European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - June 22, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 2 the stars and stripes wednesday june 22,19b8 panel finds cola Oha in Europe fair by William j. Bartman Washington Bureau Washington a defense department delegation just Hack from a european tour said Cost of Liv Gand housing allowances paid to  and civilians abroad Are fair and adequate even though Many of those affected May nol agree. The military s per diem committee found that the overseas housing allowance and Cost of living adjust ment which vary periodically depending on economic conditions Are responding to the corresponding fall in the Dollar in Europe said col. Richard w. Lind the committee s staff director. We be watched the Dollar slide dramatically since 1985, a 30 percent drop he said. Even though the Dollar has been decreasing Cost of living and Oha have been rising correspondingly in relationship to the change in the Dollar Lind who with an associate visited Europe acknowledged thai the perception is such that the Basic Scricc member still has a problem believing that the program does keep up with Basic  he believes this is because personnel see the prices increase first and their pay catches up with the in crease later. So they feel the pressure of the increase and teed to disregard the Relief. I think we pretty much go along with that said Margaret Halgren of the National military families association in reaction to Lind s comment. They Are adjusting the Cost of living about As frequently As they can. 1 know it does t seem that Way when you re there overseas Hangren said personnel abroad have complained to her organization about the time it takes the Pentagon to adjust the allowances. But the organization tries to explain that. That s about As much As icy can do. It s adjusted every two weeks or  the concept behind the cola and dam is to keep expenses around the level found in the United states. In Halgren s View the current Levels maintain the Cost Burden at a level similar to one of the More expensive locations Back Home such As Washington d.c., or san Francisco the allowance system updated 15 months ago be cause of the Dollar s Steep decline is influenced by International currency fluctuations and an annual study of costs at various overseas areas. The system also includes surveys of shoppers and Market prices to determine where people Are shopping and what prices they re paying. For example commissary sales Are now at an ill. Time High so the Cost of living payments Are not at High As they might be if More people were shopping on the local Economy. Lind said he was heartened by the Lack of complaints during his visit to Navy Headquarters in London and the army and air Force command in West Germany. There were certainly not the complaints coming from Headquarters level compared to past visits Lind said. There was no real criticism at All from the senior  criticism of housing allowances in Tokyo however resulted in an on Silc inspection by the committee of housing conditions and prices in that City. We found they were right the allowances weren t High enough said Dennis Pike a staff member on the committee. So we ended up adjusting them upward effective june i they were increased by 50 percent news updates French nuclear test Wellington new zealand up France has exploded an other nuclear device at muru Roa atoll in French polynesia the new zealand foreign affairs ministry said tuesday. Convicted rapist Tampa Fla. Convicted rapist Lawrence Singleton has t been seen at the Florida address he listed with state officials but neighbors say they will live in fear until he is found and sent packing. "1 find it hard to believe that none of the police departments can Tell where he is. This is totally incredible said Lester Heit linger one of 50 residents of the neighbourhood who met at a recreation Center monday night. Heyford of unit wins twice election 88 Sembach a Wesl Germany the 20lh tac fighter Wing from Raf upper Heyford in England won two out of three top honors last week in the air Force in Europe s annual sure fire com petition. About 300 specialists from 17 Safe units competed at Sembach in the nine Day event which tests contestants in the Overall categories of explosive ordnance disposal combat ammunition production and aircraft turnaround. The Raf upper Scyford based Wing won the lat Ter two events while the 7015th explosive Ord disposal right at harm a Germany took top honors in ordnance disposal. Contestants in a fourth category of the Competition weapons maintenance were judged at Home bases Between february and june. The 40th tac group Aviano a Italy took Overall honors in maintenance. 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Taf ban Wilin tools awed the tie Flavin Wing Raf upper a Irlond aug red eau or it to enl Murillena support in. Vote Al a. It met Lindi umm  Eichin Sou tic Floh Tir Wing Hahn a porn no mail Grovina a Ord joust Munch full support so. Ariot a Otic compit non award i to flan lbs Wing. Raf Sun Quiri in Poi my Diana Chuitt we Nair a to . Savuno a Washington voting assistance officials have released state primary dates for the month of August. State primaries will be held in Kansas Michigan and Missouri aug. 2 in ten Nessee aug. 4 in Colorado and Georgia aug. 9 in Wyoming aug. 16 and in Alaska and Oklahoma aug. 23, members of the armed forces civilian employees and their family member should Contact unit voting assistance officers for details on How to Register and obtain Absentee ballots. A completed it Cral Post card application should be mailed to stateside Vot ing authorities Early to ensure timely receipt of a ballot Security policeman sentenced Span Dahlem a West Ger Many is a Security policeman was sentenced to 45 months in prison and received a bad conduct discharge for Var ious charges including larceny a base spokesman said tuesday. Senior airman John w. Currier 23, of the 52nd Security police so pleaded guilty june 14 to three charges of larceny and one charge each of receiving stolen property negligent damage to govern ment property and making a false official statement sgt. Tim Bare a said. Currier was tried in a general court martial by judge alone. He also was reduced to airman Basic and ordered to forfeit All pay Bare a said. In a crime spree that began in april 1987, Currier stole a Light jacket Vest doves and other items from several nightlife operations buildings and a car stereo from the Security police vehicle impound lot. Capt George May the prosecuting at Torney attributed the stiff sentence tothe fact that Currier was on duty when the thefts occurred and that the buildings he stole from were those he was responsible for securing. Boy scouts two boy scouts recently were awarded the rank of Eagle scout the highest rank in boy scouting. Gary Toppin logged 116 hours in two months on a service project he Corn pitted while in the  Mil itary Community in Brenner Haven West Germany. I Eagle project was to col Lect and dispose of outdated medication. Toppin 16, and his parents Carl and june Toppin now live in Sheinberg Germany where he plans to continue his scouting career. Eric Sanders 15, attends Wei Brocken High school and logged 133 hours on disservice project involving the construction of first Aid equipment for the National ski patrol. Sanders has earned 25 Merit badges and also is a member of the order of the Arrow. He is the son of Robert and Lou Sanders. 2 airmen die child Hurt in 3-vehicle collision Zaragoza a Spain two air Force members were killed and a child injured when their cars were hit by a Spanish military bus on base about 7a.m. Monday air Force officials said tuesday. The vehicles one driven by a sergeant from the 406lh consolidated aircraft main so and the other by an airman from the 406th Security police so were struck by the bus on a two Lane Road in the base s North sector. . Air Force and Spanish military units share Zaragoza a. The daughter of the sergeant was injured in the Accident. She is in stable condition at a Zaragoza Hospital Laid base spokeswoman sol. Carol Collins. Names of the victims arc being with held until family members Are notified aviation Crews compete in v corps olympics Wiesbaden a West Germany winners of the v corps aviation olym pics were honoured at the Frankfurt Ter race club tuesday following a we Klong Competition that tested aviation skills in a variety of areas. More than 200 people participated in the Competition which concluded thursday including helicopter pilots Crew chiefs mechanics and armament personnel. Wiesbaden s 12th aviation brigade hosted the event at Wiesbaden a Rhein Blick Range Fulda and wild Flucken according to a Wiesbaden Community spokeswoman. Aviation units from ill army Cav regi 3rd army div 8lh inf div 12th aviation brigade 3rd support come look part in the event fixed Wing air Craft from the 1st military intelligence in also participated in the event but did not compete. Crews competed in a physical fitness test marksmanship Competition and written exam plus a variety of exercises such As the situational training exer Cise or sex in the sex Aero Coul aircraft searched for 10 scaled Down enemy vehicles and aircraft in about a 550-Sqvmre meter area. When the Crews spotted the vehicles they radioed Tor artillery fire and were graded on How close they came to the targets. Another event was scarch and Rescue in which aircraft were scored on How Well they lifted and dropped a Small sack into a target Box. I. Gen. John w. Woodmansee  v corps commander presented the awards to the following winners Awu Coul Mcnutt sgt. Sumaj halon. 3 a upon a tit my it div. A wind a wily Chat Pirrim Olf Rar ornery Oikam Ota Wirf i Onur Micum Kowny ton sgt in Wim mop. Text it vol a atm Cut Wimet quo Doh Tomt so Jinn huh �. Arvo so a la rat. I my a Tobon big Bdl. 6�ui amuck Conri Wir Rint Cefai Sun Raisin did111 it. Thorum. Esq. 1 101  full cml. 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