Show AS — The Herald Journal Logan Utah Thursday April 3 2003 extend benefits to soldiers T' WASHINGTON (AP) — When National Guardsmen and reservists ship off to war in Iraq their employers often answer the call care packages extra paychecks and continued health care benefits “The dominant response 'has been to pull together and make it work and to stand behind those called to serve” said Bob Hollingsworth executive director of the National Committee for Employer Support of the Quard and Reserve The Defense Department agency was created in 1972 to address potential problems with employers as the draft was phased out and replaced with an military tori-wit- ers and are prohibited from replacing diem permanendy Employers are required by law to rennploy returning sokliers in the job they would have attained with the mm seniority status and pay had they not left But there are exceptions ' The law limits the time away ' from work to a cumulative five years An employer that eliminates jobs — including the activated reservist’s position — in a poor economy doesn’t have to provide a job when he returns Many reservists take a pay cut when they are activated replacing civilian job salaries with military pay Employers are not required to make up any lost pay nor do they have to continue health care coverage and other benefits or grant accrual of vacation and sick h face So far about 218000 Reserve and National Guard members have been deployed in the war in Iraq making up 80 percent of the force there — and more are on their way That increases die burden for companies that lose work ' based company which has about 4000 Reserve and National Guard memben also will continue paying for health care coverage and life insurance for a yean That policy was instituted after the 2001 terrorist attacks spokesman Malcolm Beridey said But beyond official policy company officials and employees have been sending care packages to their colleagues in Iraq he said Families left behind have been getting them too along with volunteers to help with chiM care errands home maintenance and anything else form the subnetworks for some said “It’s justa environand team family : the’' : : “Co-worke- rs fanu-Berkl- ey ment” The government doesn’t yet days United Parcel Service will make up the pay difference for a year for its 1000 employees activated so far The Atlanta-- police fire and corrections workers appear to be lamest segment Hollingsworth saitLAirline pilots and mechanics also are being called up in large numbers ' ' Those jobs are highly skilled and can’t easily be filled by temporary replace- -' meats Employers especially small ones can be len in a land he said The stress for both employers and reservists has increased in recent years as have the military demands The 11 million Reserve and National Guard forces now comprise about half of the US military and they’re being called upon more and more “It puts stress cm the employer because they have to juggle their manpower plan’ Hollingsworth said “The Mow employees left behind are taking up a lot of the slack working overtime and adjusting schedules” liave data on the types of jobs reservists are leaving behind but is stinting to compile foe information Anecdotally AP photo Arizona students protest University of Arizona students walk past students Arthur Richard on floor and Jesse Saba Kirchner right with mop as they protest the war in Iraq by staging a die-i- n at die student union during lunch on Wednesday in Tucson Ariz Using take blood and performing death scenes Richards and other protesters portrayed themselves as war victims while Saba Kirchner portrayed the media (CNN) as he symbolically deans and sanitizes the war by mopping up the fake Wood A I A Halliburton seeks to work in Iraq Prices' Good Through April 12th as subcontractor WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Dick Cheney’s former company has decided not to enter a controversial bidding process open only to a few experienced and firms for major Iraq reconstruction projects Instead Halliburton Co will focus on becoming a ondary contractor Halliburton where Cheney was chief executive officer said this from 1995-200- 0 week its KBR subsidiary “remains a potential subcontractor for this important well-connect- ed work” Officials of the Houston-base- d company would not say whether the decision was related to questions of favoritism and cronyism concerning the firm Meanwhile the head of the State Department’s Agency for International Development has defended the expedited procedure that invited only a small group of — and politically active — companies to apply for prime reconstruction contracts Whether or not Halliburton ed Ground Continued from A1 There arc roughly 100000 American and British troops now inside Iraq part of a coalition force numbering about 300000 through die region By contrast the first President Bush sent 540000 US troops to reverse Saddam’s occupation of Kuwait — a less ambitious mission than ending his regime A suggestion by military critics that allied forces are too light and small for die job “is not good for our troops and it’s not accurate" Air Farce Gen' Richard Myers chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff complained Tuesday But there’s no doubt that the war has become complex than generally anticipated when it opened on March 19 with selected air strikes aimed at Iraqi leaders Allies have encountered fiercer resistance from Iraqi '' fighters than expected aid fewer surrenders Iraqi Shiites in the south haven’t rallied to -the US cause as many war planners had predicted Protecting a supply line nearly 300 miles long from guerrilla attacks has diverted troops and equipment Rain and sandstorms slowed the advance Equipment for the Texas-base- d 4th Infantry a core com- - receives work as a subcontractor the KBR subsidiary (Kellogg Brown & Root) already has business in Iraq under a previous Defense Department contract to extinguish oil well fires The firm hired subcontractors Boots & Coots International Well Control Inc and Wild Well Control Inc both ' also from Houston to handle ' the firefighting work Contract controversy began before the fighting in Iraq started when USAID sent a detailed “request for propos-als” to a handful of companies for construction work thin that could total up to $600 million over 21 months The construction contract is one of eight solicitations for work in postwar Iraq ' Agency officials said they were prohibited by law from identifying the invited firms but The Wall Street Journal said they included KBR the Halliburton subsidiary Bechtel Group Inc Parsons Corp Louis Berger Group and Fluor Corp two companies that have joined together for this effort and Washington Group IrfnsseDGHOnr raranra raw 1 tut coHnon cumioii in 100 Waterproof Leather Steel Shank for arch suport Full-Gra- v 745100 V SAFETY IDE WEDGE mwmiMROT Qoid trftift Barracuda Leather TNa ia One Comfortable Boot Covered Cushion Inaolo ' Rag$7979 AegJ218B Sale Sale 97 84 HERITAGE ROPER ty Full Grain Leather Upper Removable 4LR Footbod Stad Shank Tampered YOU WILL UKE THIS ONE SPOT SUNT H97 10004 BRIAR PITSTOP DR MARTENS STEEL TOE PLKHMKBOOT BUKRnmmHNioiiB inqurainni uraw RegJ10&99 Reg$12549 Sale BbckorBnwn 99” International ponent of the Overall Iraq invasion force floated for weeks off the Turkish coast until being diverted by the Pentagon to Kuwait — a y trip The administration failed to persuade Turkey's Parliament to allow US forces to open a northerit front from their territor- I Carhortt 10-da- IRREGULAR PANTS 19 y“We could be on the battlefield in a matter of weeks” Brig Gen Stephen Speakes an assistant division commander for 4di Infantry Division said Tuesday But that appears to make it unlikely the division would be ready for the start of a looming battle for Baghdad Other military units dated to join the fray remain in the United States waiting for orders and transportation Some military analysts hold that beginning the war without die 4th Division and other units in place undercuts the Ppwell doctrine Disagreeing is Powell him-se-lf “Who says it is not being implemented?” he asked “line’s a clear political objective: disarm that country of its weapons of mass destruction You have to do that by removal of the regime You use decisive force to do it” “I can assure you that’s what those generals and admirals are over there doing I know it I trained them” Powell told reporters ahead of a diplomatic trip to Belgium and flukey 69 ANY BELT IN OUR STRAW HATS INVENTORYm CiraW'GAiraiRSNftflDS DURING THIS SALE through 28“ Different styles 20 Nylon 80 Cotton Cray wtlh rad atripa top RsgSH97 Sale I tin 20 AUTHENTIC pusmaiHUGE PACIFIC CREST POLO SHIRT SHORT SLEEVE NKE Assorted colore and prints First Quaity vim Pocket SH0RT9SVET-WR- John Deere 100 RsgJ1599 s sale $£97 d iirpyc SW SELECTION sale Reg4l095 f V SMITiHFIEL'D 333237 ® lOIEBSBBl - sale $097 oanimtatam is Eli I |