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Show FA T-lt- !if COUT $Tlf 5T TXtOUG 0 LDC'Sna CI C Genera! Schwarxkepf iCfb OOLLEGl I 1 1 addresses TV)fm Congress Piease see story, Pa;e 2. Vol. 45 No. 19 Hill AFB, Utoh May 17, 1991 OO-ALCP- Hill AFB, UT Third Class 84056-$99- 0 Serials Order Department University of Utoh Libraries Salt Lake City, UT 84112 give option to women f ) j t NO Committee action could allow combat missions V i - ' a WASHINGTON (AFNS)-- In landmark action May 8, the House Armed Services Committee voted to let Air Force and Navy women pilots fly combat missions. The committee action would not require the services to put women on combat missions, but would give them the option by lifting the statutory prohibition that now exists for the Air Force and Navy. There is no statutory . ( 'v v I 1 -S-- rSv- xX ) A D-Col- J D-Md- LJ . U.S. Air Force Photo by Gary Hotch face in the crowd Ethan Parker, a kindergartener at Hill Field Elementary, waves a flag and sings tribute to the men and women sadeployed in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. The school staged a welcome-homlute Friday at Clearfield High School. Ethan is the son of Capt. Dan R. and Trish Parker. e id e TOfrfs infer sc nd m Force News Service WASHINGTON-Americ- an coalition aid continues to flow to Kurdish refugees displaced in the aftermath of the Persian Gulf War, as Operation Provide Comfort entered its second month. Provide Comfort began April 7 after President Bush ordered humanitarian flights and relief efforts to help alleviate the suffering of Iraqi Kurds and others who fled their homes during a fierce crackdown by troops loyal to Iraq's president Saddam Hussein. As of May 9, the coalition forces supporting Provide Comfort num- bered 18,228, of whom 10,314 were U.S. troops. More than 12,000 tons of relief supplies have been delivered to the refugees in the mountain areas. In one camp, 12,443 refugees have moved into the temporary tent village at Zakhu, Iraq. The allies have 2,418 tents there. . Likewise, at camp sites in Safwan, Iraq, an estimated 50,000 meals were provided to refugees in a four-da- y period. The Pentagon reported that more than 300,000 Iraqis escaped to the mountainous area along the Turkish- - Welcome home Parade will honor Desert 66 and We look forward to working with the U.N. to hasten the day when all these refugees can return home. 99 President George Bush Iraqi border when the Republican Kurdish Guard crushed a short-liverebellion. Another estimated 1.5 million Kurds fled to Iran. That campaign left hundreds of Kurdish villages in ruin, hundreds of thousands of families uprooted, and thousands missing. In the journey out of Iraq, the refugees have also met harsh conditions, and many have reportedly died as a result of malnutrition, disease and exd posure. Adding to the U.S. relief efforts, coalition forces have beefed up their hu "We have always looked at this relief effort as limited in duration," the president said in a televised address May 9. "And we look forward to working with the U.N. to hasten the day when all these refugees can return home." Meanwhile, the Pentagon has said the United States would not abandon the refugees who desire to come into the demilitarized zone during the withdrawal process. Refugees will continue to be provided transportation from temporary relief sites as necessary, and U.S. units providing refugee security will assist U.N. observer forces that are assuming responsibility for the DMZ, Pentagon spokesman Bob Hall said. The overall operation has several parts, he said. One is to take care of the people in camps in the mountains. The second was to establish one camp, then perhaps others, for them to move down from the mountains. The end goal will be getting the refugees to return to their homes. TAC commander praises support P See AF ., officials respond In response to the House action, Air Force officials applauded the accomplishments of women in the Air Force but will wait until a specific law is enacted before fully assessing the impact and developing plans for im- plementation. lied forces. Mew perspective defenders D manitarian endeavors to safeguard the freedom of Iraqi refugees. Another effort is to have a United Nations police presence in northern Iraq to replace al- by SSgt. David P. Masko Air prohibition on women in Army combat roles, but they have been barred from direct combat assignments by service policy. The bill to lift the ban on women combat fliers was initiated by Rep. who Patricia Schroeder, offered an amendment to the bill to cover the Air Force. Rep. Beverly B. chairwoman of the perByron, sonnel subcommittee, amended Mrs. Schroeder's proposal to include the Navy. Aid, Page 2, please. There are currently 74,556 women in the active Air Force; 13,778 officers and 60,778 enlisted. During Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, more than 3,800 women were deployed performing duty in all career areas open to women. Officials say women are eligible for 97 percent of Air Force positions. Restriction from certain duties is based on Title 10, U.S. Code 8549, which states women may not be assigned to duty in aircraft engaged in combat missions. In both aerial and ground activity, the key elements are the proximity to or contested territory, and enemy-helthe ability of the enemy to take and hold prisoners. d Combat exclusions Air Force Regulation explains combat exclusions affecting the assignment of Air Force military women and applies to all members of the regular Air Force, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard. All Air Force officer career areas are open to women. But combat exclusion doesn't allow assignment of women in aircraft which fly into hostile territory, or are involved in combat operations behind enemy lines. These include fighters, bombers, 35-6- 0 See Wonten Armed Forces Pay America honors its heroes Page 2, please. |