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Show B fitin.t(r30,1998try July Air Force fights for adequate aviator benefits Review searches for ways to increase aircrew's pay benefits pay for career enlisted aviators that has broad support among the services. This career enlisted flight incenjive pay would award career enlisted aviators a higher rate of compensation than they are eligible for today, even after this year's increase in enlisted - WASHINGTON (AFNS) With recent gains in aviator pay in hand, the Air Force continues to push for adequate compensation for its aircrews. Personnel officials have worked with the Office of the Secretary of Defense's Review of Aviation Compensation to make the case for increased benefits for almost a year. The review is looking at all areas of officer and enlisted aviator pay to ensure that airmen receive adequate compensation and that the services continue to attract and retain career aviators. "Our number one quality-of-lif- e priority is compensation." said Lt. Gen. Michael D. McGinty. deputy chief of staff for personnel. "There is no one answer to increasing retention but several areas where we are directing our efforts." Recent reductions in the frequency of inspections and exercises, decreases in the length of deployments and the start of the the general "post deployment down-timeexplained, are all designed to "ease the strain of personnel tempo on our expeditionary force. While those initiatives are important, we must continue to focus on compensation initiatives. "Our goal is to send a clear signal to all aviators: We value their experience and are ," "TrntiMoftrTrrrTi rrimrr J Photo by Siaff Sgt. James A. Rush Capt. Christopher Kott, 4th Fighter Squadron pilot, gets ready to take off as a crew chief pulls the ladder away. The Air Force continues to look at ways to make aviator compensation more desireable in order to retain officer and enlisted aircrew members. will see their flight pay increased. For enlisted aviators, the Air Force has worked for several years to increase their aviation compensation. As a result, this year incentive pay the minimum hazardous-dut- y for enlisted aviators increased to $150. As part of the Review of Aviation Compensation, the Air Force has proposed a new committed to making a full career in the Air Force a positive experience. The Review of Aviation Compensation is working toward that end." This year, the general noted, the Air Force made "significant changes" in the aviator bonus for officers. Next year, officers with more than 14 years of aviation service flight pay. The premise behind this initiative, General McGinty said, is to have all career enlisted aviators paid the same. This is to be based on years of aviation service through career enlisted flight incentive pay, but at an increased rate when compared to special-dut- y inassignment pay and hazardous-dut- y centive pay. "Therefore," General McGinty said, "as we move toward career enlisted flight incentive pay, we need to create equity among all career enlisted aviators. As such, we need to make some incremental changes to the current enlisted aviator compensation for- mula." The general said that the Air Force will try to create "equal and equitable compensation" for all career aviators. "Ultimately, however," General McGinty said, "We hope that OSD's aviation compensation review will recognize the importance of attracting and retaining all our career aviators. We need its support for a comprehensive compensation plan that includes career enlisted flight incentive pay." For more information on these and other pay issues, contact the Military Pay Branch, 777-185- 1. Airmen discover pay bonuses thanks to smart IDEAs By Staff Sgt. James A. Rush Editor, Fighter Country Airman 1st Class Daniel C. Hicks, $20, $20 So far this fiscal year, the 388th Fighter Wing has paid out a total of S 1 .846. For more information about the IDEA program, call Mr. Gates at Following is a list of this quarter's award winners: 1 388th Operations Group 777-CAS- Wing airmen found S4.200 extra in their paychecks the past three months thanks to suggestions made through the 388th Fighter Wing IDEA program. The money was divided among 30 wing members who 0 earned per idea. "It is apparent that only a few personnel in the wing are getting all the money." said Tom Gates. IDEA analyst. "I'd like to see more people submit their ideas and collect their share of the award money." Most of this quarter's awards are for changes to technical orders. As part of the program, airmen identify errors or better ways to do business and suggest procedural modifications using Air Force Technical Order Form 22. After approval, completion of Air Force Form 1000 is the only thing standing between the Air Force members and extra cash. "So far I've just saved the money. I'll probably spend it on my kjds," said Staff Sgt. Robert J. Haney who brought home an extra $ 1 .000. "It's easy. I always tell folks, anytime you see something wrong in TO, put in the AFTO 22." Airman 1 st Class Abraham Cano received his first IDEA award this quarter and has since made another suggestion. "I got more than I expected," he said. "I wasn't expectand now I've got another change even bigger S200 ing than the other." S20-20- pi GHTER COUNTR Y js Master Sgt. Perry M. Bailey. $200 34th Fighter Squadron 388th Maintenance Squadron Master Sgt. Ronald W. Hoffmann, SI 00 Master Sgt. Richard M. Livingston. S20, S20 Senior Airman James Sgt. Bryan C. Collins. SI 00 Sgt. Paul Lush, S 00 Sgt. Mark W. VanFossen. SI 00 Sgt. Arthur E. Rousseau. S20. S20 Staff Sgt. MarkElkins, SI 00, SI 00, S200. SI 00. SI 00 Staff Sgt. Kevin Gray, S20, S20 Staff gt. Matthew E. Gyte, S200 Staff Sgt. Lyle S. King. S20. S20 Staff Sgt. Eric R. Nelson, SI 00, SI 00. SI 00 Staff Sgt. John D. Oliver, S20. S20 Staff Sgt. Noppong Suwanvet. S20. S20 Staff Sgt. Keith L. Wolters, S200 Senior Airman Eric J. Macchiaverna. S200 Senior Airman Christopher S. McKellip. S20, $20 Senior Airman Shawn Moncrief. $20, $20 Senior Airman Michael Yates, $200, $200 Airman 1st Class Kurt J. Bair. $100 Airman 1st Class Cano, $200 Airman 1 st Class Duane Dauphin, $20, $20 Tech. Tech. Tech. Tech. ... Datko. $200 388th Operations Support Squadron Tech. Sgt. Todd G. Cyrus, $200 1 published for people like F. 388th Logistics Group Mr. Steven J. Neveraski. $100 Mr. Irvin K. Smith. $200 388th Logistics Support Squadron Master Sgt. James D. Green. $100 Staff Sergeant Haney, S200, $200, $200, $200, $200 729th Air Control Squadron Tech. Sgt. Brian L. Chrisman, $200 372nd Training Support Squadron Staff Sgt. James M. Cohn, $200 Staff Sgt. Steven E. Fast, $200 uni: whose IDEA submissions are processed under the 388th Fighter Wing IDEA Program. non-wi- FIGHTER COUNTRY First place, small commercial-enterpris- e newspaper 997 Air Combat Command Media Contest 1 "?T It" it Name: Airman Mike LaMedica Job: 6 avionics technician Unit: 34th Fighter Squadron V V 'J Hometown: "I was bom in Rome, New York, but lived in Germany the majority of my life." Time in Service: One year, four months Hobbies: Mountain biking, hiking, camping and fishing Goals: "I would like to get an electronics engineering degree and just be happy and successful in w hatever I do." What would I change at Hill AFB: "I would upgrade and exy pand the following facilities: library, hospital, shop, I and the the idea like crowed of having a do shoppctte gym. Burger Kins on base." V auto-hobb- Editorial Staff Col. Mike Hostage Capt James R.Wilson Staff Sgt. James A. Rush Senior Airman Sara Banda Airman Cindy Richards Commander chief. PuMc Affairs Editor Deputy Chief. 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