European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 20, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The stars and stripes Page 11 Ann Landers letters dear readers after turning out seven columns a week for 34 years i have decided to take two weeks off. Starting today my sister Abigail Van Buren and i will be on vacation. I have left behind some or my favor Ite columns and Hope that you will enjoy them. Bye Bye. Ann Landers dear readers this is a warning. If you Hap pen to see a dark eyed lovable Little Cocker Spaniel on the Street Don t kick him. It May be Eddie Fisher. Ever since i printed the letter from the woman who claimed her dog sings along with Mitch i have received hundreds of letters from readers who insist that their dog has been singing for years and they never thought a thing about it. It makes me wonder about the Boxer we had a few years ago. He did t sing a note just sat around eating pounds of expensive meat. Here arc some samples of the most astonishing mail i have seen in Ages from Boston so her dog sings along with Mitch docs he big Deal. Our rat Temer gave up popular music when he was 6 months old. When the kids play Rock v Roll Hercules barks and whines until they turn it off. Leonard Bernstein is his favorite. From Flint Mich our poodle not Only sings but she dances. My wife had a pair of Ballet slippers made for baby and when Ever she hears music she wants to dance Loo. Baby goes to her Basket gets the Ballet slippers and brings them to us. From Calgary Alberta our dog has been singing since he was a Puppy. Two years ago he began to harmonize with radio vocalists. Dean Martin is the one he docs Best with. From Lexington by my Airedale refuses to go to bed at night until we have said our prayers. She folds her paws puts her head Down and stays in that position until after i have said  from Chicago i was surprised that you made so much Hullabaloo about a dog who sings. You realize i m sure that the dog does t actually sing. He merely registers his Dis Comfort when certain sounds Hurt his cars. If you want to Sec something unusual you should see our Schnau Zer. He plays the piano. When i say play something Fritz he hops up on the Bench and pounds out a  new York so mrs. What username has a dog who sings Well have a Bird who barks. Our Parrot imitates every sound to perfection. Lady Astor has Learned to bark like our Chihuahua Figaro. I honestly can t Tell if the dog is Barking or the Bird is acting up. San Juan puerto Rico i la bet Many people have dogs who sing cry would be a better word but have you Ever heard of a cat who Chews tobacco my Uncle gave Kitty a plug just for a joke. She likes it. Now she Chews regularly. Pittsburgh i Don t see anything so unusual about a dog who sings. We have a pet Squirrel who plays the Drums. Restarted out to teach him by letting him Pound the Drums with a nut in each Paw now he does t eve need the nuts. He just pounds away and his sense of rhythm is As Good As some professionals. Confidential to burned sister in Law Why not nickname her calluses since she invariably shows up after the work is done this ought to Settle her hash. Reader asks about civilian extensions please obtain clarification on overseas extensions for civilian employees. Rumours Are rampant. It appears the guidelines need to be published to eliminate confusion and promote a feeling of some Job Security. In Usa eur. Confusion exists because of the following some organizations have no limit on Exten Sions. Some organizations limit extensions to five years total. Some organizations allow the division chiefs to approve extensions. Some organizations require All extensions be approved by their chief of staff. Should t there be some consistency throughout Usa eur on extensions in the United Stales civilians do not have the confusion about Job Secu Rity especially if they arc performing their Job in a satisfactory manner. Also please obtain a Cost figure average is Fine for rotating a civilian to the slates. Taxpayers and the . Army must spend something to move around civilians. How much is spent Usa eur wide rotating civilians name withheld Heidelberg West Germany editor s note Jan Hoff cons personnel staffing specialist. Office of the Deputy chief of staff personnel he Usa eur replies in Early 1966 the department of defense Dod established a rotation program a prime purpose of which is to provide developmental assignments Over seas through interchange of employees Between Post sin the United states and posts overseas. With limited exceptions family members for example the  Gram applies to both conus Continental United states and local hires. Part of signing up for an overseas Job includes signing an agreement acknowledging coverage by the rotation program with the attendant limits on Over seas service. A Basic element of the Dod program is the policy limiting overseas service to five years. There has been no change in that policy it has been in the program from the beginning. Also from the begin Ning authority existed to Grant exceptions to the five year policy. A supervisor initiates the request for Extension of an employee. What has changed is the command level at which exceptions extensions May be granted. In years past Extension criteria were extremely restrictive and the authority for deciding was retained at the Usa eur Headquarters and head quarters department of the army he a , however the criteria is not As restrictive and the authority to extend has been delegated by he a to commanders for extensions up to five years and tothe major command commander in our Case the commander in chief Usa eur for extensions beyond five years. Within Usa eur authority for extensions beyond five years has been delegated to ump com Manders who have the option of retaining such authority at their Headquarters or further delegating to their subordinate local commanders. Within the Usa eur Headquarters authority has been delegated to Heads of staff offices. Where authority is delegated to local commanders the commander in chief has directed commanders to retain approval authority for certain employees. The commander in chief of Usa eur requires commanders themselves to act on extensions beyond five yearn for gs/gm-13s and above and for key employees irrespective of Grade unless approval for such employees has been retained at the Usa eur major command ump level. In which Case Theuma commander will decide for All such employees in the ump. Key employee Are defined for exam ple As housing management officer director or Dep Uty director of engineering and housing civilian personnel officer. For other positions authority to decide May be delegated to the performance appraisal approving official. The commander in chief has also stated that no arbitrary limits will be imposed on extensions of overseas Tours that employee desires costs and disruption of permanent change of station pcs moves must be factored into decisions but that the Par amount Factor will be employee ability to continue tomake significant contributions to Mission achieve ment. With virtually unlimited delegations of authority the differences mentioned Are to be expected uniformity is not expected or desired. The Only consistency desired is that extensions granted be in the Best interests of Usa eur and the army. As to Job Security an inherent feature of the Rota Tion program is that there not be Job Security per so in the overseas area. As indicated by the Dod policy itself the Basic intent is for employees to spend no More than five consecutive years overseas. Job Security with the army is provided employees assigned from the United states via return re employment rights or placement under the Dod priority placement program. Individuals hired in the Over seas area on overseas limited appointments accept the Job with Advance knowledge that the appointment terminates not later than five years from Date of  exceptions to the five year limit these appoint ments May be extended. There is some Security in knowing in Advance the limitations on employment total Usa eur wide annual costs for the Rota Tion program Are not available. Pcs moves Are expensive whether prompted by the rotation program or just Normal career moves. For example to move Ags-12 with spouse and two children from Heidel Berg West Germany to Rock Island iii., and to bring replacement gs-12 with the same size family from Hock Island to Heidelberg May Cost As much As$54,000 in travel and transportation and pcs allow ances. This Cost figure includes such expenses As allow ances for 10 Days temporary ii raters in the United Stales for each employee and family 90 Days Tempo Rary quarters in Heidelberg for each and the Maxi mum weight of household goods and shipment of privately owned vehicles. Pcs costs area Cost of doing business those costs being somewhat higher for overseas. With respect to the rotation program the Cost must be weighed How Ever against the Cost of not providing opportunities for civilian careerists in the United states to gain overseas experience and for these careerists to then return to the United states to apply that experience in supporting the army overseas. I Hope this information responds to your questions and concerns regarding this Issue All letters to the editor must contain the full printed name and address of the writer and must be signed. We do not read unsigned letters but we will withhold your name on request and protect your privacy. All letters Are subject to editing. 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