European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 07, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday december 7, 1985 the stars and stripes pages gis sceptical on retirement plan changes by Chuck Vinch Washington Bureau Washington the defense department is having difficulty convincing potential career  that their retirement benefits will no be reduced despite repeated assurances from con Gress that any changes will affect Only future recruits. It. Gen. Robert m. Elton the army s personnel chief told the manpower and personnel subcommittee of the Senate armed services committee that in a recent Survey of soldiers leaving the service 14 percent said they were doing so because of proposed changes to the retirement system. He said they made the decision to leave even after being told that they would be grandfathered or protected against reductions. In another Survey that asked 17.000 troops what factors affected their Deci Sions to re enlist one third of the mid level cos said the retirement Benefit were the most important Elton said. Soldiers perceive projected decreases in retirement benefits As a first step and a Strong threat to their own retirement benefits Elton said. When it is time to re enlist some May decide to leave be cause of loss of Faith and Trust. And those soldiers arc Likely to pass on their loss of Faith and Trust to subordinates who May not be  air Force it. Gen. . Chavarris. Deputy assistant Secretary of defense for personnel policy said that defense de a Artmont estimates indicate a reduction of Between 8 percent and 12 percent among soldiers with 10 to 20 years of service if either of the two options arc enacted. A reduction of Between 16 percent and 37 percent among soldiers with 21 to 30 years of service could be expected he said. Sen. John Glenn a Ohio ranking minority member of the subcommittee Reite rated that there will be no change in the retirement system for people now on Active duty or already retired. It would be a breach of Faith to Cut those people off at the Knees Glenn said. The subcommittee held hearings wednes Day on a package that Congress directed the defense department to draw up. The pack age details two options that would trim the military retirement budget. Congress wants $2.9 billion Cut from the fiscal 1986 retire ment budget of $ 18 billion. Sen. Pete Wilson r-calif., chairman of the subcommittee accused the personnel chiefs of overstating the negative effects of the two options on retention. He said that when the High three sys tem was introduced in 1980. The defense department predicted an Overall loss of 40.000 people. That loss did not occur he said. The High three system Calls for retire ment Money to be computed on the aver age base pay of a  s lop three earning years rather than on base pay at the time of retirement. The defense department maintains that pay raises and other compensations suppressed the effect of the High three system. Cha Varrico said he fears that the enactment of one of the two options under consideration could have a much More powerful Impact. Chavarrie said thai he does t consider the current system Loo generous or costly. About 64 percent of our enlisted retirees draw annuities below the poverty level for a family of four and funding for retire ment accrual is less than 25 percent of the military personnel budget and about 6 percent of the defense budget he said. The two proposed options Are known As Structure Only and combination. Both would Cut retirement pay by about 25 per cent compared to that received by soldiers who entered the Crvick before 1980. When the High three system was introduced. The Structure Only plan would compute retirement pay using a High five system Basing it on the highest 60 months base pay of the service member. In addition the multipliers arc changed. Service members entering Active duty be fore 1980 accrue 2.5 percent of their base pay per year toward retirement. Under the Structure Only option Sci  would accrue 2.15 percent per year for the first 20 years of service and 3.2 percent per year after that up to 30 years. Full Cost of living adjustments would be included. Under the combination option the cur rent High three system would be retained. The multipliers would be 2.2 percent per year for the first 20 years and 3.1 percent per year after that up to 30 years. Retirees would receive a Cost of living allowance that would be one percentage Point below the consumer Price Index with a on Misc rest Oral on the 40th anniversary of entry onto Active duty. Reagan s Call ends fast by Vietnam Veteran Kent Wash. Up a Telephone Call thursday from president Reagan express ing his concern for . Servicemen missing in Southeast Asia ended a 51-Day fast by a Vietnam War Veteran. Like i said before it s amazing what can happen when you miss a few meals said the Veteran Gino Casanova who began his fast oct. 16. Casanova received the Call at 5 . On a Mobile phone which had been brought to his Bamboo Cage tuesday ending Days of negotiations that involved the White House the offices of sen. Slade Gorton r-Wash., and rep. Bill Hindon , and Casanova s organization operation second crusade. The president told Gino he was concerned about his health and the whole Issue of my As said Dave Endicott Gorton 3 Washington spokesman. Casanova said Reagan agreed to meet with him within the next 60 Days to discuss the problem of military men still believed missing in Southeast Asia. You know sir the Vietnam veterans Here and across the country Are concerned about this Issue Casanova told Reagan. Is it possible sir that myself and others could meet w the you for 10 or 15 minutes in the next 60 Days when Thi president answered affirmatively Casanova said i m sure that will show a lot of folks around the country mat you really care and we appreciate it. God bless you or. President. You bet i m going to have something to eat  after the conversation ended Casanova a \ the others in the Small Tiger  similar to those that held some pos in Vietnam let out a loud cheer. Casanova 34. Had vowed to fast for 61 Days one Day for each Serviceman missing from the state of Washington. He began the fast to Call attention to the plight of nearly 2,500 americans who Are still listed As missing in the Vietnam War. Casanova said he has lost at least 43 pounds and is suffering blurred vision and weakness. I m so Damn hungry that everything looks like food he said. I m in a Reed hut and everything around me looks like  Sands or time in the stars and stripes 40 years ago today. Dec 7, 1945 Transfer of troops stationed in Paris to less desirable areas like Oerr Ray in lieu of punishment for uniform and discipline violations was announced by Brik Gen. . O flare Deputy chief of staff Tefet rear. The  policy was designed to improve the conduct and appearance of . Soldiers in the Paris area who have consistently broken army regulations. 30 years ago today. Dec 7 1955 Britain and Russia have waived Allied controls on canal traffic to Berlin but the British declared they still hold the soviets responsible for keeping open the waterway lifeline to the isolated City. 20 years ago foday. Dec 7 1965 police believe they know the identity of the Boston Strangler and have a suspect in it Tody mass. Attorney general Edward Brooke said. 10 years ago today. Dec 7, 1975 Congress approved a $2.3-billion loan to prevent new York City s financial default. Star wars publicity misleading officials say Washington a two senior defense department officials said thurs Day the Public is being misled by portrayals of president Reagan s strategic defense initiative As an impenetrable dome like shield Over the United states that would turn Back a soviet nuclear attack. I Don t believe there is any such thing As a perfect weapon that would be Able to defend against All soviet missiles said air Force la. Gen. James Abr Harrson director of the ski project which has been Nick named Star  Richard Pyrle assistant Secretary of de sense and a leading arms control hard liner Gene Illy agreed with Abrahamson and said no Best that can be achieved is a de sense that will have a very High rate of cruelly s very furry Christmas Gas Man 6uvnok i m Ere to look at your Furnace a at Santa s workshop the sacks of toys Are full wonderful Pongo we rearmost Pone knocking Down soviet weapons. The image of a dome Over the United Stales is one reason Why the allies arc sep tical Perle said. If we arc successful we will be putting a dome Over the soviet Union that is the More Correct  the comments came during a Senate armed services strategic nuclear forces subcommittee meeting which turned into a debate Between the two men and a pair of democratic senators Over the goals of the ambitious program. When Reagan announced the program two years ago he called for research to see if it was possible to build a High technology shield and thus Render atomic weapons obsolete. Sen. James Exon d-ncb., asked if the Public was being misled by recent animated television advertising for the project show ing hostile missiles bouncing off a Rainbow shield that covers a House and family. Maybe it might be appropriate to level with the american people so they Don t expect too  said Exon. Who then asked pc rec and Abrahamson can we Ever have a perfect shield i Don t believe there is any such thing As a perfect  said Abrahamson. That image is an oversimplified  instead said Abrahamson a defense can be thoroughly reliable which head fitted is not quite the same thing. Pc rec answered that in the Short  ski could make a major contribution to stability by putting into place a shield for . Strategic retaliatory  that Means . Missiles would be protected from a preemptive strike. Sen. Sam Nunn. A a. Accused administration officials of rhetorical overstatement in spelling out their dreams for Star