bergman@afnews.af.mil (CMSgt Mike Bergman) (06/14/91)
From: CMSgt Mike Bergman <bergman@afnews.af.mil>
[OK, readers. Please send mail to military-request@amd.com and
let me know if you like / don't like these AF News snippets.
Are they outside the bounds of sci.military's technical charter? --CDR]
I have begun reading sci.military on another system. I work at the
Headquarters of the Air Force News Center, where we produce the Air
Force News Service. It is designed primarily for internal consumption
(installation newspaper editors, etc.). Many of the stories are
germane to the active duty military and civilian workforce.
If you're interested, can arrange to e-mail to you. A few, recent
samples follow. I may need to get formal permission to perform this
service. We do not want to be pictured as an Air Force "propaganda"
organization. However, our products are in the public domain.
We are not listed in the NIC Hostmap. We are 131.13.13.1. System
"afnews" is listed in the UUCP maps ... we get connection through
csoftec.
I may be reached at afnews!bergman or on the internet at
mikeb@csoftec.csf.com.
368. Travel to Philippines
369. Stealth display
370. Commissioning program
& & &
& & &
& & &
368. Travel to Philippines
RANDOLPH AFB, Texas (AFNS) -- Because of major eruptions from a volcano
near Clark AB, Philippines, the Air Force has suspended travel to Clark and
Capus Tarlac until further notice.
This travel restriction applies to all military people, civilian workers
and family members, Air Force personnel officials said.
Additionally, family members and non-essential people on temporary duty
are restricted from traveling to Subic Bay and Cubi Point, Philippines.
Military and civilian personnel offices throughout the Air Force have
been directed to contact people who are planning to travel to these
installations, including:
-- People who have an assignment to Clark or Capus Tarlac.
-- People currently en route to either of these locations for assignment
or temporary duty.
-- People currently on leave en route to either of these locations for an
assignment or TDY.
-- People returning to either of these locations from TDY or leave from
another location.
People who were planning to travel to Clark or Capus Tarlac should
consider the following options:
-- If they have already moved out of their local residence but have not
yet left the area, they should contact the base housing officer for support.
-- If they have already left their base and are at another Air Force base
for temporary duty, they will be contacted at their TDY location.
-- If they have already left their base and are on leave en route to
Clark or Capus Tarlac, they should contact the closest Air Force military or
civilian personnel office for assistance.
-- Family members who arrive at a port to travel to Clark or Capus Tarlac
will be stopped at the port. The closest Air Force base will provide support.
The Air Force realizes it is important to contact people as soon as
possible to minimize financial impact, officials said.
All bases, especially port areas, have been advised to alert emergency
assistance agencies such as the Air Force Aid Society, American Red Cross,
family services and family support centers to probable increased requests for
help.
Local Air Force military and civilian personnel offices will have more
information as it becomes available.
369. Stealth display
by SSgt. David P. Masko
Air Force News Service
ANDREWS AFB, Md. -- Amid glowing assessments of stealth's performance in
the Persian Gulf War and the need to field that capability in the 21st
century, the secretary of the Air Force opened a special exposition in which
Congress got a firsthand look at the new generation of stealth weapons.
"We put this stealth week together to help demonstrate the two major
lessons that the president enunciated the week before last from Desert Storm,"
Secretary Donald B. Rice told Air Force News Service June 10, at Andrews.
"One is clearly the value of air power, and second is the value of
stealth."
Congressional leaders and news media were invited to Stealth Week, June
10-14, an event designed to give them a better understanding of why stealth
advances will give the Air Force the leading edge in any conflict. On display
were the B-2 bomber, the advanced cruise missile and a prototype of the new
F-22 advanced tactical fighter.
Also featured was one of the stars of Desert Storm -- the F-117 stealth
fighter -- which successfully attacked targets in Iraq without losing a single
plane.
Stealth Week came at a time when systems like the B-2 are at the
political crossroads. The House has already voted to halt production of the
radar-evading bomber at 15 planes. Meanwhile, the Senate has yet to make a
decision on building four more B-2s, as proposed in the fiscal 1992 budget.
Because the House and Senate write separate versions of the defense bill,
the Air Force hopes they will work out their differences on the B-2, and
approve continued funding before sending the bill to the president.
The Pentagon, which wants to build 75 B-2s, says it makes no sense to
walk away from the program after committing almost half the total program cost
to develop the aircraft and buy the first 15.
"We have invested a huge amount in the B-2 already," Defense Secretary
Dick Cheney said in a report given to members of Congress during Stealth Week.
"We are at the stage now where we can begin to reap the benefits of that
investment and we want to go forward with the 75 planes."
The Air Force also believes that critics of the B-2 are not taking the
long-range approach to the future, especially at a time when the military
needs to allocate its limited budget in ways that give the taxpayers the best
possible return on defense for their money.
The B-2 is a very cost-effective weapon for deterrence all across the
spectrum of conflict, and will be the most stabilizing element of the
strategic Triad in the nuclear balance, Secretary Rice said.
The B-2 will also have a major conventional capability with precision
delivery capability, thus providing the global reach and global power that Air
Force strategic bombers have historically provided.
"Our older bombers are not going to be able to survive in the face of
modern defenses," Secretary Rice said. "And so the stealth capabilities of
the B-2 is required to carry that capability into the 21st century."
As the Air Force reduces the size of its forces and cuts lower-priority
weapon systems, it will keep some of the current front-line weapon systems
until programs such as the F-22 phase up and older fighters phase down.
"We will still have F-16s, and F-15Es, and other non-stealthy aircraft in
the force structure for a long time to come.
"But we need that cutting edge component of the force that can go in the
lead on day one, against the toughest defenses that there are, and make sure
we do that up front job so that everybody else's job is easier in the rest of
the campaign."
The goal is to make sure a smaller Air Force is every bit high quality
and cutting-edge capable as the one that just performed in the Persian Gulf,
Secretary Rice said.
370. Commissioning program
RANDOLPH AFB, Texas (AFNS) -- The Airman Education and Commissioning
Program board will meet at the Air Force Military Personnel Center Aug. 7, Air
Force personnel officials said.
The cutoff date for applications is July 10. The deadline is June 19 for
applicants needing waivers.
This program continues to focus on scientific and technical degrees.
After completing the academic phase, applicants will enter Officer Training
School for training leading to commissions as second lieutenants.
Interested airmen should contact their base education office for more
information and assistance in putting together an application package.
--
bergman@afnews.af.mil
Air Force News Center
Kelly Air Force Base, Texas, USA