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Show .. "wr "l ft - T. - t .: 0 i i ,. t n a Mews cy ' THE SAMPLER New action plan by SP5 Steven Silvers . i fO) A 10)0 a 'sort of checklist for getting things done. Initiatives are. grouped according to cost, time involved, and overall effect on Army families. While the plan attempts to e tackle many tough, docissues, including tor and child development gives stiff-action stack of half-inch-thi- ck papers has officially changed the way the Army treats its families. After years of research; the .. "Army .Family Action Plan," released last 55-pa- October started your ge long-rang- month, will guide the Pentagon in handling the enormous range of issues facing Army families including medical care, housing, education, employment and many others. "This is the first focused ef- CHAMPUS deductible again Don't forget that on Oct. 1, your CHAMPUS deductible for outpatient care started for the year. That's another way of saying that, from Oct. 1 of this year through the end of September, next year, you pay the first $50 (for an individual) or the first $100 (for a family) worth of allow-abl- e outpatient medical bills. Send in your claims as your normally do, and the CHAMPUS claims processor will keep track until your deductible is met for the year. Also, if you have, other insurance that picks up your outpatient bills, send in their statement showing how much they paid. That counts toward your deductible, too. , center shortages, officials rehere predict immediate sults. "The fastest thing families will see will be an atti- tude change," Tankersley said. He said as more and fort weve had to support the family," explained LTC Mil-to- n T. Tankersley of the DA Family Action Coordination Team. "We had people doing good things, but they more people realize the family's importance, that attitude will have a "positive impact." Families may also see changes soon in areas falling under the weren't coordinated with each other. There were no priorities. Now well be able . denestablish tal care and others. "We're talking in terms of doing some things now, some space-availab- le sis on recognizing the family's importance to the Army's readiness and retention. Last August's "Army Family White Paper," signed by Chief of Staff Gen. John A. states that anyone involved in Army regulation commercial solicitation on an Army installation must first receive permission from the Post Commander. This means anyone involved in a private comemrcial enterprise on Dugway Proving Grounds requires permission from the Post Commander before going into business. Definition of a private business or commercial enterprise is selling cookies, donuts.pasteries, etc., insurance (life or auto), jewelry, lapidary, firearms or ammunition. Before entering into a commercial enterprise and requesting the Commander's permission to do sp, all state and federal laws must first be complied with. It will certainly make life easier for all concerned if we learn what must first be complied with before going into a private commercial enterprise. For more information on this subject, contact the adjutant at 3424. 210-- 7 things in the future," Tankersley said. "For exam- ple, sponsorship is actually a program, but it low-co- st takes more time to develop a program that will work in the long run. We don't want a quick-fiwell have to look at again in another couple of months." At times the plan calls for research instead of policy. "In many cases we're not even sure what it is we really Wickham, Jr., stressed the need to "strengthen the mutually reinforcing bonds between the Army and its x families." With the action plan, the Army hopes to transform that philosophy into policy. Taking problems head on said. need," Tankersley There are 66 different -- off grading overseas orientations, having families help design housing, working to to set some." Over the years, national forand local Army-famil- y ums helped identify the problems. But the plan also results from the new empha- commercial solicitation on Army installations? "low-costhigh-pay- ' category. Plans for "the near term" include up- . Are you in violation of rs policy-make- ."That's the situation with called "initiatives" issues in the action plan, and each bi-cultu- ral adjustment,' where the soldier marries someone from another country." The plan also centralizes many operations formally spread across several Pentagon agencies. For example, the exceptional family member program, which tries to match up assignments with the needs of a handicapped child or spouse, now falls under the director of human resources. "It used to be that Army community services, the school system, surgeon general and MILPERCEN were all involved," Tatikersley said. "Now weve brought everyone together to eliminate duplication of efforts. J Family support into tomorrow While most of the plan's actions are directed at agencies in the Pentagon, the Army is keeping the field in "No matter how the form is designed, the Enlisted Evaluation Report (EER) is only as useful as the writer or rater makes it.". Statements like this are often made by senior noncom- Army commissary customers may return merchandise purchased in the commisary if there are hidden defects in perishable or. nonperishable items which obviously existed at the time-o- f purchase, report officials at the U.S. Army Troop Support Agency. Customers may receive cash refunds, a credit slip or merchandise exchange for returned items. Cash refunds are authorized for hidden defects or in cses of customer hardship and are not normally given for items returned simply becuase the customer no longer wants it. A credit slip may be issued for a nonperishable item, provided it is intact, unopened, undamaged,' .within its shelf life, saleable and still stocked in the commissary. A credit slip is used in lieu of cash for other commissary purchases. A merchandise exchange is authorized or a credit slip issued when a customer returns a perishable items that has a hidden defect that was unnoticed at the time of purchase. If a customer happens to purchase defective merchandise in the commissary, he should return it as quickly as possible if he desires any kind of compensation. The commissary officer or, other management personnel can assist with merchandise returns or answer any questions.he may have. missioned officers and of- - . . ficers who sit on DA selection j boards. A member of a recent centralized selection board had this to say about EERs reviewed: "The job description block is almost uniformly poorly written and does not describe the key elements of the job . . . The narrative portion is filled with a bunch of mush and does not say what the service member did, how well she or she did it, and under what conditions?" Although a soldier's entire " record is reviewed, selection board members consistently state that the EER is the most important document used by the board. Improperly prepared reports do not provide , cise word picture of the rated soldier's actual work per- potential is. The following are suggestions about how to complete some of the important parts of the EER: Duty description formed, additional duties and. overall scope of responsibility. The rater should also note conditions peculiar to the assignment. Performance narrative The performance narrative should comment on specific aspects of performance. It should describe what the rated soldier did during the report and how well he or she did it. Specific accomplishments and professional competence or standards with appropriate amplification may also be included. This section should not be used to comment on the rated soldiers potential should present a clear, con should happen in the future. meaningful information, forcing selection boards to look elsewhere for discriminators. Rating officials who take the time and effort to proper- ly complete reports help boards better appreciate what the rated soldier did, how well he or she.per- formed, and what his or her - The duty description roof that can give temporary reftige? If not, have you considered escape ladders from second story windows? Can windows be easily opened? Conduct drills so that the If not, here are recommen- dations from the National Safety Council: To plan a fire escape 'route, draw the actual layout of vour home. Make the exits and sketch in the- escape options you have if the main hall or stairway is blocked Is there a deck or porch emergency actions become - -- or to recommend what second nature to the household. Remember, in a crisis it is difficult to think clearly un less escape options have been identified in advance and drills have been conducted. Your plan should include an outdoor meeting place sd you can make sure everyone is safe. If anyone is missing. ; ....;.. ROBES j'r r .to . . xmxxmi xxnxx ux itiixxxxti AND BLOUSES MISSES TOPS AND BLOUSES J ' HANDBAGS MONDAY:", S. MWIE fl ,SS TUESDAY: i 17.00 ............. Potential evaluation The potential evaluation should provide specific narrative comments on the rated soldiers potential for promotion, schooling, assignment and increased responsibility. imCareer progression-ito As op- portant everyone. s portunities diminish, the competition becomes keener. Since the competition for selection is tough enough, soldiers do not need to be handicapped by improperly prepared or poorfy written evaluation reports. Raters must do their part to make certain that the soldier is accurately represented on the EER. This ensures that boards select the best people , and the Army is best served. movieS 2nd MOVIE MOVIE 3rd MOVIE U $2 leave the job of going back in- side to the firefighters. rescuers should be aware that lethal quantities of odorless gases are often present causing the resWould-b- e cuer to become a victim. at least one elbow in, you will find proper. Hie same principle, but for different reasons, may apply to proper lifting and manual work in general. Keep at least one elbow close to your body. According to the National Safety. Council, if you lift, carry or move any sized or shaped object while keeping ladder to raise things. You ahve to move your feet to place something behind you. You have to get help on larger loads. If a task involves movements with both elbows away from the body, find another, that: You have to bend your knees if the object is on the floor. You have to use a step or way. (AND WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY) .15.00 ..... wherever needed. "This is not a closed document, Tankersley said, "We allow for changes, and we keep going. Were not going to finish whats in this plan and go home. Well move on to other things. (ARNEWS) "Keep your elbows off the table! we were told when we were kids. The reason we were given was that "It was DAYOFTHEWEEK SPECIALS! SALE 13.8 JR. TOPS vising or adding issues save your back . 28.00 $ 24.00 $ 1 schools. Officials here are already working on the plans future. Next year both the family office and a general officer-leve- l steering committee will review all the initiatives, re- Watch your elbows . DRESSES.. Army-famil- Does your family have a fire escape plan? . REG. communities have been encouraged to host their own y symposiums. the training and docAlso, has been command trine asked to develop family member orientation courses at some of the service EERs: proper completion is important Commissary return policy noted .50 OFF volved. Major commnds have been asked to identify family issues and come up with their own action plans, and local FRIDAY: so movies SATURDAY: 7.00 COATS 2 NEW ARRIVALS: off 3s5 Wi EA hours 48 HOURS (NOT ELIGIBLE FOR ABOVE ; SPECIALS) ALL BESTFORM BRAS, BRIEFS AND PANTY GIRDLES ; i 4 J I f ips i :X-,-;c- . J j -- 'A - V-- ' ... v.. j ...... .. !' . . r 33 North Main Tooele ", I . t ... ' - ."n ( ..k - - ' .j. - . ' ' .! - - fi ' r, - ' : ... f i |