NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #31

home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search

/ NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #31 / NN_1992_31.iso / spool / soc / veterans / 1432 < prev next >

Wrap

Internet Message Format | 1992-12-28 | 48.8 KB

Path: sparky!uunet!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!cs.utexas.edu!gateway From: bergman@afnews.pa.af.mil (CMSgt Mike Bergman) Newsgroups: soc.veterans Subject: DoD News 12/23/92 Date: 28 Dec 1992 08:53:10 -0600 Organization: Hq Air Force News Agency/SCC Lines: 854 Sender: daemon@cs.utexas.edu Message-ID: <9212281438.AA02069@afnews.pa.af.mil> NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu System Administrator writes From bergman Mon Dec 28 08:33 CST 1992 From: System Administrator <root> Full-Name: System Administrator Message-Id: <9212281433.AA01934@afnews.pa.af.mil> Subject: DoD News 12/23/92 (fwd) To: bergman (CMSgt Mike Bergman) Date: Mon, 28 Dec 92 8:33:31 CST X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.3 PL11] Forwarded message: >From root Thu Dec 24 06:05 CST 1992 Date: Thu, 24 Dec 92 13:01:34 GMT From: paperboy@tecnet2.jcte.jcs.mil Message-Id: <9212241301.AA17505@tecnet2.jcte.jcs.mil> To: bergman@afpan.pa.af.mil, paperboy@afpan.pa.af.mil Subject: DoD News 12/23/92 <<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><>> <<>> Assistant Secretary Of Defense <<>> <<>> Public Affairs December 1992 <<>> <<>> Pentagon, Washington DC Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat <<>> <<>> DSN 225-3886 1 2 3 4 5 <<>> <<>> - - - - - - - 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 <<>> <<>> DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE NEWS 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 <<>> <<>> 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 <<>> <<>> WEDNESDAY, DEC. 23, 1992 27 28 29 30 31 <<>> <<>> <<>> <<>> Courtesy of Air Force Reserve <<>> <<>> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - <<>> <<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><>> * AIR FORCE BASE/UNIT REALIGNMENT * MORE GUARDSMEN AND RESERVISTS QUALIFY FOR VA HOME LOANS * DoD News Briefing * DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE CONTRACT AWARDS =============================================================== AIR FORCE BASE/UNIT REALIGNMENT MEMORANDUM FOR CORRESPONDENTS: December 22, 1992 The Air Force announced today several changes affecting units and bases located in the United States. This announcement addresses U.S. force structure, realignment and management actions required to achieve the fiscal year 1993 amended president's budget, achieve efficiencies, adjust to fiscal constraints, modernize the Air Reserve component, or make Air Force organiza- tional changes. Decisions on these proposed actions will be made only after the appropriate environmental analyses have been completed. None of these actions exceed the thresholds established by the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990. The term full-time military means active duty military or active guard-reserve positions; drill means Air Force Reserve (AFR) or Air National Guard (ANG) positions; and civilian means federal civil service or Air Reserve- Guard technician positions. ARKANSAS Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. -- Three actions are being announced. Adjustments are being made to the February 4, 1991, Defense Management Report manpower reductions, resulting in the additional loss of three full-time military manpower authorizations. The 314th Airlift Wing will lose four C-130E aircraft beginning in December 1992 in order to allow the Air Force to add two HC-130N/P aircraft to its active duty forces. This force structure action results in a decrease of 162 full--time military and 28 civilian manpower authorizations. As a result of the composite wing formation at Pope Air Force Base, NC., the 1st Aeromedical evacuation Squadron will relocate to Little Rock Air Force Base in mid 1993. The squadron's transfer will result in an increase of 105 full-time military and one civilian manpower authorizations. These actions result in a net decrease of 60 full-time military and 27 civilian manpower authorizations. FLORIDA Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. -- Three actions are being announced. Adjustments are being made to the February 4, 1991, Defense Management Report manpower reductions, resulting in an increase of one full-time military and 36 civilian manpower authorizations. In mid 1992, the 9th Special Operations Squadron gained one HC-130N/P aircraft. This action results in an increase of 34 full-time military and two civilian manpower authorizations. The 55th Special Operations Squadrons with its nine MH-60G aircraft will transfer to nearby Hurlburt Field, Fla., beginning in December 1992. The move places the squadron on the same installation as its wing, and reduces security concerns for special operations forces assets deploying in support of contingency operations by placing the aircraft in a less public environment at Hurlburt Field. This force structure action results in a decrease of 213 full-time military manpower authorizations. These actions result in a net decrease of 178 full- time military, but an increase of 38 civilian manpower authoriza- tions. Hurlburt Field, Fla. -- Two actions are being announced. The 55th Special Operations Squadron, with its nine MH-60G aircraft will move from nearby Eglin Air Force Base beginning in December 1992. This force structure action results in an increase of 213 full-time military manpower authorizations. The activa- tion of the 15th Special Operations Squadron (SOS) in mid 1992 has resulted in an increase of 23 full-time military manpower authorizations. The 15th SOS will be equipped with the new MC-130H (Talon II) aircraft. These actions result in a net increase of 236 full-time military manpower authorizations. Patrick Air Force Base, Fla. -- Two actions are being announced. Adjust- ments are being made to the February 4, 1991, Defense Management Report manpower reductions, resulting in the additional loss of 41 full-time military, but an increase of 32 civilian manpower authorizations. The 71st Air Rescue Squadron will gain an additional two HC-130N/P beginning in December 1992. This force structure action results in an increase of 84 full-time military manpower authorizations. These actions result in a net increase of 43 full- time military and 32 civilian manpower authorizations. IDAHO Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho -- Two actions are being announced. Adjustments are being made to the February 4, 1991, Defense Management Report manpower reductions, resulting in the additional loss of 34 full-time military, but an increase of 64 civilian manpower authorizations. The 366th Wing will gain an additional six F-15E aircraft in mid 1993. This force structure action will result in an additional 100 full-time military manpower authorizations. These actions result in a net increase of 66 full- time military and 64 civilian manpower authorizations. MARYLAND Andrews Air Force Base, Md. -- The 696th Intelligence Group relocated from its world War Il-era facility at Fort Belvoir, Va., beginning in December 1992, to make use of existing facilities at Andrews Air Force Base. The unit's old Fort Belvoir facility is scheduled for demolition. This action results in an increase of 101 full-time military and 30 civilian manpower authorizations. MICHIGAN Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich. -- Beginning in December 1992, Detachment 1, 191st Fighter Group, will terminate its alert operations (two F-16A/B aircraft) at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. This is part of the Air National Guard defense force alert reduction, which was brought about by geopolitical and fiscal realities. This action results in a decrease of 20 full-time military, an increase of two drill, and a decrease of eight civilian manpower authorizations. The individuals in the military and civilian posi- tions are stationed at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. NEW HAMPSHIRE Pease Air National Guard Station, N.H. -- The 133rd Air Refueling Squadron (ANG) will convert from ten KC-135E to ten KC-135R aircraft in late 1993. The 133rd's KC-135E aircraft transfer to the 163rd Air Refueling Squadron (ANG) at March Air Force Base, Calif., to facilitate the unit's previously announced conversion from RF-4C to KC-135 aircraft. There is no manpower impact. NEW YORK Griffiss Air Force Base, N.Y. -- Two actions are being announced. Adjust- ments are being made to the February 4, 1991, Defense Management Report manpower reductions, resulting in an increase of 14 full-time military, but a decrease of 42 civilian manpower authorizations. The 41st Air Refueling Squadron (ARS) will inactivate beginning in December 1992, due to the loss of seven KC- 135R aircraft. This force structure action results in a decrease of 126 full-time military authorizations. The remaining 19 KC-135R aircraft will be assigned to the 509th ARS. These actions result in a net decrease of 112 full-time military and 42 civilian manpower authorizations. NORTH CAROLINA Pope Air Force Base, N.C. -- Five actions are being announced. Adjust- ments are being made to the February 4, 1991, Defense Management Report manpower reductions, resulting in the additional loss of three full-time military authorizations. The 23rd Wing (Air Combat Command) will convert three of its A-10A aircraft to three OA-10A aircraft beginning in December 1992, giving it 15 A-10A aircraft and nine OA-10A aircraft. This action results in a decrease of 12 full-time military manpower authorizations. In addition to the 24 A/OA-10A and 16 C-130E aircraft currently assigned, the 23rd Wing will receive an increase of 511 full-time military and 17 civilian manpower authorizations. To accommodate the composite wing, Air Mobility Command (AMC) will transfer a portion of the 624th Combat Control Squadron's (CCS) personnel to Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., and the 1st Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron (AES) to Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., in mid 1993. Some of AMC-s C-130E aircraft may leave Pope Air Force Base in mid 1993; however, the number of aircraft and the relocation site have yet to be deter- mined. The 624th CCS action involves 56 full-time military manpower authoriza- tions, while the 1st AES involves 105 full-time military and one civilian manpower authorizations. These actions result in a net increase of 335 full-time military and 16 civilian manpower authorizations. Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. -- Three actions are being announced. Adjustments are being made to the February 4, 1991, Defense Management Report manpower reductions, resulting in the additional loss of 10 full-time military, but an increase of 42 civilian manpower authorizations. Beginning in December 1992, Detachment 1 of the 191st Fighter Group (Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich.) will terminate alert operations (two F-16A/B aircraft) at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. This is part of the Air National Guard defense force alert reduction, which was brought about by geopolitical and fiscal realities. This action results in the loss of the 33 full-time military manpower authori- zations funded for the detachment's base support. The 4th Wing will lose six F-15E aircraft in mid 1993. This force structure action will result in the loss of 100 full-time military manpower authorizations. These actions result in a net decrease of 143 full-time military, but an increase of 42 civilian manpower authorizations. SOUTH CAROLINA Charleston Air Force Base, S.C. -- Two actions are being announced. Adjustments are being made to the February 4, 1991, Defense Management Report manpower reductions, resulting in the additional loss of four full-time military manpower authorizations. A port ion of the 624th Combat Control Squadron's (CCS) personnel will transfer from Pope Air Force Base, N.C., in mid 1993, to form the 437th CCS. This action results in an increase of 56 full- time military manpower authorizations. These actions result in a net increase of 52 full-time military manpower authorizations. Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. -- Three actions are being announced. Adjust- ments are being made to the February 4, 1991, Defense Management Report manpower reductions, resulting in the additional loss of 30 full-time military, but an increase of 44 civilian manpower authorizations. The 363rd Fighter Wing will gain an additional 85 full-time military and two civilian maintenance manpower authorizations beginning in December 1992. These additional authori- zations allow the 21st Fighter Squadron to deploy their A/OA- 10 aircraft as an independent unit. The 21st Fighter Squadron will lose an additional three OA-10A aircraft in early 1993, at which time the squadron will have 12 A-10A and nine OA-10A aircraft. This force structure action will result in a decrease of 42 full-time military and one civilian manpower authorizations. These actions result in a net increase of 13 full-time military and 45 civilian manpower authorizations. TEXAS Randolph Air Force Base, Texas -- Three actions are being announced. Adjustments are being made to the February 4, 1991, -MORE- Defense Management Report manpower reductions, resulting in the additional loss of 155 full-time military, but an increase of 124 civilian manpower authoriza- tions. The 12th Flying Training Wing's receipt of 13 T-1A aircraft beginning in early 1993 will result in maintenance efficiencies and the loss of 154 full-time military manpower authorizations. Manpower adjustments are being made to the April 12, 1991, announcement concerning undergraduate navigator training's relocation to Randolph Air Force Base. The relocation will result in an increase of 383 full-time military and 92 civilian manpower authoriza- tions versus those previously announced. These actions result in a net increase of 74 full-time military and 216 civilian manpower authorizations. VIRGINIA Fort Belvoir, Va. -- The 696th Intelligence Group relocated from its World War II era facility in mid 1992, to make use of existing facilities at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. The unit's old facility at Fort Belvoir is scheduled for demolition. This action involves 101 full-time military and 30 civilian manpower authorizations. WASHINGTON Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. -- Two actions are being announced. Adjustments are being made to the February 4, 1991, Defense Management Report manpower reductions, resulting in the additional loss of eight full-time military, but an increase of 17 civilian manpower authorizations. As a result of a reorganization and restructure of the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program System, the 5th Space Operations Squadron inactivated in mid 1992. This action resulted in the loss of 88 full-time military manpower authoriza- tions; however, Detachment 1 of the 6th Space Operations Squadron was formed, creating 63 full-time military and two civilian manpower authorizations. The detachment is responsible for data acquisition subsystem operations, reship and post ship of data, and maintaining the command and control capability in a contingency backup configuration. These actions result in a net decrease of 33 full-time military and 19 civilian manpower authorizations. McChord Air Force Base, Wash. -- Two actions are being announced. Adjust- ments are being made to the February 4, 1991, Defense Management Report manpower reductions, resulting in the additional loss of four full-time military manpower authorizations. The 354th Fighter Squadron will receive 12 A-10A and nine OA-10A aircraft, instead of the previously announced 18 A-10A and six OA-10A aircraft. This force structure action results in an increase of 582 full-time military manpower authorizations versus those previously announced. These actions result in a net increase of 578 full-time military manpower authorizations. -END- No. 545-92 (703) 695-0192 (info) (703) 697-3189 (copies) IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 22, 1992 (703) 697-5737 (public/indus- try) MORE GUARDSMEN AND RESERVISTS QUALIFY FOR VA HOME LOANS The Department of Defense said today that many National Guardsmen and Reservists who were not previously eligible for VA home loans now qualify under recent changes to federal law. Public Law 102-547, signed at the start of fiscal year 1993, extended eligibility for the loans to National Guardsmen and Reservists who have completed six or more years of service in the Selected Reserve and are not otherwise qualified. Previously, members of the National Guard and Reserve had to have served on continuous active duty for at least 90 days during the Persian Gulf war or for up to two years during other periods to attain home loan eligibility. To qualify under this criteria, National Guardsmen or Reservists must have completed six years of honorable service in the Selected Reserve. Typically, this includes a member's participation in weekend drills and annual training. The six years of service need not have been consecutive. The Selected Reserve includes units of the National Guard and Reserve of any of the Armed Forces, as well as members of the Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) Program. Service in the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) does not count toward the required six years for home loan purposes. For additional information on eligibility under this new criteria, members may contact local Department of Veterans Affairs representatives or call the VA hotline at (800) 827-1000. -END- DoD News Briefing Mr. Pete Williams, ASD (Public Affairs) Tuesday, December 22, 1992 - Noon Mr. Williams: Good afternoon. Let me just start with housekeeping details. This will be our only briefing here in the Pentagon this week. They're briefing every day, basically, in the theater of operations. Either Fred Peck or one of the colonels from the joint task force headquarters, or General Johnston himself. As other folks go through the area, they are offering briefings as well. General Hoar briefed when he was there. General Mundy. the commandant, will probably have something to say when he goes and visits here in the next few days. So we're just not going to have daily Somalia briefings while the operation is going on. They're really doing that pretty well over there. So that will be our only briefing this week. There won't be any briefings here in the Pentagon next week, unless real world situations warrant. Then we'll pick the up again on the 5th of January, Tuesday the 5th of January. Bob Hall will brief those two days, and then we'll continue on from there. But as long as we're here, let me just give you a brief rundown on Somalia, on what I have, and then go into a few other issues. The situation in Mogadishu, in Baidoa, and Kismayo is reported to be calm today. Troops from the 10th Mountain Division and Canada are operating in Bale Dogle. The Marines and the French contingent are in Baidoa. And the army and the Belgians are now in Kismayo. In Mogadishu, both Aideed and Ali Madhi have said in their agreement that they would begin to take out their armored vehicles and get them away from Mogadishu. Aideed has taken about 40 out yesterday, and Ali Madhi is starting to take his out today. The Marines that arrived along with the Belgians in Kismayo on Sunday in the amphibious operation, have loaded back onto the amphibious ships that they used for the Sunday landing. They have now turned over the Kismayo operation to the Belgians and to elements of the 10th Mountain Division. I don't have a specific number for you on how many troops are there, but they have turned it over to the army and the Belgians. The next operations that will go on over the next few days, on Thursday, the Marines will go into Bardera. Then the Marines and the French will go into Oddur on Christmas day, on December 25th. The Army and the Italians will go into Gialalassi on the 27th. And the army and the Canadians will go into Belet Wen on the 28th. Eleven countries in addition to the United States have forces on the ground in Somalia as part of the joint task force coalition. Some of these countries have, right now, a significant representation of forces. The others have a liaison team present as they prepare the way for the main body of their forces. About 8,400 U.S. military personnel are on the ground in Somalia, and they're supported by about 9,000 sailors and marines on board naval vessels off the coast. The French have two airborne companies on the ground. And, as I said earlier, they're patrolling areas in Mogadishu and in Baidoa. Saudi Arabia and Morocco are conducting security operations in Mogadishu. The Canadians have an airborne battle group conducting security operations at the Bale Dogle airfield. The Belgians have one parachute infantry company that is operating in Kismayo. The British have two C-130's and support personnel operating in Somalia. Then Italy, Botswana, Turkey, Kuwait, and Jordan have advance parties on the ground in Mogadishu. They're working with the joint task force commander's staff to make the arrangements for the arrival of the main body of their units. Then, of course, the 500 member Pakistani force of UN peacekeepers that was in Somalia prior to Operation Restore Hope is still there as well. We continue the humanitarian flights into both Kenya and Somalia. To bring you briefly up to date on that. We've delivered, since the operation began, about roughly 3,000 metric tons to Kenya on around 213 flights, and about 15,000 metric tons, actually 15.6 thousand metric tons to Somalia on around 1,360 flights. We made one flight to Oddur on Monday, and two flights to Baidoa. Today, planned into Somalia, four flights into Baidoa and four flights into Oddur. Then also two flights into Wajir in northern Kenya. Finally on Somalia issues, and the last announcement that I have, the Secretary has authority, actually the President has authority which he can delegate to the Secretary, and I think Ronald Reagan actually signed the executive order that delegated the authority to the Secretary of Defense. So under an executive order and federal law, the Secretary of Defense has been given the authority to authorize free mail to members of the armed services who are in either areas of hostile fire or areas of difficult conditions. Now Secretary Cheney has sent a letter to the Postmaster General authorizing free mail privileges for members of the armed forces who are deployed in Operation Restore Hope. The personnel assigned to the U.S. Central Command and located in Somalia, or in Kenya, Djibouti, and in the adjacent waters, can now send mail at no cost. So postage-free mail. This free mail is limited to letter, video, or sound recording tapes that consist of personal correspondence sent to any place in the United States, any possession of the United States, or any military post office, any APO or FPO address. The way I understand it works, it works similar to the congressional frank. The word "Free" is written in the upper right hand corner of the envelope, and then the name of the person sending the letter, his grade, and complete military address go in the upper left hand corner. Free mail cannot be registered, insured, or certified. Q: What does mail normally cost to send a letter to... A: I didn't anticipate that one, Patrick. What would it cost to send a letter? Since we gave these three examples, what would it cost to send a letter, a videotape, presumably a VHS tape, or an audio cassette. We'll get you each one. From Somalia. So, how much are they saving? I think the additional thing is, it's for their convenience. I mean I don't know where you go to buy stamps in Somalia. So it's partly to save money. It's not a big savings, of course, in terms of money, but it's also in terms of convenience. They don't have to run around trying to find stamps or get them over there or work on that. Q: A couple of Somali questions. One, we heard out of Somalia that they were putting a limit on the number of U.S. troops they were going to need in there of 20,000. Is that correct? A: No, that's not correct. Let me just walk you through this a little bit. First of all, General Hoar said last week that as we get a good picture of the size of the non-U.S. forces that will be participating in this early stage, it may be possible, then, to revise the estimates on the number of U.S. forces that are needed. Is that a possibility? Yes, it's a possibility, but I don't think anybody has reached a conclusion yet on, "A", whether we can, in fact, reduce the potential deployment of U.S. forces that was briefed to you all a couple of Fridays ago by Secretary Cheney and General Powell. They said at the time that it might be about 28,000, based on 10,000 Army and 16,000 Marines. I think I got that right, unless I got it backwards, but it was about a 28,000 total. Let me check that and see if that's right. But in any case, that's how they derived roughly 28,000. (FYI: Army, 10,000; Marines, 16,000; Navy, 1,500; Air Force, 600.) Now it may be possible to do that. However, I don't think they've focused on a number yet, and certainly haven't gotten into the units of who's in the pipeline that they don't need now. That's the first thing to say. The second thing to say is, remember that when the Secretary and the Chairman briefed 28,000, they were talking about 28,000 people on the ground. That doesn't count the number of sailors and Marines at sea. So you'd actually, if you're talking about the total number of people taking part, you'd have to raise it up to maybe 38,000 or something like that. Is it possible to adjust the number down? Yes. But I wouldn't get caught up in numbers yet. I don't know where the 20,000 number comes from, frankly. But what I'm saying is, don't use that 20,000 number to say, well, the old United Way barometer tops out at 20,000 and we're already at 28,000 Because, in fact, the barometer tops out a lot higher, because you have to add the guys at sea. Q: Does the U.S. have any plans or policies in effect to deal with a situation where U.S. forces go in, pacify the area, if you will, to see that food is distributed, then pull out, and before they're over the horizon someone comes in and steals the food? Or even if it isn't armed people, the stronger people in the village take it and the weaker people still don't get it? A: We've heard reports from the private humanitarian relief organizations and, indeed, have seen stories from journalists that this has happened in some cases. The private relief organizations have said that they are aware of that problem. That it's still better to have food being delivered and have some of it looted. Clearly, nobody likes that. But given the choice between having no food delivered for weeks and weeks and weeks, which was the situation before this operation started, and having some of it get through and then be looted, the private humanitarian relief organizations will take the second one any day. Is it a happy situation? No. It's something we're going to have to work on. I don't think we have the ideal situation there by any means at this point, but it's certainly an improvement over what the situation was before the operation started. Q: I understand that, but do you have any plans in effect now to deal with it, or are we in the research mode still? A: I think we're still getting established. We're still starting to go to these main refugee population centers like Baidoa, Bardera, Kismayo, Bale Dogle, Belet Wen, Oddur, and then we'll, undoubtedly, spread out beyond those as well. Q: As more and more of the other troops arrive from other countries, is there a deadline or a date for bringing people back, to begin to bring people back that are being replaced by other troops? A: No. First of all, there is no deadline or timetable for bringing troops back. I think the phases that I talked to you about last week are generally going to apply here, where you start with the combat people, and then you bring back the support people, and finally the command and control people. But we're a long way from that at this point. We're still trying to pull forces in, both U.S. and international forces. There's no timetable, but clearly in a month or so, the commander over there, within a month, is going to have to look at his lay-down of forces and see whether he can begin to make those adjustments. As I think General Powell briefed here on Friday when we laid this whole thing out, the most logical thing will probably be to give certain regions to control of various nations. For example, the Belgians are basically running the show in Kismayo. We had the Marines in there for awhile, the army's coming in. But that's going to be...the Belgians will be down there. The Italians will be given, probably, their area, the French their area, and so forth. So as other forces come in, you may well want to group them by similar languages and customs and that kind of thing. But I think it's too early to know when that can happen, and specifically, Juan, in answer to your question, no, there is no timetable. The answer to your question, Patrick, on what would it cost if you didn't have free mail. A letter would cost 29 cents, first class, basically; an audio tape would cost under $2.00; and a videotape about $2.50. So the Military Postal Service Agency says these would be the same as local U.S. costs. Q: I'm wondering what the SecDef thinks of the appointment, assuming the announcement at 3:00 o'clock, of his good friend and comrade, Congressman Les Aspin, becoming Defense Secretary? A: I want to be very careful here. I don't know that it's going to be Les Aspin. I've seen the press speculation. The Secretary has seen it. So we certainly have to let the President-Elect make his own announcement. So let's not talk about it in terms of any planned announcement. Let's take the briefer's privilege to rephrase the question to suit his own needs, a time-honored tradition in here, and simply say that if the question were: what does Secretary Cheney think about Les Aspin as a potential Secretary of Defense nominee? I think he thinks that would be a good choice. He certainly worked with Congressman Aspin when they were together on the Hill. They have a lot of experience working together. I think he thinks that Les Aspin is one of the nation's leading experts on defense issues. He's had basically a career of studying defense issues, both as a member of the House Armed Services Committee, and as somebody who used to be an analyst here in the Pentagon. I think he has high regard for Les Aspin's intellect and his command of defense issues. And I also think that Les Aspin is somebody that he could get along with. And if Les Aspin were, in fact, the choice, it would be a very smooth transition, because the two of them do know each other, they have regard for each other, and they get along well. Q: Does he think that Les Aspin will be sensitive to the needs of the military, more so than the needs of other budget issues, for lack of a better... A: I don't think that Dick Cheney and Les Aspin agree on all issues that face the department. They've had their differences in the past over budget issues. That's a natural kind of give and take that happens between a Secretary of Defense and members of Congress. It could well be that Les Aspin's perspective on some of those issues may be different once he gets to the Pentagon. There's just a different sense of responsibility between being the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee and being Secretary of Defense. Q: Would there be the same flavor to the Secretary's comments about the prospect of Ron Dellums being Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee? A: I think he said once he thought that would be sweet justice. (Laughter) But we will wait and see how that works out. I'm sure that whoever the Democrats choose to make the chairman of the committee will take that assignment on with a sense of responsibility for the well being of America's military. Q: Is the Air Force considering shifting some of the production work for F-22 from the Martin Marietta, the Lockheed facility in Marietta, Georgia, to Warner Robbins Air Force Base? A: I don't know what the Air Force plans are there. I don't think there's any departmental view that that's a great idea, but I don't know exactly what the Air Force is working on. Q: Do you have anything else on F-22 today? A: No. Like what? Q: Restructuring or... A: No, not that I know of. Q: A news agency on Cyprus, apparently one of the local news agencies, is reporting that the United States has decided, as of December 18th, not to sell any arms or ship arms to Cyprus at all, to cool down the situation there. Have you gotten anything on that? A: It's news to me. Let me take the question. Let me make sure I understand the question. Is there any change in the U.S. military policy, U.S. policy on selling arms to Cyprus (FYI: No.) Q: And how that would affect Turkish troops on Cyprus. A: Yes. Q: Several Central European Foreign Ministers came out of a meeting with President Bush this morning convinced that the U.S. will, with Security Council approval, be ready to go ahead and enforce the no-fly zone in Bosnia. Assuming that it does, indeed, happen, what kind of shape is the Pentagon in right now to go ahead and carry out that mission if it, indeed, is ordered by the UN? A: I should be careful here, because, in fact, we have not received any instructions from the President, which is the way it would work, to change what we're doing right now in that area. We, obviously, have assets in the region. We've been participating in the operation to get relief into Bosnia for quite some time. We're doing regular flights. And I should say, by the way, let me take the opportunity since we're on that subject, to say that the relief flights have resumed. The airport was closed at Sarajevo, as you know, for several days, but they've now resumed flights. The flights into Sarajevo resumed yesterday, after being suspended since December 1st. Two U.S. flights reached Sarajevo yesterday, carrying 43 tons of aid. Two others were cancelled because of inclement weather. Six were scheduled for today. The flights yesterday and today were carrying food. We still have ships in the Adriatic that have rotated in and out of the NATO Standing Naval Force Mediterranean. They've rotated in and out to provide command and control and rescue capability. We still have a field hospital, surgical hospital deployed, and that has been there since November 15th. We still have military personnel assigned to the United Nations to help with the planning. So we're still involved there. We have quite a bit of capability in the area. But I shouldn't speculate on what we may do because, as I say, we haven't received any instructions to carry that operation out. Q: Will we need more? Will we need to take some further steps to enforce this no-fly zone than what's already there? A: I don't know. First of all, my understanding is that NATO has been doing some planning. NATO said they would be willing to participate if the UN were to pass a resolution, and I think there's been some correspondence between the UN and NATO on the issue, so NATO has been doing some planning. I don't know, first of all, whether there's going to be a resolution passed by the UN. I understand it's being discussed among the allies. But secondly, and more importantly, I don't know what the resolution's going to say. Presumably the resolution may have something to say about how no-fly zones are enforced. Thirdly, I don't know how NATO is going to handle this. Whether it will be primarily a NATO operation, whether it would be a NATO operation with some U.S. support. I just don't know. So I think I can't speculate before... Q: What abouty down the road, what about attacks on the airfields from which the flights originate? There's some discussion about that. Is that, indeed, still under discussion? A: The Secretary said over the weekend, on Face the Nation, he thought that was a logical way to enforce the no-fly zone, but I haven't heard any discussion beyond that. Q: Anything new on the situation in northern Iraq? A: No, we are obviously concerned about the attacks by the Iraqis on the trucks that are carrying humanitarian relief supplies into northern Iraq, but the Iraqi military activity in the north consists mainly of minor repositioning of forces and continued training activity. There's been no significant buildup of forces in the region in the last several weeks. no violations of the no-fly zone in northern or southern Iraq that we are aware of. We're still flying our flights over both northern Iraq, regular reconnaissance flights to support Operation Provide Comfort, and our monitoring flights in southern Iraq to support the no-fly zone on the south, Operation Southern Watch. So what we're doing there is basically the same. But the UN did call in the Iraqi permanent representative, I think on Friday, to complain about the bombings of Turkish trucks, relief trucks. There's some discussion going on now between the UN and the people driving those trucks on getting guards, that those convoys can get started again. Q: Any new instances of sabotage in the last couple of days? A: No, because there haven't been any convoys. They're not driving the trucks right now. There's nothing for them to sabotage. Q: Is the United States doing anything to flex muscle in the area? In the military-to-military talks, the normal military-to-military talks with the Iraqis, folks on the scene, have there been any warnings issued on this? A: No warnings that I know of, but there was a very firm message delivered to the Iraqi permanent representative. I think those discussions have happened at the UN, basically. Q: That's at the UN, not at the local level. A: I don't think there have been any discussions out in northern Iraq, but we can check that. The regular discussions that they have. We'll take that question. Has the subject of bombing the trucks been raised at the regular military-to-military meeting. Q: I want to ask a couple of questions about the death of Naval Petty Officer Allen Schindler, who many believe was murdered because he was gay. Yesterday's Chicago Tribune mentioned that Airman Charles Vinn, who was earlier convicted as an accomplice to the murder, was sentenced to one year in Jail. Yesterday's Chicago Tribune says that in accordance with a pre-trial deal, the sentence was reduced to four months. Do you have any details about that deal, or why the sentence was reduced for the murder of the gay sailor? A: I don't. I don't have anything on that incident. The Navy is investigating it. They'd probably be the place to go for more information. I don't have anything about the case here. Q: One followup question, this is also from yesterday's Chicago Tribune. The mother of the dead gay sailor said that she hasn't received his belongings from the Navy, and she's also requested that the Navy send her to the court martial. Do you have any comments about possibly sending her to the court martial of the second man charged in the murder? A: I'm sorry. I just don't know anything about the case. The Navy could probably tell you about that. I don't know what the Navy procedures are in a case like this, but they'd probably be able to answer the question for you. Press: Thank you. Mr. Williams: Thank you. Happy holidays to all! DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE CONTRACT AWARDS TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1992 ARMY Dania Industries Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, is being awarded a $9,307,000 firm fixed price contract for major expansions at the Radford Army Ammunition Plant Propellant Wastewater Treatment facility. Work will be performed in Radford, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by October 20, 1995. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. There were 201 bids solicited on August 21, 1992, and 14 bids received. The con- tracting activity is the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk, Virginia (DACA65-93-C-0017). NAVY AT&T Federal Systems Advanced Technology, McLeansvile, North Carolina, is being awarded a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for engineering services and associated materials for sonar sea systems engineering related to the Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS) Program. Funds being obligated today are $12,922,700. Work will be performed in McLeansville, North Carolina (93%), Whitsett, North Carolina (3%), and Whippany, New Jersey (4%), and is expected to be completed by September 1993. This contract was not competitively procured. Contract funds in the amount of $9,186,700 would have expired at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract includes purchases under the Foreign Military Sales Program. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command is the contracting activity (N00039-93-C-0007). FMC Naval Sytems Division, Minneapolis, Minnesota, is being awarded a $15,094,682 contract modification for MK-15 Vertical Launch Asroc (VLA) Canisters. Work will be performed in Aberdeen, South Dakota, and is expected to be completed by July 1995. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract is for the U.S. Navy (78%) and for Japan (22%) under the Foreign Military Sales Program. This contract was not competi- tively procured. The Naval Sea Systems Command is the contracting activity (N00024-90-C-3217). Analysis and Technology, Inc., North Stonington, Connecticut, is being awarded a $10,119,092 cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract to acquire analyses and studies, design evaluation, noise reduction services, and mathematical modeling. Work will be performed in New London, Connecticut, and is expected to be completed by December 1997. Con- tract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured with 52 bids solicited and 2 bids received. The Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Newport Detachment, New London, Connecticut, is the contracting activity (N66604-92-D-0583). General Electric Company, Ocean and Radar Systems Division, Syracuse, New York, is being awarded a $6,131,694 cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite deliv- ery/indefinite quantity contract to provide engineering services for the CLIPPER SHALE Performance Improvement Program. These services are directed at advanced analysis, consolidation, evaluation, and supplemental experimentation to validate and/or modify results from data generated under the CLIPPER SHALE Experimental Developmental Model Program. Technology applications are for weapons, unmanned underwater vehicles, and submarines. Work will be performed in Syracuse, New York (95%), and Newport, Rhode Island (5%), and is expected to be completed by December 1995. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Newport, Rhode Island, is the contract- ing activity (N66604-93-D-A479). Grumman Aerospace Corporation, Bethpage, New York, is being awarded a $6,075,000 modification to a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to provide an increment of funds for the incorporation of the NAVSTAR Global Positioning System (GPS) into the F-14 weapon system. Work will be performed in Bethpage, New York, and is expected to be completed by December 1994. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Air Systems Command is the contracting activity (N00019-91-C-0276). Lockheed Corporation, Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Company, Marietta, Georgia, is being awarded a $10,000,000 modification to a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to provide additioinal funds for A/FX weapon system trade studies and risk reduction activities. Work will be performed in Marietta, Georgia (40%), Seattle, Washington (30%), and Fort Worth, Texas (30%), and is expected to be completed by July 1993. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured by a request for proposal, and five proposals were received. The Naval Air Systems Command is the contracting activity (N00019-92-C-0040). Sikorsky Aircraft Division, United Technologies Corporation, Stratford, Connecticut, is being awarded a $11,649,218 order under a basic ordering agreement for 31 composite tail rotor retrofit kits and 31 block upgrade retrofit kits for the CH-53E helicopter. Work will be performed in Stratford, Connecticut, and is expected to be completed by March 1996. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Air Systems Command is the contracting activity (N00019-91-G-0006). AIR FORCE CAE-Link Training Systems Division, Binghamton, New York, is being awarded a $10,234,891 face value increase to a firm-fixed-price contract for HC-130P Special Operations improvements to the C-130 Aircraft Training System. Con- tract is expected to be completed January 1994. Contract funds $605,652 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson Air Foce Base, Ohio is the contracting activity (F33657-86- C-0103, P00078). Hughes Aircraft Company, Missile Systems Division, Tucson, Arizona, is being awarded a $18,702,161 time-and-materials contract for technical syspport for the Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) production effort. Contract is expected to be completed in December 1993. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One bid was solicited and one proposal was received. The solicitation was isued in July 1992 and negotia- tions were completed in November 1992. The Aeronautical Systems Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida is the contracting activity, (F08626-93-C-0016). Lockheed Corporation, Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Company, Marietta, Georgia, is being awarded a $1,200,000,000 face value increase to a cost-plus- award-fee contract for a rephased schedule for the F-22 Air Vehicle Program. Contract is expected to be completed July 2001. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright- Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (F33657-91-C-0006, P00059). United Technologies Corporation, Pratt & Whitney Government Engine Business, West Palm Beach, Florida, is being awarded a $36,509,686 face value increase to a firm-fixed-price contract for eight F-100-PW-220 engines (4 for Singapore; 4 for Thailand), and seven engine modules (2 for Singapore; 5 for Thailand), applicable to the F-16C/D aircraft. Contract is expected to be completed April 1995. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract is in support of Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to Singapore and Thailand. The Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio is the contracting activity (F33657-90-C-0057-P00006). United Technologies Corporation, Pratt & Whitney Government Engine Business, West Palm Beach, Florida, is being awarded a $127,000,000 face value increase to a cost-plus-award-fee contract for a rephased scedule for the F119-PW-100 engine applicable to the F-22 aircraft. Contract is expected to be completed July 2001. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio is the contracting activity ((F33657-91-C-0007, P00038). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Chevron USA, Incorporated, San Francisco, California was awarded a $5,308,760 fixed price with economic price adjustment contract for jet fuel (JP-4). Eleven proposals were solicited and seven received. Work will be performed in El Segundo, California and is expected to be completed by 30 September 1993. This contract is one of a multi-contract procurement program. When all contracts have been awarded, additional details will be available. Funds will not expire at the en dof the fiscal year. The Defense Fuel Supply Center, Alexandria, Virginia, is the contracting activity (DLA600-92-D-0559). :END -- // \\ // \\ Air Force News Agency | | Kelly Air Force Base, Texas, USA \\ {*} // bergman@afpan.pa.af.mil \ CMSgt / ___________________ /____________________________________ \ Mike / \ Bergman / \ /