explaining the "Reservists who receive a letter can either attach it to their tax return or keep it on file in case they are audited," said Sue Kidman, director of 419th Tactical Fighter Wing accounting and finance. (AFRNS) v v.'. ,..v v.v. Maj. Gen. Roger P. Scheer, chief of Air Force Reserve, urges each organization to continue screening nominated officers to ensure only outstanding records are forwarded to the central board at Headquarters Air Reserve Personnel Center. "It is possible for an officer, identified by a subordinate unit, to be screened out from further consideration," General Scheer said. "This is part of the screening process and lends credibility to the unit vacancy program." ed ( v --7 l w. .'.1st Lt. Donald Schloth ' '' Marvie Knox . SSgt. Zachary Cassita |