HAWAII ri Vol. 22 No. 9 Serving MCAS Kaneohe Bay, let MEB, Comp N.M. Smith and Marine Barracks. March 4, 1993 Station CO believes station 'here to stay' two aspects. The first and most As for the BSEC, Col. Crawford the President and finally back to Gen. Carl E. Mundy Jr. that he operations. That funding shortfall By Sgt. Jason Erickson immediately pressing is the said we will just have to wait Congress before eventually being wants to retain MCAS Kaneohe is projected to drop to 52 percent News Ednoi Department of the Navy's BSEC and see. However, he said he finalized near the end of the year. Bay. However, the final end- of needed funding by FY '97. It report to the Secretary of Defense. thinks Kaneohe did a very good As for the second stepping strength of the Marine Corps will is obvious that the current base No one can say for sure which That report, which has already job of justifying itself as not just stone, Col. Crawford said if have a great impact upon the structure DoD-wide cannot be installations will be recommended been forwarded to the Secretary an air station, but as a base - President Clinton decides to future of Marines in Hawaii, he adequately supported. Therefore, for closure by the Base Structure of Defense for his review is one vital to national security. reduce the Corps below 171,000 said. Depending upon that final reductions have to be made. Evaluation Committee (BSEC) in scheduled to be made public "We have been in constant active duty personnel, Kaneohe end- strength, Col. Crawford said, "I don't think that's going to it's report to Defense Secretary March 15. Once reviewed and contact with the BSEC personnel," is bound to become no more than the Commandant may have no happen to us, however," the Les Aspin, but the air station made public, the Secretary of the colonel said, adding that a part of the Corps' history. choice but to pull Marine forces colonel said. "There are a great commander feels confident Defense forwards his mountains of paperwork are However, if the force is not back to the Mainland. Economy many people in Congress that Kaneohe will not be among them. recommendations to the evidence of this. "It is only my reduced below that figure, Col. of force dictates consolidation of don't want to see that." Station Commanding Officer President's Base Realignment and opinion, but I don't think they Crawford told his people, he is forces to maximize assets. He said Joint Chiefs Chairman Col. R.R. Crawford held two Closure Commission (BRAC) and will target Kaneohe." quite certain K-Bay will remain, The reason for that, Col. Gen. Colin Powell is also backing mandatory briefings Feb. 25 with Congress for their review. All Even if the committee does BRAC results willing. Crawford explained, was the the Corps. "Gen. Powell all Marines, sailors and civilians Marine Corps and naval air include Kaneohe on its list, a The colonel recently returned availability of funds to support emphasized the importance of the in his command to explain both stations are being carefully lengthy process of approval lies from a trip to the Fiscal Year construction, maintenance and Marine Corps last week, what he knows and thinks about examined this year. ahead for the closure (FY) 1993 DoD Commanders base operations. As an example, highlighting the 'From the Sea' the future of Marine Corps Air The second issue revolves recommendations, which go before Conference in Washington, D.C. in FY '85, only 78 percent of strategy created last year," Col. Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. around the eventual end-strength the Secretary of Defense, then to He received assurances from needed funding was allocated Crawford said. That future relies primarily on of the Corps as a whole. the BRAC and Congress, then Commandant of the Marine Corps DoD-wide to support base See Stay, A-8 Child care expanded, upgrades completed air station, the upgrades represent in exchange for one of the By Sgt. Jason Erickson a significant step forward for renovated rooms, which used to News Editor child care. They were be a dance hall. accomplished because Station The Head-Start children were Completion of extensive Commander Col. R.R. Crawford new renovations to two rooms within was committed to improving child put in this classroom. the hourly day care center and care services here, she said. According to Mokapu School Principal James Schlosser, who preschool were celebrated in a The hourly care center is now cognizance over the preschool, ribbon cutting ceremony increasing its capacity from 32 has Wednesday, a children to 42 receiving approximately 10 special needs marking significant after two preschoolers will now be attending improvement to the services new classrooms. Deborah the Head-Start class along with offered by both. Phillips, director of the center, the other children. Hourly care and the preschool explained that children will now share a common building, located be more appropriately separated It reflects a change in education behind the 7-Day Store. by age group, allowing care philosophy itself, Schlosser Renovations to classrooms at both providers for each group to explained. "There was a time ends of the one-story facility have conduct a better curriculum of when children with special needs allowed the hourly care center to activity for their children. were almost automatically increase its capacity and separate "We not only have room for segregated from other students. various age groups to allow for more children, but we can provide Now, educators are realizing the more individualized care and the a better care service to families need of these children to learn preschool to expand its Head-Start here because their children will along with their peers and efforts classroom to include those be doing activities better designed to facilitate this are extensive," children with special needs. for their age group," Phillips said. Schlosser said, adding that the According to Susan Cleveland, Meanwhile, the preschool move to add 10 children to the director of early childhood shifted classrooms, giving one of Head Start class is only one Fill 'er up education programs aboard the its rooms to the hourly care center example. Marine Fighter Attack Squadron-235 took advantage of the presence of Okinawa-based Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron-152 Feb. 18 as F/A-18 pilots Mal. H.F. Baker and Capt. M.P. Lutz polished their aerial refueling skills with the KC-130. Flying at 220 knots 15,000 feet above the Pacific Ocean west of O'ahu. According to VMFA-235 operations, not only do the pilots need to continually update their Mokapu from aerial refueling skills, but the alrcraft's equipment that to receives the fuel benefit from the pods needs to be checked regularly. `Back-to-School' visits "But the faculty and parents of students at HQMC bans smoking By Sgt. Jason Erickson those schools have a much better idea at their Ma own level of what their money should be spent non-smokers through passive for nonsmokers and ventilation on, so they need more freedom," Thielen said. By Sgt. Lou Ramirez inhalation and involuntary is adequate to provide nonsmokers The visit last week by Rep. Cynthia Thielen, Also on her list of needed improvements for We Milo smoking. a healthy environment, smoking Hawaii State Legislature, to Mokapu School the school system is changing student-to-teacher The Surgeon General of the areas may be designated by the could prove to be very helpful in the months ratios in some grade levels. For instance, 3rd Smoking is now prohibited in United States has documented the commanding officer, according to to come. That was the whole point of the graders at Mokapu and other schools attend all occupied federal buildings and consequences of smoking, use of the order. These areas must be Back-To-School Hawaii Day she and other classes at a 30-1 student to teacher ratio. facilities, according to Marine tobacco products, and exposure clearly marked as a "Smoking Hawaii leaders participated in Feb. 25 "That is way too much for one teacher to Corps Order 5100.28. The order to ETS. Designated Area." throughout the state. handle," Thielen remarked. "Children at that stresses the importance of Additionally, the U.S. "The choice not to smoke should Thielen spent roughly an hour at Mokapu age need to be in smaller classes." 'protecting all personnel from Environmental Protection Agency be respected," said SgtMaj. School with Principal James Schlosser, hearing Thielen said her visit here, as well as other exposure of environmental tobacco has determined that involuntary Lawrence Nacoste, SgtMaj. both about the positive accomplishments of the Hawaii Schools, was very helpful to improve smoke (ETS). exposure to ETS increases the Marine Heavy Helicopter school and the problems it is facing. her understanding of problems being This new policy applies to all severity of bronchitis and Squadron 463. "Designated "1 am very committed to Hawaii's schools," encountered by different schools, as well as a of Defense, military pneumonia and causes lung smoking areas Thielen said in an interview following her chance to learn of the innovative measures Department will give those visit. and civilian personnel including cancer not only for smokers but individuals who choose not to "My vote is to keep the schools fully some are taking to overcome challenges. non-appropriated fund employees also for nonsmokers. smoke a smoke free environment." funded." An example of such positive measures at and to all dependents and visitors The primary reasons for Although smokers will be She also said she supports the measure to Mokapu is the creation of the Student while in Marine Corps controlled establishing this policy is the strongly encouraged allow schools more freedom in terms of spending Information and Placement Center, which was to quit parents a one-stop spaces.