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Show Hill AFB, Utah Vol. 54 No. 39, 84056-582- 4 October 7, 1999 mm 0 INSIDE: 'Dad's 101' course begins Page 2 Regni, personnel resources director, Air Force deputy chief WASHINGTON (AFPN) President Bill Clinton signed the fiscal 2000 National Defense Authorization Act Oct. 5, clearing the way for the most com- additional years on active duty, for a total of 20 years. A 4.8 of staff for personnel, said, "This bill is historic in the compen- percent across-the-boar- d pay raise, effective Jan. The bill also provides for a e reform of the DOD pay prehensive compensation package the areas of retention, health table. The change provides tarever put together for members care and quality of life," of the armed forces. geted pay increases for about Highlights of the bill include: 82 percent of enlisted and about Speaking before a crowd of 6 57 percent of officers. It takes The restoration of the people gathered outside the military retirement plan. effect July 1. These changes Pentagon for the ceremonial signing of tKe bill, the president Service members who entered eliminate inconsistencies and commented on its significance. the armed forces on Aug. 1, 1986 increase incentives for promo"In a very real sense today," or later, and were affected by tion by providing greater pay the Military Retirement Reform increases for advances in rank. Clinton said, "the work that ConA provision to require milAct of 1986 (commonly referred gress did, and the support that I and our administration gave to as Redux) , now have a choice. itary pay raises from fiscal 2001 to this legislation, is purely and They can either return to a 50 through fiscal 2006 to be 0.5 simply the product of what our percent of basic pay option with percent above the employment full inflation protection or remain cost index. This will help narmen and women in uniform from the highest rank to the under the MRRA plan (40 per- row the gap between military lowest told us needed to be cent multiplier and reduced and private sector pay. A provision to help military done, for them, and for Amer- inflation protection) . If they families under elect MRRA, they ica." to, stay by adding $225 million Calling it the most compre- will receive a $30,000 bonus to the military housing allowance hensive compensation package at 15 years of service by agree- ' budget. This will reduce out-of- in 50 years, Brig. Gen. John F. ing to serve a minimum of five pocket expenses: for members sation gains for our airmen in 1. one-tim- pre-198- . Luncheon launches campaign Page 2 " Command goes 'back to basics' areas. Establishment of a Career Enlisted Flyer Incentive Pay Program with a "save pay" pro- living in high-co- st vision for those career specialties designated as "career enlisted flyers." A "save pay" provision for air battle managers upon their conversion to "rated" status and transition from Hazardous Duty Incentive Pay to Aviation Career Incentive Pay. Expanding the Aviation Continuation Pay to aviation officers in grades below 0-- 7 through their 25th year of flying. The provision also extends the $25,000 maximum annual amount of the bonus to all contracts, regardless of length. Repeal of the restriction that now allows retired regular officers to receive dual-compensati- on their military retirement and federal government salaries. See Defense, page 7 Page 3 n Hiil 4 .:- - j .: V ttte .If. water safe Page 5 'Mi Disabilities I' luncheon planned Page 11 t ,. ' ? " Center offers I ' ' , courses Page 12 Photos by SrA. Matt Lohr 388th Fighter Wing Fighter Country Pages A-- C Firefighters from area towns check the vital signs of "victims" during last week's major accident response exercise in Syracuse. Participants included emergency crews from Syracuse, Clinton, Clearfield and Layton; Hill AFB officials; the Utah Transit Authority, Davis Hospital and Medical Center; and the Air Medical Service helicopter. Exercise tests base; community resources Ogden ALC Public Affairs Page 15 Disaster response crews found five "dead" and 16 "injured" during a Major Accident Response Exercise in Syracuse Sept. 30. Units from Hill AFB; emer- gency crews from Syracuse, Layton, Clearfield and Clinton; Davis Hospital and Medical Cen- ter; Air Medical Service; and the Utah Transit Authority responded to the mock disaster that took place in a vacant Syracuse lot. The scenario had two fully loaded colliding One makes it back in mid-aiF-1- 6s r. October 11th community vol- Twenty-on- e by Sue Berk Game benefits Warmheart f to the base, while the other crashes in a city park during a soccer tournament. unteers acted as the disaster victims with a dummy playing the dead pilot. To make the exercise realistic, full make up was applied by the 75th Medical Group's moulage team. The drill's goal was to test the base's ability to respond to and emergency support an e off-bas- involving civilian agencies. "I believe the MARE was an overall success," said Don Medine, Hill disaster preparedness specialist. "It provided the agencies who participated some valuable trainagen-cieing, especially the e off-bas- s. In addition to the training, the groups involved said the exer cise was a great learning expe- rience. "The off-bas- e agencies learned more about what hazards are associated with military aircraft and how they should respond to them," Medine said. "More importantly, I believe the mil- itary and civilian agencies learned the importance of working with one another and what resources the military brings with them when they respond." "We have response teams in each area of Clearfield city, but it's not often that we get to work with so many jurisdictions," said Cathy Diehl, Clearfield City Emergency Service coordinator. "What a great "We were more than happy to play," said Ray Strong, Utah Transit Authority representative. "Our objective was to see what the response time from Ogden would be. It (the exercise) was a learning experience for everyone." For this exercise, the UTA bus was responsible for transporting the injured to Davis Hospital. And according to Strong, the UTA gets involved with many disaster response situations. Hill will be gearing up for the next "learning experience" sometime in early 2000. The base is required to participate in one off base MARE each year. The next drill will be played out somewhere in Weber County. |