Commissary to Be Open Sundays by Linda Lee Explained Smith
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Inside ECTO update....................... Page 2 'I remember the captain.'... Page 3 Rabies can be deadly........ Page 6 How safe is marijuna?...... Page 9 Sports..................................... Page 10 7 Commissary to be open Sundays By Linda Lee explained Smith. And, when Col. schedule changes are several of the adding that the commissary will working mother, thinks the idea is and it gives us an opportunity to do Fredrick Cart, the post's director of major ones, but Smith thinks these provide an equal level of service on super. "It's really good. If you run the shopping together, if we want." A major change affecting the logistics, voiced the wish of many of will be worked out soon after the Sunday as it does on Tuesday or out of something, you don't have to "It's fine as long as they don't commissary and Fort Leonard Wood Fort Leonard Wood's advisory commissary has been open on Wednesday. "We don't want to fall wait or go off post." She added, close any other day," said SFC Sundays. was announced Tuesday. Beginning councils concerning a Sunday on our faces." A challenge, he said, "there's someone home to watch the Peter Swearingen, while 1st Lt. John "I don't believe in operating Moran believes the Sunday on March 1, the commissary will be opening to him in November, he will be to keep the shelves stocked. baby. We don't have to rearrange opening anything second class," he stressed, Army wife and to be" open for business on Sunday. decided to look into the feasibility of Linda Carter, an our schedules or find a babysitter, a step In the right direction." Hours for operation on Sundays doing it. :.]:;:7!$ .J'O, will be 11 a.m.-4 p.m. The number of Smith assigned a project officer to hours a week the commissary will be look into the possibility of opening open will remain the same, 50, said the Fort Leonard Wood commissary William D. Smith, director of the on Sundays. Midwest Commissary Region, Fort He decided that it "needed to be Sam Houston, Texas. done" now, and not later, as the "It's a tremendous step forward project officer recommended. As for Fort Leonard Wood and the long as the number of hours the soldier. It's also important for our commissary would be open did not retiree population, important change and no additional workers customers," stated Maj. Gen. would be needed, Smith and the James van Loben Sels, the post Troop Support Agency had the final commanding general. "It's just say in opening the commissary on great news, it's neat." Sundays. According to Smith, who is Several positive factors in the six- responsible for 17 commissaries in day operating schedule include less the area, the operating hours after waiting time to check out, less March 1 will be: Tuesday, Wed- crowded aisles, and a chance for the nesday and Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; family to spend some time together. Thursday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday, 9 Smith explained that when another a.m.-5 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 commissary in his region opened on p.m. It will continue to be closed Sundays, they noticed husbands Mondays. shopping with their wives and The Troop Support Agency and its children. commissary region directors "are A number of problems face the not always aware" of the individual commissary in this change. The Soldiers from Company D, 5th Engineer Battalion, 136th panel bridge during operation Puente de la Paz '87 InCental needs of each of the commissaries, unions, union agreement and Engineer Brigade, utilize cranes in the constuction of a America. See story on page 4. PCS po icy Aff changes mplemented In an effort to reduce personnel turbulence, stabilize Col. R. Dennis Duffie. He heads the Army"s enlisted the following requirements: weapon systems changes or because a unit moves. th. r7'es Of families and save money, the Army an- su'sainmrnt and distribu 'on division in the Office of '-They complete their initial overseas tour and Soldiers with fewer than two years remaining in nounced Jan. 22 a package of new policies affecting the Deputy cmnief ot Staf fur Personinel at the Pen- exteod the tosr on or alfter June 8, 1986, for a periopi military service will not be eligible for reassignrment permanent change-of-station moves. tagon. equal to their previous tour; between locations within CONUS. These soldiers will The changes include the increase of a first-term The Army is continuing to review policies and -- Or are ordered to a permanent change of station be allowed to extend, re-enlist to be eligible for soldier's tour length in Europe and Japan from 18 to 24 procedures in search of ways to further reduce the from one overseas location to another overseas reassignment or remain at their current duty station months beginning April 1, as well as the immediate number of PCS moves through better management. location. until their separation date. Career soldiers selecting increase of CONUS tour lengths (to include Alaska and Minimum time-on-station requirements and tour "Every effort will be made to reduce the impact of the latter option will become ineligible for re- Hawaii) to 48 months, with new restrictions on the completion will be key factors considered during the these policy changes," Duffie emphasized, "while the enlistment. homebase advance assignment, joint domicile moves assignment selection process, along with unit Army reviews possible compensations for those The existing overseas extension incentive program and household goods shipped overseas. readiness and individual professional development soldiers and families initially affected." Additionally, will be continued, according ot Lt. Col. Burl D. Magee Soldiers serving in all 36-month overseas tour areas goals, Duffie added. the Army will review an additional set of initiatives of the Army"s Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for who have a DEROS of July 1-Sept. 30, 1987, will be Personnel officials say that along with the new, still pending as part of the 1987 PCS program. Personnel. This program allows a soldier in a shortage involuntarily extended in the overseas command for up longer tour lengths, the Army will work to change the With the new tour stability, families will stay at an MOS serving overseas the option of electing one of the to three months. To facilitate an equitable and orderly perception that spending more than three years at any assignment longer with periods of separations following when extending for 12 months: replacement flow, soldiers with a DEROS during location adversely affects careers. minimized. Spouses and children can become even -- Receive an extra $80 a month in pay; October and November, 1987 will also be extended for The further enhance the savings produced by the more active members in their communities and -Receive 30 days of non-chargeable leave; 1-45 days. mandatory rules, soldiers will be encouraged through schools with the assurance that they will stay long -Or receive 15 days of leave with a free round-trip The changes stem from congressional concern over incentives to voluntarily extend their overseas tour enough to receive the additional benefits of such home to the soldier's nearest port of entry to his home frequent PCS moves, the high cost associated with the lengths. associations. of record, plus an additional 15 days of non-chargeable PCS moves and the unnecessary disruption to Army The most prominent incentive the Army offers is a Soldiers may be reassigned from their stateside leave to be taken at the soldier's discretion during the families. leave-travel between overseas tours program for assignments in less than 48 months under the following extension. soldiers and their families who extend. The program exceptions: Soldiers stationed in Alaska and Hawaii will also "Inaddition to reducing PCS moves and conserving applies to soldiers serving either an accompanied or -Soldiers who are reassigned to an overseas tour; have a tour length of 48 months, with the same type of funds, these policies will improve combat ef- unaccompanied tour overseas, said Lt. Col. Stephen -First-term soldiers and compassionate tour extensions available, said Duffie. fectiveness, reduce personnel turnover, foster unit Westbrook, the Army's representative to the Depart- reassignments; Soldiers serving short tours in isolated locations in cohesion and provide continuity to programs like ment of Defense Per Diem Committee. Soldiers will -- And soldiers reassigned on a PCS for training, Alaska or Hawaii will continue to comply with their COHORT and the Army's regimental system," said qualify for free, between-tour travel if they meet any of essential professional development, because of major originally scheduled rotation dates. (ARNEWS) Space A travel regulations eased Recent changes to DoD travel quality assurance branch, in- passports, shot records and visas - Retired members must have a Passengers departing the con- "The holiday season is a difficult regulations will allow space ternational passenger operations when required." valid DD Form 2 - retired iden- tinental United States, Alaska or time to travel space available. Along available passengers to sign up for division, Headquarters MAC. tification. Active reservists must Hawaii on a chartered commercial with reduced requirements for five countries instead of specific "Everyone must register at Active duty members must have a have a valid DD Form 1853 and a red aircraft must pay a $3 tax which aircraft, more people are trying to destinations at Military Airlift passenger service centers in per- valid leave order-authorization and ID card to register. goes for airport improvements. take advantage of the inexpensive Command passenger terminals.