European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 20, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday. March 20, 1987 the stars and stripes Page 3 army s top Ngo says tour lengths major Issue by Bren a Hosier Morrill also said he air defense system it  Sib writer 1 to he army s readiness especially in a Forward area Schwet Zingen Germany the army s senior enlisted Soldier said thursday his top priority is ending uncertainly Over tour lengths and extensions. We have to gel a better handle on this Issue for Seal j988," sergeant major of the army Glen Wor Rell said in an interview wild the stars and stripes. We Don t need to come out and keep doing these things. We need to have a straight on policy so we can make  Soldier morale has suffered greatly from involuntary extensions because of uncertainty with in the ranks the sergeant major said. Rumours were going Strong and the Soldier really did t know what was happening in regards to the program he said. He was t Able to make any firm decisions. Bui now that we be come out with it they understand he reasons Why this Extension was imposed so i Don t think there s thai much of a Short Lerm  shortfalls in the personnel budget including Money Tor permanent change of station moves were made up this fiscal year with programs such As Early outs and involuntary extensions a Long term effect or the extensions would be negative Morrell said if the army does t gel a grip on Lour lengths and make Congress understand the re sources that Are needed to take care of soldiers the Way they deserve to be taken care of. This Wil Impact on retention because Well continue to have that uncertainly and soldiers Aren t As Likely to re enlist and stay in the army As they have done in the  earlier in the Day Morrell told the Usa eur professional advisory Board of senior cos that first Quarter re enlistments army wide did not meet goals. The Prospect for the second Quarter is not Good he said. Morrell also discussed the battalion rotation of cohort cohesion operational readiness and training units to Europe which he said has proven successful in its first year. We will continue with the rotation when there arc changes to the Force Structure he said. Down m9 Phi to Lynott w. By Tiki sergeant major of the Amy Glen Worrell Gas feel they re an important part of the  the Road they Are looking at increasing battalion rotations sometime in the 1990s. However we found out from surveys of the eight for com forces come battalions that this Rota Tion was the Best move they be made. It certainly does a lot for unit cohesion and  Morrill aha Sai h air defense system it  to the army s readiness especially in a Forward area such As Europe. We need to continue to develop whal is needed in order to meet that threat efficiently and effectively he said. But i Don t think we re doing thai Quick  Morrell who has been in Europe since March i said that while tic did t have As much Lime to visit troops As he would have liked those he talked to had the same Basic concerns. Soldiers always care about promotion opportunities Over strength Moss being used in the mos military occupational specialities they were rained for a decent Quality of life where they live and work and play and allowances so they Don t have to pay extra dollars out of their pocket to perform the mis Sion imposed on them by the army and the . Foreign policy he said. But All the soldiers i talked to Are quite compe tent in their jobs they feel Good about themselves and feel they Are an important part of the army which they  and he said Quality leadership from noncommissioned officers is keeping the army in Good shape. The no corps in Germany is alive and Well. The soldiers Are gelling the necessary leadership they need to do the jobs they be been called to  Morrell said he disagrees with soldiers who think leadership in l whal it should be. I be heard that All the years i be been in the army he said. You have soldiers that complain about this and that it s a Small percentage "1 think the leadership understands its responsibility to the soldiers and the majority live up to  soldiers should make sure they Are living by the same set of values they expect to see from their Lead in he said. And at the same time the leaders need to provide soldiers with a Good work and recreation environment Morrell will retire in june but does t see any major difficulties for his successor. Anyone who comes in at this level and continues to concentrate on leading training maintaining and caring for soldiers won t have any problems that i can  feathered folklore flutters on the swallows return san Juan Capistrano Calif. A the swallows officially returned to Capistrano thursday thousands of people crowded the grounds of Mission san Juan Capistrano training binoculars and cameras toward gloomy looking skies As the Birds re turned in an annual rile of Spring. At least six swallows were seen at 8 26 . Thursday swirling High above the Spanish style roman Catholic Mission dipping closer and closer to nests left be Hind a year and 12,000 Miles ago. But Mary Susa a Mission tour Volunteer said 100 of the Birds were seen within the Mission grounds where tourists were not allowed. They re probably not Landing be cause they re seared said 9-year-old Cori Valdez. People Are bigger than them so they re scared of people trying to catch  Merle Grossman celebrated her 50th birthday with the wayfaring Birds. Who. We were children we did t have much at All just a radio Grossman said when we first started hearing about the swallows it was my fantasy to come Here. I guess it s a reality  according to local legend the Birds reach the Mission each year about 8 30 . On the feast Day of Saint Joseph. Tourists began arriving thursday be fore 6 ."we re playing with the pigeons until the swallows  said Al Valdez of Yorba Linda. Although Valdez has seen the migration before no said it was the first for his daughter. It was really exciting for me. It was a Good Lime in my life Valdez said. Marian and Patsy Banks said they had recently moved to neighbouring san Cleminte and had never seen the swallows return. We thought we d better get into the spirit of this Harlan Banks said. The swallows end their 6,000-mile migration from Goya Argentina and begin their mating season each year on the grounds of the 200-year-old Mission. Actually about 20 swallows have been in san Juan Capistrano for about a week said Mission spokeswoman Gwen Ragsdale. They be been Here checking on nests to see what kind of repairs need to be made she said. Dollar from Page 1 $20 million from 1985. Richard Hamilton purchasing and distribution director said exchanges ran out of clothing last fall be cause cafes was unprepared for the increase in customers caused by the falling Dollar. Orders for fall and Winter 1987 already have been placed with cafes officials ordering an additional 130 million Worth of clothing Over the previous year we did thai because we re constantly running out of clothing because the customers Are coming Back to our stores and we just could t meet the demand Hamilton said. Most departments were up 20 percent in sales com pared to the prior year and some More than  conversely the Exchange s perennial sales Power House electronics equipment fell Flat. Sales in electronics remained almost exactly even with the previous year about $220 million Hamilton said. Customers bought a lot fewer units in 1986. And the higher end merchandise just about died completely. They the customers moved Down in what hey bought the dropping Dollar was at least partly to blame because prices on electronics merchandise made in Japan climbed steadily with the increasing value of the yen. It Points out something we be believed for Long time said electronics merchandise manager Charles Mcdonald. There s a relatively finite Market out there and Here s Only so Many dollars thai people have in their budget to spend on electronics. It s our Job 10 get them As much value for those dollars As we  with that in mind Exchange officials turned an Eye to markets where he Dollar remained relatively stable. For electronics in was Korea. When prices on electronics went up last year we started adjusting our Stock  Hamilton said we bought a lot of merchandise from Korea which was lower priced and when in started coming in sates began to turn  that forced the japanese manufacturers to lower their prices 10 remain competitive he said. There s a perception on the Street that our prices have gone oin of  Mcdonald said acknowledging a significant increase drove customers away. But the negotiations the vendors cutting margins and All the other factors have resulted in a situation where for the most part our prices Are As Low As they were before the Dollar  for example the cheapest opening Price video re Corder in september 1985 Cost about $400. We be got them nowfors25q." Mcdonald said. Similar actions were taken in other departments. Exchange buyers looked in Italy Portugal France. Germany and Yugoslavia for clothing gift War and Spons merchandise. One Success Story is sports equip ment particularly skis and boots. Our two lop Selling skis come from France and Yugoslavia Hamilton said and we buy direct from the  culling oui the middleman or distributor saves about 20 percent on the Price he said. Another concept the Lent Sale was tested successfully last fall in Stuttgart. At the Sale vendors bring in their merchandise primarily electronics equipment and computers on consignment. What does t sell he lakes Back Hamilton said. Since we have no inventory investment we Lake a very Low markup which is an advantage to the  at the Stuttgart Sale an estimated 40.000 people bought $1.5 million Worth of equipment in three Days. Another Lent Sale begins March 27 in . We expect to double those figures there Hamilton said