European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - June 1, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 8 the stars and stripes thursday june 1,1989 stateside housing allowances rising again by Chuck Vinci Washington Bureau Washington about 790,000 stateside service members were to receive a boost in their variable housing allow s thursday the second increase this yur Pentagon officials say. Officials estimate that the increase will average about 6 percent. It follows a 3.4 percent boost that took effect Jan. I. Increases will vary according to Loca Tion rank and family status. For person Nel without families the maximum raise will Range from $2.68 a month for the lowest enlisted rank to $12.74 for Flag officers. Maximum incr cases for person Nel with families will Range from $4.80 for the lowest enlisted Grade to $15.68 for Flag officers. The january increase was held Down because Congress imposed a spending Cap of $1.22 billion for the allowances in fiscal 1989. But Pentagon officials said allowances paid out by finance centers through March 31 and projections through the end of the fiscal year showed a Cushion that would allow another in crease. The via Rale increase effective june i is designed to increase the amount that service members receive and reduce the out of pocket housing costs while remaining below the ceiling the Pentagon said in a statement. All service members in the United states who Don t live in on Post housing about 900,000 personnel receive a monthly Basic allowance for quarters. Since 1981, members at bases in High Cost areas of the country also have received the variable housing allowances. About 790,000 service members live in areas that arc costly enough to allow them to qualify for the supplemental Al Lowance. As part of the new raise nearly 700,000 of those will receive the Maxi mum increase for their pay Grade while the rest will Sec a lesser increase. An additional 23,000 service members who had not been receiving the variable housing allowance this year because their housing costs were relatively Low will begin receiving the allowance although they will get less than the maximum Kir their Grade. Congress authorized the supplemental allowance to ensure that service members have the same general purchasing Power for housing no matter where they arc stationed in the United states. Together the Basic allowance for quarters and variable housing allowance Are ideally designed to cover 85 percent of the National average housing costs for each military pay Grade a Pentagon compensation Tomci afraid. The figure had dropped to 78.5 per cent this year because of the Pentagon s cautious approach to the congressional Cap on the variable housing allowance. With the new increase that is expected to Rise to 79.5 percent. The defense department calculates the variable housing allowance based on a nationwide Survey of military housing costs that is conducted every two years. The payments can run As High As $300per month in the Continental United states. In some particularly High Cost areas such As Alaska the allowance can total More than $500 a month. The Pentagon has requested a 3.6 per cent increase in the allowance in its fiscal 1990 budget which is being studied by Congress. Navy of secretaries sworn in nominee for army still mystery by Chuck Vinch Washington Bureau Washington h. Lawrence Garrett Iii and Donald b. Rice were sworn in this week As the new secretaries of the Navy and air Force respectively at the Pentagon. Defense Secretary Dick Cheney presided tuesday Over the Brief ceremony which filled two of the top three civilian positions in the services. The next Secre tary of the army remains a mystery. Richard Armitage 44, had been nominated to take Over inc army position but bowed out last week citing a desire to spend More time with his wife and seven children. Pentagon officials said. Armitage also announced that he will leave his Job As assistant Secretary of defense for International Secu Rity affairs on monday. Pentagon officials would not say what alternate candidates Cheney and president Bush May have in mind for the army  o. Marsh jr., the current Secretary of the army reportedly still plans to leave office some time in  and Rice both described As Low key but forceful when necessary arc government veterans. Garrelt 49, has been undersecretary of the Navy for two years and spent the previous two years As the Pentagon s top lawyer. A former Navy officer who was born in Washington Garrett was associate White House counsel from 1983until he moved to the Pentagon in 1986. He is licensed to practice Law before inc . Supreme court the California supreme court the court of appeals for the District of Columbia circuit and the . Court of military appeals. Garrett is knowledgeable on acquisition procure ment and budget issues. He is married and has two children. Rice 49, a former army officer has been president and chief executive officer of the Rand corp. Since 1972 and is credited by Long inic associates with turn ing around the Well known think Lank which was in shambles when he took Over a source said. 1 he Engineer and economist has served As assistant director of the while House office of management and budget Deputy assistant Secretary of defense for resource analysis and director of Cost analysis under the Secretary of defense. He has published numerous articles reports and papers on economic policy government organization Energy systems arms control regulatory problems analytical techniques and other topics. Rice was born in Frederick my. He is married and has three children. Battle of Britain hero dead Ace fighter Pilot James Ginger Laccy who downed 18 enemy aircraft in the 1940 Battle of Britain More than any other Pilot died tuesday of cancer in a Hospital at Cottingham England. He was 72. The much decorated flier shot Down 27 planes in All during world War ii and was downed himself nine limes while flying spitfires. He is survived by his wife. Sheila and two daughters. World today chopper explosion kills at least 5 in Indian Navy new Delhi India a at least five Navy men were killed when a helicopter exploded after hitting a High tension wire in the Southern port of Ramc swarm on wednesday a defense ministry spokesman said. The helicopter was on a routine sortie when the Accident occurred spokesman . Nallamuthu said. The Pilot of the Chitak helicopter was apparently trying to make an emergency Landing when it hit the wire the press Trust of India news Agency reported. The Indian made helicopter caught fire when it hit the live wire the Agency reported. Work protest lets tourists into roman forum for free Rome a tourists got an after hours look at the roman forum and free Tours of the ancient ruins the Palatine Hill and the coliseum on tuesday be cause of an unusual work protest by caretakers. The forum is normally closed tuesday afternoon but caretakers chose instead to work overtime and Giveaway free tickets to tourists As a Way to protest work conditions and cultural ministry  the unusual protest was designed to gain the sup port of the Public said one employee who asked not to be  workers said they want higher pay As Well As training by the ministry so that they can conduct guided Tours of the forum. They also want the ministry to hire More people and keep the site open longer. Cache of weapons stolen from norwegian Arsenal Mandal Norway a anti tank rockets hand grenades and ammunition were stolen from a Remote norwegian army Arsenal Over the weekend reports said  was the second theft of weapons in Southern nor Way in about one month. Press reports speculated that a terrorist ring might be responsible but officials re fused to  spokesman for the norwegian supreme defense come maj. Gullow Gajc sch told the slate radio that enough hardware to equip a company of soldiers was stolen from the depot North of  monday soldiers discovered that thieves had Cut through barbed wire and a steel Wall to steal 30 or 40 anti tank rockets about 100 grenades and cases of am munition said the Afton pollen daily in Oslo. Finnish Force to provide Aid in european disasters Helsinki Finland a the Interior ministry has decided to set up a finnish crisis Force of highly trained Fin fighting units to operate in Europe the National radio reported  Job acc to be operational within a year would provide Quick assistance in european emergencies such As earthquakes toxic spills mining disasters or difficult  idea was in line with an agreement last january among the five scandinavian countries to cooperate in such  fire chief Rainer Alho said in a radi9 inter View that the unit would be called on Only in life threatening situations