European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - June 26, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sunday june 26, 1988 the stars and stripes Page 3 commissary chief reviews problems lines limited hours stocking Lead list by Dkeidek arr1ncton Dok staff writer Witul Ngun. West Germany Long lines and lined hours Lead the Liston major complaints from customers of army commissaries worldwide the Leader Oft lie commissars1 system said. Commissary officials arc attempting in Deal with inc problems through a Vari Ety of measures including he introduction or seven Day operation at facilities with sufficient demand and enough Money to keep the doors open longer said Brig. Chen. James s. Hayes of . Army troop support Agency. Hayes who personally responds to que Ries and comments cram patrons of army commissaries in the United states visited West Germany last week for the Agency s european Region change of command. In an interview Hayes said some army commissaries in Europe already operate seven Days a week but extending hours at overseas stores is a trickier pros Peel than in the United slates because of local labor agreements. However Hayes said other remedies id Long lines Are being explored for commissaries worldwide As Well. Among those options Are the addition of More Cash registers or having customers queue up in a single Tine to buy goods Insl cad of multiple lines behind Cash registers. We checked thai at two of our largest commissaries fort Bliss and fort Hood Texas and found. We reduced the waiting time Between 40 and 50 per cent haves said. Also of continuing customer concern is food thai remains on the shelves of overseas mores past the pull Date. Hayes said one major Challenge facing the army commissary system is cutting Lime required to gel items to store shelves. In the Multi Agency food Supply pro Cess any Clement can become the Achilles Heel that will have an Adverse Impact on what we re trying to do he said. And that s gel the right product Here Al the right time in the right Condi Tion and have it available on the shelf a new regulation in military transportation contracts is expected to Speed de liveries once products have arrived Over seas. As of oct. I goods must be in the hands of consignees within eight Days after the items have been turned Over for delivery in country. Still the main factors in avoiding the problem arc consistency in ordering processing and managing food supplies Hayes said."1 really Don t know How to assess How far along we Are he said. Certainly everyone is sensitive everyone is work ing and As Lime marches on and we be come More automated. All Oft Hal con tributes to gelling  plans now Call for automating inventory and ordering functions worldwide process that should allow the commis sary system to order from manufacturer through computer links Bui Hayes said he does t is pct to arrive at that de sired state before the 1990s. In addition to addressing consumer issues Hayes commented on privatisation of the commissary system and the Specter of defense budget cuts in general. Privatization of the system appears less Likely than it did a few months  said but the future probably will involve private Industry As a key play Erin several aspects of store operations. A review of the commercial activity programs Al 68 commissaries in the United slates already has resulted in private contractors handling some  army commissaries4 shelf blocking and janitorial work. And More conver Sions to private help in those areas Are anticipated based on the results of Pri vate Industry s performance so far they be performed As Well if not better in some instances than we did when we had that function in House Hayes said. Officials plan to launch a similar re View of the system s warehousing pro cram. Hut those functions arc about Asfar As we can go into the privatization of commissaries Hayes said. Contracting out sen ices Al overseas stores is a possibility he said. However no study of those functions has been it has been suit let imitation is die sincere form if flattery and then1 arc no flatterers More sincere than cell having a Barrow of fun Wilren. Near Kier Mannstedt German 1, � Little girl follows in her Mother s foot Steps As the Mother wheels a Load at Sis a Kalo by Gus s household trash to u locution several houses away. The Doil enl along just for the ride. Initiated at any overseas locations. Congress had been studying privatization of Jhc entire commissary operation hut military officials maintained that purely Profil motivated system could nol yield the traditional 25 percent savings to patrons. The Senate in its version a Rich 19r9dcfcmi authorization Bill called for a halt to further tests of lie concept. Regarding the budget Outlook for Fis Cal 1989, Hayes declined to cite the fund ing level his Agency is seeking. Bui if the troop support Agency is allocated the amount requested Hayes said the organization will be Able to maintain its cur rent level of  cuts in the request would affect the Agency s personnel budget Hayes said not ing that employee costs amount to roughly 91 percent of the funds received through congressional appropriation. The commissary system experiences about a 70 percent annual turnover Rale in entry level and car entry level positions Hayes said find he. Expected Bud get cuts could be handled primarily through attrition and juggling hours of intermittent and part time employees the commissary system also receives Money through the 5 percent surcharge added on to grocery  in Willi Cen Friday col. Paul a Phillips took command of the army commissary syst com s european Branch which is based in /.wcibriickcn. Mecham to Challenge conviction Phoenix. Ari. Al1 former Civ. Evan Mecham said Friday he will go to court to overturn his impeachment conviction and return to office we think that it s important to Chal Lenge this Mecham said contending Hal leaving his conviction unchallenged would leave All Public officials open to impeachment. Mecham said he will not seek any political office this year bul will go to court in an Effort to have his april 4 impeach ment conviction overturned. Mecham in an interview on tsp to also blasted first term sen. John Mccain a fellow Ari Onn Republican who has been mentioned As a possible run Ning mate for vice president George Bush the certain go1 nominee. Mccain a first term senator called for median s resignation in january. No John in t qualified to be vice president Mecham said. He does thave the intellect he does t have the stature he does t have the honesty he does t have the character thai in takes and he certainly does t have the Politi Cal  Mccain who was speaking Friday night in Wale town s.d., on hush s be half said former Civ. Marcham is entitled to his opinion nothing sur Prises  Mccain wid he Wai not seek ing the vice presidential nomination noting that other qualified candidates come from slates with More electoral Voles. He Hassid he backs St n. Nancy Kassebaum r kan., for the Goi second spot. Mecham was convicted by the Senate on impeachment charges of misusing $80,000 from the governor s protocol fund which he. Said he did not believe was stale Money and of Irving to Thwan an investigation of an alleged death threat. He was acquitted june 16 noncriminal charges of concealing a $350,000 Campaign loan