HAWAII ri No. 6 NIServing MCA: Kaneohe Bay, 1s1 MEB, Camp H.M. Smith and Marine Smacks. February 11,1993 Vol. 22 Station must cut 12 return from Somalia This group represents the second return Landing Support Company, Brigade Service utilities costs By Sgt. Jason Erickson of 1st MEB troops from Operation Restore Support Group-1 and the other two were News Edna Hope. Approximately 100 Marines remain from Marine Wing Support Squadron-174. deployed from here, but with U.S. forces All were used as augmentees to various 30 percent Twelve 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade conducting continual retrogrades as they support units from Camp Pendleton, Calif. by They arrived in Somalia in late December Marines returned from Somalia Saturday are replaced by United Nations forces, $75,000 a month from their night. They arrived at Honolulu these troops may not be far behind. and early January. By Sgt. Jason Erickson current cost to the air station of International Airport just before 11 p.m. Six of the Marines who returned were During interviews after their return, News Editor approximately $250,000 a month. to a small but nonetheless hearty welcome from Company A, 3d Combat Engineer several of the Marines described their This figure represents home from family and friends. Battalion. Four of the others were from experiences in the starving nation. The first thing Cpl. John Barber, of 3d ' In an effort to meet 3rd and approximately half of the total 4th quarter overall station budget utilities usage here. Tenant CEB, mentioned was the attitude of the reductions, officials here are commands and family housing Somali people he encountered. "Most of implementing an energy are billed separately. them seemed appreciative, but there were conservation plan to reduce utility While the budget situation has a lot of others who were very hostile to costs by 30 percent. brought energy conservation to us." The reductions are because the forefront, Nutting said He described how Marines were Marine Forces Pacific funds were reductions in utilities use have frequently assaulted by groups of children diverted to pay for Operation long been a requirement. who threw rocks and jeered them. Restore Hope in Somalia and the "The Department of Defense has "We were told not to do anything, which air station's 3rd and 4th quarter 20 made things difficult on us," Barber said. directed a percent energy He funding was temporarily used. reduction from 1986 figures by added, however, that these were the The money will be returned - the year 2000," he explained. "But exceptions. but not in full. Officials are in fact, utilities use has risen "Most of the people were extremely anticipating a return of since then, not dropped." grateful. I mean they'd drop what they approximately 85 percent. He said increases in were carrying to wave to us," he said. Utilities reductions, while being consumption are permitted when "But those who didn't want us there were done for other reasons as well, new facilities are added to the very good at showing it." will only account for a portion installation, but that energy use Barber's sentiments were echoed by every of overall cuts. has risen much more than these other Marine interviewed. They also agreed According to Bill Nutting, all owances. Sgt. Jason Erleisson that the people in Mogadishu, where they station utilities engineer, a series all were stationed, were not starving and These two reasons -to reduce Harp reaches out for a hug from her daddy, Cpl. Ira Harp of BSSG- of steps will be taken to reduce spending and conserve energy Two-year-old Allison emaciated as they were led by media reports - 1 who reutmed to Hawaii from Somalia Saturday night with 11 other 1st MEB Marines. See Return, A-11 utility expenses by approximately See Costs, A-11 Family Board encouraged by changc officer and will sit in on his source. dental Sgt. Erickson By Jason weekly meetings.. With four brand-new faces and Neva Editos Direct access is expected to a new year upon them, each of enhance the board's problem the nine members seemed excited plan of solving capabilities. Additionally, about the future. Add to this As their first public meeting the year convened, the newly by attending station meetings, the that their first public meeting of elected members of the chairman will have a chance to the year, Jan. 28, had yielded one improved Neighborhood Quality of Life work directly with all of the other of the largest number of attendees ,Bor.rd (NQLB) found out their to date and it's not hard to =r11111111111MMOIMIONS. to understand their feelings. chairman had been elevated See related story, 844 Marine Corps News department-head-status. The newly elected board used During a private meeting the the private meeting to get following week, all nine members department heads, who have the acquainted, elect officers and The Congress has authorized agreed this is a very big step most influence over various discuss suggestions for the Secretary of Defense to forward for the air station's year- aspects of air station life. organizational changes for the develop and implement an old version of a town council. It Although this was a major coming year. improved dependents dental plan means the chairman will have source of encouragement for the Joseph Giardino was elected by (DDP). The expected direct access to the commanding new board, it was not the only See Change, A-11 implementation date for the improved plan is April 1. The current DDP will terminate upon implementation of the improved plan. Wives seminar focuses The new plan, in addition to benefits covered under the current plan (examinations, X-rays, on education, info, fun cleanings, sealants and filings), includes endodontics (root canal periodontics (treatment Mainland base. Living in professionals who deal with treatment), By Gwen Railings "paradise" can be lonely when a military family matters, Mrs. for gum disease), prosthodontics husband is deployed and relatives Kuhn (crowns, bridges, dentures) oral has organized an (extractions, including A woman who marries a Marine are an ocean away. informational series of meetings surgery is unique in all the world. Unless It is easy to see why many designed to clarify some very wisdom teeth) and orthodontics wives might be confused important (braces). As with commercially she has been exposed to military with so issues, for all wives of plans, life before marriage, very little many changes, often overnight, military personnel attached here. available dental insurance has prepared her for this exciting, from the familiar civilian lives The informational seminar the new DDP will have annual they might maximum benefit limits per challenging lifestyle. have always known. As be thought of as "What patient and sponsor co-payments. Many new wives discover that with anything new, wives need every wife always wanted to know There also will be a lifetime military life is significantly to be informed on what is expected about the Marine Corps but was maximum per patient for different than civilian life once of them and what they can expect afraid to ask," because it is meant orthodontic care. they live on or near their first from this new way of life. Women to be a practical, down-to-earth, There will be automatic military base. It does not take can adjust, be flexible and enjoyable sharing of information enrollment for the new DDP for long to realize an ID card is more supportive of their husbands' among women who have so many all continental United States important than a credit card in careers, and will be much more common interests and concerns. including the Virgin obtaining access and privileges personally content when they The seminar will be held Feb. assigned, why 22 and Islands, Guam and Puerto Rico, aboard base - especially when understand and how things 23 from 6:30-9 p.m. at the servicemembers with eligible Marines visit a wife misplaces or loses her own. are done. Mokapu Elementary School. members and who are Every try to buy something at Nickie Kuhn, wife of BGen. C.D. "Much thought was given to family the exchange or commissary Kuhn, the 1st Marine determine a time that would be known to have 24 months Big Island children remaining in service. Those who without one? Expeditionary Brigade most convenient for the majority to remain in the service If Marine Corps Air Station commanding general, recognizes of women, taking into intend Petty Officer Capatan pretends one of the children tell of his Me that getting wives informed on consideration for 24 months or more who are Kaneohe Bay is the first duty the number of and Injured his arm, during a recent Community Drug Awareness assignment with her husband, she areas of concern to them is working women there are now," not automatically enrolled in the Program visit to Paaullo Elementary and Intermediate School on new plan may enroll at their has even more adjustments to priority here. Meeting with officer Mrs. Kuhn said. And anticipating the Big Island. See story, A-4. make than perhaps at some other wives, enlisted wives and See Wives, See Dental, A-11 A-7 One-stop student shop opened for families 1:1 Cathy Watson, military liaison to the committed to ending the delays for Center to help place station children Windward School District. Watson, military families and is working with in who runs the new office, said families the schools to overcome this obstacle Windward elementary schools will no longer have to try to get as well. information wherever they can. They will be able to find out the answers According to Sosa, the center will military parents complained of eventually be equipped with By Sgt.