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Show 2 Hilltop Times NEWS Aug. 2. 1991 MsPesik M wee cuffs firo 6) by SSgt. Oarla J. Smith Eglin AFB, Fla. Promotion problems, the redesign of I the service dress uniform and challenges for a changing Air Force were some of the topics addressed by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Merrill A. McPeak during his visit to Eglin AFB July McPeak said he recognized that the current drawdown in force structure will affect promotions, but vowed to do what he could to control the problems. "There will always be promotions," he said. "We're not going to put a freeze on them, but some career fields may slow down. That's a fact of life." As for officers, another Selective Early Retirement Board for people with more than 20 years of service is very possible, he said. "I don't think we'll have a RIF (reduction in force) which throws people out before they're retirement eligible. "I'm working very hard to avoid 10-1- 66 " S We have just proven in Desert Storm that we are an independent force of combat. It's time we had a 2. that." uniform that expressed our coming of age as a service... 'Aft & 99 Gen. Merrill A. McPtok Air Fore a blue Army uniform. "We have just proven in Desert Storm that we are an independent force of combat," he said. "It's time we had a uniform that expressed our coming of age as a service a distinctively Air Force uniform." The new uniform material will be a poly-woblend for comfort and will be minus as many accouterments as possible. "I'm almost certain we will do away with name tags on the dress uniform. We're looking for ways to improve the quality of the uniform while reducing the cost associated with its wear." The color will essentially remain the ol Things McPeak does foresee is change in structure, in number, and even in the uniform. The service dress uniform is being redesigned, with the emphasis on distinctiveness and class. "I think everybody likes to look good. What we basically have now is Continued from Page 1 drill three new soil-ga- s monitoring wells and perform tracer tests to monitor the movement of the air injected into the soil. In addition, the EPA will vary the rates and perform tests to determine the most efficient rate of flow. Initially, the rate will be cut in half. Depending on the results, two addition air-injecti- air-flo- w chief of stoff same. Neckties, belts and shirts will not change. Beyond changing the way its people look, the Air Force will change its structure. McPeak said he sees composite wings as an exciting, forthcoming change. A composite wing puts different aircraft and people together under one organization. McPeak used Incirlik AB, Turkey, as one example of several composite wings formed for Desert Storm. Incirlik had self-sustaini- , and tanker aircraft all in one wing. F-1- 5, F-1- 6, RF-4- A-1- 0 "It worked wonderfully," he said. "I think the case for the composite wing al flow rates will be tested. Each rate will be tested for approximately five months. The agreement gives the EPA access to the site for three years. Data obtained from the experiments will be shared between the Air Force and the EPA. A final report of the findings is due in September 1993. pnuBqiy was strengthened from the (Desert Storm) experience. Air Force composite wings will form in two ways. "We have composite wings today all over the Air Force they're just not structured as composite wings," he said. "We're reorganizing them so they will be run much more effi- ciently." Composite wings also are being built from the ground up, such as at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho. "We're building an air intervention e fighters, air wing with defense fighters and tankers. It will be able to go quickly to any spot on earth and do some damage." The general said he doesn't see restructuring or uniform changes as the biggest challenge facing the Air Force, but the decentralization of operations. long-rang- "I'm going to push responsibility and authority as far down in the organization as possible all the way the general down to the one-stripers- ," said. "I trust people in the Air Force, and I want them to be free to use their innovation, common sense and imagina- tion to improve the quality of the work we do." Editor's note: Smith is assigned to the public affairs office at the Air Force Development Test Center at Eglin. Courtesy of AFLC News Service. "Bioremediation is considered to be one of the most attractive ways to clean up petroleum fuel spills because it can usually be done leaving the contaminated soils in place," Elliott said. "The technology has been successfully used by oil companies and is now spreading to industries, including the government." NEWS BRIEFS Leave bank season extendod The open season for accepting annual leave contributions to the Reservist Leave Bank has been extended to Aug. 10 to help those federal employees who were on active duty during the Persian Gulf War. The bank will help replace some of the leave the reservists gave up while on active duty. All executive agency employees may contribute to this program. Sick leave may not be contributed. The minimum contribution of annual leave is one hour and the maximum contribution is one-haof of the leave the employee's leave balance or one-haaccrued. Leave may not be contributed to a specific individual. All leave contributed through this program will be divided equally among all eligible reservists by the Office of Personnel Management. If you want to contribute annual leave to this program, please complete a Standard Form 71, Application for Leave, and include the following information: Block 1 Name, pay plan, series, grade, step lf lf and salary. Block 2 Social Security number. Block 4-- C Number of annual leave hours con- tributed. Block 6 Annotate "Reservist Leave Bank Program." The completed SF-7- 1 must be received in the Civilian Personnel Office, EntitlementsBenefits Team (HRCEB), Bldg. 1245, Room 12, no later than close of business Aug. 9. If you have any questions, please contact Nancy Lucas, Ext. 76142. VA raises interest ratos WASHINGTON (AFNS) Because of recent changes in credit markets, the Department of Veterans Affairs raised its maximum interest rate for home loan guarantees from 9 to 9.5 percent. These increases were effective June 17. The last change in the VA interest rate was Feb. 5, 1991, when the rate declined from 9.5 to 9 percent. Increased by one-hapercentage point were the maximum rates for graduated payment mortgages to 9.75 percent, home improvement loans to 11 percent, manufactured home loans to 12 percent, y manufactured home loans to 11.5 percent and manufactured home and lot loans to 11.5 percent. lf lot-onl- VA home loan guarantees can be used by qualified veterans and servicemembers to buy, improve or refinance a house or condominium, and to buy or refinance a manufactured home. The VA guaranteed more than 196,000 home loans totaling $15.8 billion in fiscal 1990. Call before you dig You need a digging permit from the Red Stake Office before doing any digging below four inches at Hill AFB. The 2849th Civil Engineering Squadron Red Stake Office is located in the center of Bldg. 15. Officials remind anyone who is contemplating a digging project on base to first obtain a digging permit. The permit is needed for several reasons: To ensure that all underground utilities are lo- cated and properly marked. O Regulations require you to have a digging permit in your possession while doing the digging. Locating buried utilities will eliminate any possibility of injury due to coming in contact with electrical or gas lines. If you have any questions, contact MSgt. William Taylor at Ext. 71995. Combat Strength Through Logistics Hilltop Times Published by MorMedia. Inc.. a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force, under exclusive written contract with Hill AFB. This commercial enterprise Air Force newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. military services. Contents of the Hilltop Times are not necessarily the official views of. or eha6rseI byVthe U!S. government. IhY Depakmenl of .V.i. .",M.i." in Defense or the Department of the Air Force. The appearance of advertisements in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of the Air Force or MorMedia, Inc. of the products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the Ogden Air Logistics Center Public Affairs Office staff,' Bldg: 1102. Room 118. Ext. 77321. HHI AFB Editorial Staff: Maj. Gen. Dalt W. Thompson Jr Commander, Maj. Wad J. Habshey Director, Public Affairs Marilu A. Trainor Chief, Internal Information Gary Hatch Editor SSgt. Barbara Fisher Assistant editor Frances Kosakowsky Staff writer Donna Davis Contributing writer OO-AL- C DtadHnei: Editorial and "around the hill" items, noon Thursday, week before publication; sports articles, noon Monday, week of publication; classified ads, 2 p.m. Wednesday, week of publication. For more information, call the editors, Exts. 7732177322; ...... " |