Family members can travel MAC-style `Athletes of Year' MARS is linked to Saudi show their stuff Page A -1 Page B-1 Marines taught about Arab world Page A-7 0 Vol. 20, No. 1. Published at MCAS Kaneohe Bay. Also serving 1st MEB, Camp H.M. Smith and Marine Barracks, Hawaii. January 10, 1991 Home day care Meeting new challenges scrutinized as Air Station turns 39 By Cpl. Jason Erickson By the Cpl. Jason Erickson certification process, while Mmall Marine 111.11 Write, 114.11 Morino Mel Writer remainder are at various stages The 'home of island warri- The Family Day Care Home of the program. ors', the one they call Marine program set sail here more than Heckert explained that any- Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay six months ago, and its been one who applied for certifica- will turn 39 Jan. 15. anything but smooth sailing tion before Nov. 30 is being According to the Station a 20th since. allowed to continue caring for Commanding Officer, Col. R.R. children while they undergo the Critser, the Station's 38th year According to Mary Heckert, certification process. Everyone FDCH coordinator, the program was one marked by doing more else must become certified before with less -- less money, leas is dealing with two major can provide service, problems. is a they people. Most prominent "Even with 82 homes, we still shortage of day care providers With the bulk of let MEB have a list of 100 families units deployed to Saudi Arabia, for the many children within care for their children," This is seeking those who remain behind have the Station community. Heckert said. partially due to the massive de- had to fill in doing a variety There are a number of child- of tasks. ployment of Marines and sail- and pre-school options ors to Saudi Arabia. Secondly, care "Our requirements haven't available aboard the Station, but changed, but our resources to explained Heckert, there are a difficult. care availability is often accomplish them have we're number of "illegal" day The Child Development Center, providers in operation. lacking in manpower," Critser for instance, is nearly at full said.. "Those who remain as the Air Station Order 1750.14 capacity with 100 children supporting element here are left defines an "illegal" day care ranging in age from 3 months' to do more, which means provider as any Station resident to 5 years. working harder and putting in The Air Stalion will celebrate its 39 years in existence as a Marine Corps installation Tuesday. who provides regular day care There is also a preschool for longer hours. They've done a in their home without being 3- and 4- year-olds, a drop-in great job, though." Station support thus far has wanted and try our best to businesslike approach he re- certified. Regular care is spe- center, and various child-care The families of those deployed been very positive, although he provide it." ferred to. cifically 10 or more combined options made available by the have also been hard hit by the been a difficult various can see this has The consolidation of "For instance, we will soon be child-care hours a week (two Family Service Center and the sudden deployment of their situation for many wives. quality of life divisions such as children for five hours each Armed Services YMCA. Marines and sailors. This having a number of new hous- "They want to know when Special Services and Recreation here, but would be 10 child care hours) Bob Morris, in charge of the explained Critser, translated into ing unite constructed they're spouse is coming home, Services into one business-like these will be paid for by civilian pre-school, explained that a new challenges for the Station's unit has been key to this line child's age and times they need and we just don't know. Its (eat contractors, not the govern- Station Commander Col. R.R. support network. of hanging on, con of thinking. Now called Morale Critser care is a big factor in availa- a matter ment," he said. The colonel said these people will "The deployment of so many tinuing to live and enjoy as Welfare and Recreation, this "be removed from the Station if bility. was referring to Project 802, troops from here has stepped up much as you can and plan for branch of the Station deals most they continue to operate ille- Heckert further explained that our need to provide for the created at the Department of the future." aspects of off-duty life for the Defense as an alternate means gally." the majority of the children on families," the colonel explained. Station community. her waiting list are infants. This "You never really quite under- He explained that things have for meeting military housing Harvey Leighnor, director of is partially because the 3 changed since Marines from here "Military installations needs. The Air Station will be stand all the requirements (for Department of the Family Service Center, and 4 year olds can attend deployed for Vietnam in the throughout the the first facility to put the plan supporting families in a major have realized that explained that he and the FDCH preschool and other programs deployment) until people have early 1960s. Defense to use, of several to children under they've got to run from an staff are aware not available in fact left, but I think we were "Moat of us my age can re- - now entrepreneur point of view." The Another example is a new 100 possible violators, but until 2. The fact that each day pretty well prepared for it." member what it was like during unit Temporary Lodging Facil- have been reluctant to take care home is only allowed by He explained that while the colonel explained that this Vietnam. Families were told to means making use of the assets ity which will soon be erected action against them due to the Marine Corps regulations to care overall support system has been move out once their husbands aboard the Station. Again, the circumstances surrounding Op- for two children under the age effective, some fine tuning was available to you locally, in order had deployed," Critser said. to accomplish your goals. funds for this do not come from eration Desert Shield. of 2 is also a factor she said. required. Perhaps most signifi- "Obviously that is not the way Congress or Headquarters "After the new year, we will cant was the creation of the "You can't just ask for money "We have tried to be lenient to do business." Marine Corps. Instead, they be hiring an additional monitor, Enlisted Spouses' Center, and get what you want -- and we realize the pressures He said that today's leaders are being generated through because and I believe more people will "We put the Spouses' Center rightfully so," Critser said. "It's this unexpected deployment has see the need to focus on the MWR, according to Critser. come forward to be certified after together when we saw a great needs of the family and do caused us to be much more caused for many families, but the Christmas season," said economically and environmen- welfare of need for it after the deployment. everything they can to ensure Additionally, a new commis- the the children Heckert. "This will help the I think the need was always tally efficient." overlooked," Leighnor that those needs are taken care sary will be built aboard the cannot be problem, but I don't think it it just came more into said. there, of. As an example he cited recy- Station. Like TLF and 802, this will be alleviated all together." focus because of the scale of Even before Desert Shield cling efforts that became a key will not be paid for by the He said when the program A plan to build a new Child support required," Critser said. priority aboard the Station government. In this circum- was started, they hoped this Development Center by 1992 Periodic Community Informa- came down the pike, Station officials were confronting finan- during the last year. stance, the Don-wide commis- problem would take care of itself would also help increase the tion or Family Day events were sary system will pay for the in time, but after six months availability of child care. This also created due to Desert Shield cial challenges due to unilateral "By recycling materials, were military budget cuts. In addi- both protecting our environment facility from a building fund there are still too many reports center would have a capacity of in order to fill information needs. generated by a small surcharge of illegal homes. "Action will 350 vice the 100-child capacity "The idea was to have a day tion to the variety of military and generating a good deal of project budget cuts, quality of profit to put towards our recrea- attached to commissary prod- have to be taken," he stressed. at the present Child Develop- when we bring everyone together ucts. ment Center, explained Sherry and provide them with the life issues were also hard hit. tion activities. program is not The FDCH Nolte, in charge of training and information they need to make "Congress had said we would As part of Criteer's plan to "Our cry last year was to find unique to this Air Station. It curriculum at the Day Care care of ourselves that their lives a little more comfort- have to take improve the quality of life for out what the people wanted and is a Corps-wide initiative Center.