European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - January 16, 1981, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 8 the stars and stripes january 1981 Progress in meeting challenges 1980 saw vital changes in army editors note the following re View of 1980 from an army Point of View was prepared and distributed by the army news service Washington last year saw Many changes in the primarily because of renewed Public interest in american defense concern Over world and programs and initiatives on the part of the army chief of staff in the army embarked on a concerted Effort to equip and modernize its Force for the decade of the 80s and in january world events which concerned soldiers included american hostages being held in the soviet occupation of Afghani the Dollar losing Exchange value against certain foreign buying Power dwindling because of spiralling heating up of a presidential Campaign which ultimately led to Ronald Reagan being elected in new and technically advanced Machin Ery and equipment became very visible during in february the army announced its decision to buy 100 infantry and cavalry fighting vehicles to upgrade its mechanized infantry and armoured cavalry the scheduled to come off the Assembly line in May will eventually replace the m 113 armoured personnel carriers now used in those also in the first production models for the xm1 Abrams main Bat the tank were delivered to the they were the first of 110 tanks approved for production during the 1980 fiscal More than of the new tanks Are planned Over the next eight according to army the Abrams became the first entirely new tank to be produced in at least 30 years and is designed to replace the m60 series of main Battle tanks during the in army chief of staff Edward Meyer issued his White paper 1980 a framework for molding the army of the 1980s into a Well trained fighting this paper served to Tell to soldiers and department of the army civilians about where the army is and where its Meyer out lined the various army programs and concerns which would be receiving additional attention during the next few including the Challenge of Manning the total Meyer called this the major Challenge the army faces continuing efforts to upgrade the a mys artillery Arsenal led to the awarding of a contract to develop the multiple launch rocket system Mars to be fielded in the Early the army new Utility transport Heli the uh60 Black began extensive use in operations throughout the world in the new helicopter is de signed to replace the uh1 Huey As the primary air Carrier of infantry in the area of personnel the army instituted wide ranging changes in the Way it develops and trains today soldiers for the 1980s and beyond the skill qualification test set program was broadened to include the majority of the army enlisted occupational a new physical training program was approved which included new over40 it new office revaluation report forms were being along with the phasing out of evaluation reports for Junior enlisted a new Soldier support Center was established to better meet the needs of soldiers and their command Tours for Bat Talion and brigade commanders were extended to lend stability to army combat unit commanders were authorized to award promotion Points to soldiers competing for promotion to e5 and the military enlistment processing come was separated from the army recruiting come to better manage Manning the total in the clothing Many changes took place during 1980 the most significant involved the Green dress Meyer approved a new year round Green uniform fabric to replace the four Basic fabrics in the uni forms men and women soldiers Are now the new a 5545 poles Ter Wool is expected to be available in the army Supply system by late the new camouflage fatigues will be issued to new soldiers starting in septem Ber and made from a 5050 by Lon Cotton the camouflage fatigues Are to replace the Washan Wear fatigues now they will also come with an infrared resin treatment which will reduce soldiers vulnerability to infrared Detec Tion a Range style camouflage patrol Cap will replace the current baseball in november Meyer approved the Maroon Beret for members of All air borne units on jump he postponed a decision on headgear for soldiers in other Black shoulder Marks boards were approved for Wear by cos corporals e 4 through command sergeant majors e9 on the Green uniform the Marks resemble those worn by except that the cloth is Black instead of Green and they will not have the Gold in the vital area of compensation and 1980 saw wide ranging changes in Congress passed the nun Warner this provided such improved benefits As the variable housing allowance a 10 percent increase in Basic allowance for subsistence an increase in the reimbursement rate for permanent change of station pcs moves a 25 percent increase in flight and a save pay provision for officers with prior warrant officer see separate Story on this Page for a summary of pay and entitlements which have now become All in 1980 saw Many significant changes in the concerning its policy and the coming years should see these changes As the army of the 80s takes during this new Type of helicopter the Black Hawk began to be widely used in the army James Carter signs allowance measure Washington president Carter has signed the military pay and allow ances act of 1980 commonly called the fair benefits act into the benefits became effective the benefits include service members e7 and above without family members May elect to receive Basic allowance for quarters bad in lieu of government a special pay of a month for enlisted service members in state imbalanced skills who agree to extend overseas Tours for at least one they can take leaves in lieu of the service members on Long May accrue up to 90 Days which can then be used in the year following their substantial increases in sea submarine pay and nuclear officer a revision of the definition of regu Lar military compensation to include any variable housing allowance or station housing allowance in the president also signed the House and Senate Compromise version of the department of defense appropriations Bill for the 1981 fiscal provisions of the Bill include variable housing allowance a 25 percent increase in aviation career incentive pay and enlisted flight full funding for the percent pay funding for increases in selective reenlistment deletions of funding for overseas single and unaccompanied service Mem Bers Cost of living allowances cola when the service member is required to live in government quarters and use government dining funding for increased military per diem funding increases for of duty tuition assistance payments from 75 percent to 90 percent for enlisted serv ice members who Are e5 or higher with less than 14 years funding for the expansion of the civilian health and medical program for the uniformed services Cham pus coverage for service this program includes funding for handicapped family members and Well baby removal of restriction requiring service member to be on Active duty to be eligible for Cash awards for Sugges invention or scientific achieve the Bill prohibits the commissioning of physician except those individuals currently under contract or in the use of funds for except where the life of the Mother would be endangered if the fetus were carried to or except for such medical procedures necessary for the victims of rape or when such rape within 72 been reported to a la enforcement Agency or Public health nor Are pay ments prohibited for drugs or devices to prevent implantation of the fertilized or for medical procedures necessary for the termination of an ectopic pregnancy Howe that the several states Are and shall remain free not to fund abortions to the extent that they in their sole discretion deem