European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - July 4, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 10 the stars and stripes Friday july 4,1986 of s below the zone promotions explained. _ i. .__,.�. It  Flor to Ftp although i have recently been promoted to senior airman due to time in Grade my past experiences with the air Force below the zone program compel me to address this topic. What is the purpose of the Biz program according to afr 39-29 and the pee Biz promotions were set up to give eligible airmen nest class the Opportunity to compete against other nominees for Early promotion to senior airman according to quotas allocated by he  Oune this can probably be adapted to Fay that the objective is to provide the most highly qualified motivated and responsible airmen with a fair Chance to earn an Early promotion with or before his her framing a Board or records review depending on the Lime Frame for eligibility. For example even though 1 Oul processed through my last base in Early August 1985 and my projected Sra Dor was april 1986. Upon arrival at my current base f was told my eligibility had expired in route and i would be evaluated by records review at my former duty station. Obviously then All airmen Are not judged by the same standards. Should an individual be evaluated solely on the basis of his or her records against some one who is physically present to meet Board members members would certainly have a tendency to favor those airmen who answer questions or project a Mili tary image simply by being there. I assume that an stripes awarded through Biz records review would subtract from the total allotted to that command. Despite the fact that my achievements while at my last base include two outstanding maintenance awards 28th mm5/bmw maintenance Man october and december achievement medal professional per former award and High endorsement apr 1 was not selected for Biz promotion 1 Only Hope that others have not had similar experiences due to these established policies. Possible improvements would include evaluating All eligible airmen by the same selection process placing More emphasis on recommending the most Quali fied personnel and a recognition program for selectee. 1 certainly think policies could be adopted that would allow for time ingrate eligible differences for pcs moves medical try etc., so All airmen would be judged by Board members with records. Although eligible airmen will make Sra by time in Grade the rank difference and recognition for making Biz should be enough to warrant a change in policies based solely on maintaining morale. Hopefully this program can be More fully explained and detailed so problems can be avoided in the future. Presenting the Gramm Rudman army i m sending you a drawing done by one of my Youn journalism students at Stuttgart american High school because it is timely and May be of interest to your military audience. The army Rob Higinbotham envisions As the even Tual result of Gramm Rudman defense spending cuts May give a laugh or perhaps a Lear to the soldiers who Are already beginning to feel the Pinch of those cuts. Rob is a Sophomore.  Stuttgart grand Rulman defense spending cuts Kew Mutt my weapon a Pershing Newm Umry uniform new a Hotary aircraft f-17 Buzzard finally i advise everyone to continually strive for advancement by ensuring their personnel and Educ. Uon re ads Are up to. Dale always be aware of your promotion opportunities and keep abreast of policy changes. Don t assume that your supervisor win notify you of your options encourage you to seek up portent ties or award you with recognition without some de termination and Effort on your part. Senior airman Brant r. Hoffman Span Dahlem a Germany editor s note col. Jarael r. Miller director of personnel programs he Safe replies the senior airman below the zoom promotion a Gram is designed to pro ride  wish Juffy airmen first class � one time Coral Denton for ref promotion to Sra to be effective six months prior to Thi fixed fully qualified phase Point with a 15 paces selection Opportunity. The fixed phase Point b � month Rome in Rice cad 20 months Timon Artie or 28 months Tig whichever comes first. Index Ednab re considered in be month december motion. For example an Inglr Ldhl whose a lied promotion is april 18, 1987 1ptomorioo on oct. It 198?. Therefore the Jadw a will be considered la september 1986 Aladj a to others who Are eligible for october nowhere a 4 it protected nun Kvis eligible for fire n a permanent change of station Doriu or a Sci sent to the processing month february May Ai gust and november we considered by heir teats base unit. Tbs processing month is one month prior i the consideration month. Selection procedures Are conducted in two ways. Coat Manders of Small units those with six or less eligible May nominate Only one individual to a base Central selection Board. The unit commanders Are not restricted Tony particular nomination procedure. The Central Board uses procedures specified by the air Force military personnel Center to consider Nomi nees and make selection. Current procedures Epcot Trade personal appear Rice before the Board but allow toe cot vening authority to direct records Only consideration far All nominees or a portion of Ine nominees when Saaw Are unable to personally appear. Large units those with seven or More eligible tune their own selection procedures As established by the various major commands. In Safe we require each urge unit to anneal Board. If All individuals being considered by the  available then personal appearance before the hats is required. If any nominee to unable to meet the bout for valid reasons unit commanders must Convene la cards Only Board. The senior airman program u highly compete Tii Only a few of base s total enables can be Anu b-0 bomber during each Cycle. Coose Bently in some cases Weru nals with wry Good records cannot be selected. We Beckte the Safe Biz program u tedi of to property and affords nor top performing alas a Tab realistic Opportunity for Early promotion to Semk air Man. No formula for shortage regarding the letter writer who chided us women who do not use her solution to the commissary for Mula shortage problem. We have reasons Why we All do not breastfeed we May have a Job thai makes it impractical we May produce an inadequate milk Supply we May be of medication thai is harmful to our baby we May be full or we May be adopting. So just because we do not breastfeed does not mean that we do not think. And just because we Are dependent on commissary sources does not mean we hid Choice to do otherwise Cathryn Scholi Ramsten a Germany 1 have a three year old daughter that 1 nursed for 13months. I also have an eight month old daughter that at three months old decided she would not none any longer. I tried lying Down sitting up lilting in the Tup and every chair and bed i could find. Still my daughter would not  l a Tove loved to nurse her a year also Bat the had different ideas. Therefore this woman s answer does not solve the problem of running out of formula. Name withheld