European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - December 24, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 24 the stars and stripes thursday december 24,1987 education funding cuts denounced " from Page 1 tune la i rectify some deprivations of the past he said. Why pm a program trial involves 65 percent ethnic and racial minorities a Usa eur spokesman said that the main aces office keeps no records of the racial or ethnic backgrounds of those enrolled in the Basic skills program. Dig Liend Community College was awarded a three year contract in March 1986 to provide instruction for usar eur s Basic skills and career skills pro Grams. The command notified big Bend on Friday that it would no longer fund inc programs beginning Jan. I usar eur officials said. The slash in Undine Tor inc Basic skills program is pan of larger cutbacks in the army wide budget request for aces. The Agency asked for $126 million for fiscal 1988 but will receive $100 million a Cut of about 20 percent. Usa eur asked for $44.8 million to fund its aces programs for fiscal 1988, but a command spokesman said a Deci Sion concerning the request had not been made. Despite inc army cutbacks the pro Grams could continue if local command ers find funds from other sources. But Farley said the Holiday season was an Inopportune time to discuss the possibility. A lot of people Are on leave. It s a big decision to shift funds to pay for these programs and a lot of people Aren t Here right now to make  other programs targeted for cutbacks include English As a second language the advanced skills education program Cha Start Gateway and aptitude and College level exam testing. Aces officials met tuesday in Heidel Berg to discuss program changes begin Ning Jan i. A Usa eur spokesman said a decision regarding he programs could come Jan. 20 after the command receives enrolment and expenditure projections. Big Bend offered inc Basic skills course at 150 locations and estimated Soldier attendance at 38,000 from sep tember 1986 to september 1987. The size of the cuts was totally unexpected Farley said and to target the Basic skills program is hard to under stand. This program teaches math Reading and communication skills aimed at what soldiers do on the Job. We have a curriculum especially for tankers and infantry soldiers. There s a Job payoff to the pro Gram big Bend employs about 475 teachers and Iso others to support the program. Farley estimated that 6i percent Are family members and that he loss of in come would have a big Impact on fam ily budgets a Usa eur spokesman said approximately 40,000 soldiers enrolled in the Basic skills program and another 15.911 enrolled in the advanced skills education program in fiscal 1987. The command paid big Bend More than $14.1 million last year to run the programs. The English As a second language program was offered in the Vilseck Ger Many area in fiscal 1987. The program Cost Usa eur si00.000 for 31 f sol Diers. The head Start and Gateway programs offer 40 hours of instruction in Host nation language and culture designed to give incoming Soldier survival skills in foreign countries. Gateway is limited to officers and cos. A Usa eur spokesman said 78.5so Servic members enrolled in the courses in fiscal 1987. The command said it would Cost s3.fi million to continue the program in fiscal 1988. Head Start and Gateway arc run by big Bend under a separate contract from the Basic skills courses. Farley said v corps communities would continue the pro Gram since funds for those Sites do not come from inc aces budget Usa eur education offices administered 26,200 tests to soldiers in fiscal 1987, covering academic competency College credit High school equivalency College admissions and academic interest at a Cost of $1.7 million a command spokesman said he did not know if any government employees would lose their jobs As a result of the program cutbacks. The tuition assistance program which Cost Usa eur $14.5 million list car will be scaled Back according to a department of the army official. Those in grades o-5 and o-6 will have it Cut from 75 percent to 50 percent of casts. Sol Diers in grades is and above with less than 14 years of service will Nave their assistance Cut from 90 percent to 85 per cent. Jacket from Page 1 initially said the Issue should be delayed until hearings could be held next year. But As House and Senate conferees got around to the jackets Issue the House members suddenly said flying jackets sounded like a Good idea after All. The Senate backed off leaving the air Force free to Purchase the jackets. A spokesman for rep. Bill Chappell a Fla. And chairman of the House appropriations committee defense sub committee said the Senate probably let the jacket idea Fly because it did not involve any budget increase. The Money will come from available funds. After the two houses reached an agreement on the appropriations Bill tuesday Senate participants would Only confirm that they had receded on their position regarding the jackets. But Capi Tol Hilt sources said air Force officials managed to convince the previously doubtful House members that the jackets Are a Good idea. Chappell s subcommittee had previously derided inc air Force notion that the jackets would serve As a Good Reward for pilots who Ever More frequently Are leaving the service to Fly for commercial airlines. The jackets also will be Given to navigators and enlisted air Crew Mem Bers. In convincing key legislators the Jack ets arc needed the air Force Down played any expectation that issuing them would build up morale to the Point of affecting re enlistment rates. Rather he service stressed it was merely trying to recognize the Job that front line air Crew members perform. It really is a recognition item said capt. Chris can iced an air Force spokesman. The message is that we care about our frontline Crew members and want to recognize them for the Job they do. If by enhancing Esprit de corps that has any effect on re enlistment then that s just icing on the  the House subcommittee had been irritated that the air Force did not make a specific request for the jackets but in Stead simply allowed for Ihm in its 1988 operations and maintenance account. It was originally pan of the o and m accounts Canfield said. So now we re Back to where it s our business again o buy the jackets Canfield said inc service s Cost argument showed How minor the invest ment would be to recognize these peo  so the air Force plans to go through with its originally planned dec 31 order with jacket deliveries to begin some 100 Days later. This Money will have to come out of available funds said Chappell s spokes Man these jackets Are going to be used Only by operating air Force squadrons. The jackets Are going to be Given As sort of like a distinguishing award to flight personnel who Are 00 percent Mission  the spokesman said the Crews would be Able to qualify for a jacket Only once. The jackets will not be replaced and that kind of  fallowing the initial Purchase this year the air Force plans to buy nearly 5,000 additional leather jackets every year for Issue to Active duty and Reserve members who Are going on flying status for the first time. The Navy authorized a return of the leather flight jacket for its aviators in 1983 after a six year hiatus but they be been missing from the air Force since shortly after world War ii. Government employees getting gift of time off Stuttgart is . Mili tary members and civilian government employees arc getting a Christmas pre sent from president Reagan today four hours off from work. Neucom officials notified the Mili tary service branches wednesday that the president was signing an executive order making the last four hours of Man dressed As Santa suffers heart attack new Castle Del. Apr a Man dressed As Santa Claus suffered a fatal heart attack just moments before his appearance at the Farmer s Market. Thomas j. Quill a 59-year-old grocery store clerk was preparing to Greet children in new Castle South of Wilmington just before he died said his daughter Carol. He was supposed to be there at about 12, and the Guy called and told us he was sleeping in the chair and they could t Wake him up she said. He was rushed to a Hospital where he was pronounced dead she said. Late news Rome a the Young Hijacker of a Kim Airliner was grabbed by police a Rome s Leonardo a Vinci Airport after he had released the passengers and Crew. The sole Hijacker believed to be a teen age dutch boy of italian origin re leased All 91 passengers two hours after the 737 landed but later freed the six Crew members the news Agency Ansa reported. He had demanded a million dollars and a Light plane. Each government employee s working Day on Christmas eve a Holiday according to a Neucom spokesman it s just like any other National hol iday except it s Only half a Day said air Force master sol Ralph Monson. The order applies to All Federal employees except shift workers in High so Curit jobs or emergency services such As police officers. An army and air Force Exchange spokesman in Munich said wednesday that tomorrow will be treated like any other National Holiday and cafes will participate in he National  those personnel that can be off will be off. And for All other person Nel appropriate payroll adjustments will be made maj. Charlie Hayes said. Go Accident victim in Italy identified Vicenza Italy the Soldier killed tuesday in a three car Accident has been identified by army officials. Staff sgt. Charles Douglas Watts. 37, worked in transportation motor Pool no. 3 for the 22nd support group in Vincnza said spec. 4 Greg Vemon a Southern european task Force spokes Man. Watts is survived by his wife and three children. A memorial service is planned for 11 . Dee. 29 in the Vicenza Post Chapel three others injured in the Accident remain hospitalized with fractures and contusions Wing from Page 1 the largest ground launched cruise missile Wing in the air Force the 4s7ih tac missile Wing Ai Comiso As Sicily. In Greece negotiations also arc under Way concern ing the presence of . Forces. And the recently signed intermediate Range nuclear forces treaty could affect the missile Wing. Sixteenth air Force has always been a politically interesting area Harp said. But i will agree that certainly in my experience we have More on the plate now politically than we have had in the  talk of missile pullouts and possible base closures is an Issue on the minds of the men and women charged with carry ing out the 16th air Force Mission. Puite honestly our people Are concerned about that political climate Harp said. They read the papers a lot of press certainly on Corning Spain these Days. And continuing press about the situation in Greece. And things Are not All that great in Turkey. Bottom line is there cd mainly is a lot of political turmoil in the area and we have to Deal with it and i think we re dealing Wilh ii quite  sixteenth air Force officials have started a Campaign of their own to keep people informed and up to Date. We talk to them a lot Harp said. For instance about a month ago 1 did a to tape which i mailed out to the units talking about this very subject. And we try to be As up front with him Ai us could about real plans for any changes of missions but that it is All very much unsettled at the Lime. The political negotiations Are very hard and difficult to predict be cause you have both sides going. So i ask my people to Trust us that we would get the word to them about any major changes that might affect their tenure or their