European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 7, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The stars and stripes a Page 11 9 ways to obtain troop cuts explained a recent edition of your paper ran a Story that summarized comments i made but lost some context id like to Correct that. The article suggested that first Wermers might be the Only group initially affected by reduction. While juniors including recruits can comprise a major part of strength adjustments by virtue of their size a about half of the department of defense a enlisted Force Are first Wermers a the larger number does not mean a disproportionate share nor does it mean that this group would be the sole participants in a draw Down. In fact defense guidance asks for balance in Grade and experience As funding is withdrawn a this to guard against promotion stagnation. If the losses came Only from juniors average experience would quickly Rise and promotions would slow Down. This is what is meant by balance and promotion timing is a Good Index of How Well that balance is struck. Make no mistake Dod prefers that reductions be absorbed through voluntary separations rather than Force outs. Defense leadership Calls it a building Down a permitting a combination of voluntary losses and reduced recruiting and re enlistments to carry us Down. But that produces a slower draw Down and greater investment in defense than some might prefer so funding might drop faster than such a a build Down would require. To the extent that happens involuntary losses will become an unwelcome but inescapable fact of life. The effects will vai7 across services As a function of their unique funding cuts and pro-9 learn How to Stop Cycle i am a motorcycle safety foundation instructor. I heard a very disturbing report on an radio today. It said the life of an army sergeant first class was saved because he a instinctively Laid his motorcycle Down to avoid an Accident with a  this was not Only one of the worst things he could have done it also almost caused him to have a foot amputated. Contrary to what Many untrained or improperly trained people think a i ayin her Down is not the quickest Way to Stop a motorcycle. If it were the technology involved in Modem brakes and tires would be unnecessary. It is a known fact that proper braking involves maintaining traction. How much traction do you suppose aluminium engine parts or plastic fairings provide not much. A perfect example of this is an Accident i had in december we All have bad Days. I hit a Patch of ice during a Lane change and lost control. I was Only travelling at about 30 Mph and the Bike Slid about 100 feet. Travelling the same 30 Mph using my brakes i would have been Able to Stop in a maximum of 35 feet. Big difference huh i should note that the Patch of ice i hit did not extend much farther than where i and the motorcycle encountered it and was not a Factor in the distance of the slide. A this is not a place to explain proper braking techniques so i suggest that anyone who thinks a a laying her Down is the Best Way to Stop quickly should Park your motorcycle and get proper training As soon As possible before you get seriously injured. A staff sgt. Jimmie Robinson Rhein main a West Germany Grams will vary because of different Start Points and goals in their balancing Effort. Depending on the Speed of funding drops careerists can be affected. So amidst the uncertainty what can one count on first shortage skills frequently will remain Short the opposite also is True. There has never been a better time to consider moving from an overage to a shortage skill. Dod will have to realign some skills As a result of reorganizing and then align Manning a one in an Over strength skill will be swimming against that tide. Second performance would continue to play in retention programs particularly if they become More competitive. Third those careerists who might be affected by involuntary separation would if our legislation is enacted by Congress be Able to count on solid transition assistance of which separation pay is a big a but not Only a part. And if one looks at the separation pay plans around Washington its Clear that Dod has the greatest payments. Considering All the budget axes lining the streets that a real commitment a but Only one of Many forthcoming pieces. If the budgets fall fast Dod is pulling out the stops to make sure those and their families who have sacrificed so much Are not Hurt by the fall. A it. Col. Bill Carr Deputy director enlisted policy military personnel management office of the Secretary of defense husband at Home Busy this is in response to so Many letters about military wives. We have come full Circle in the last few years where life Isnit the Way it used to be. I too am a military spouse i can to stand the term a a dependent. My partner and i discussed a Well in Advance of our marriage a about re entering Active duty or staying near Home and family to accept a full time National guard Job. The Choice meant being Many Miles away from our Home the majority of the time or allowing our children to grow up close to their grandparents and Lead a More stable life. After much discussion we decided that 1 would give up my career to follow her. Fooled you did no to i my wife is now Active duty and we Are serving in Augsburg. I stand by her no matter what. People talk of the better half what about the other half i done to spend my time at the Bowling Alley or chugging Beer. I am raising a 7-month-old baby and a 4-year-old son quite Well if i must say so. I Cook a majority of the meals. I do the shopping the laundry the cleaning setting up and tearing Down during moves balance the Check Book and yes about Midnight i get to relax. In a not taking anything away from my wife or anyone else but its time we flipped the Coin to see what son the other Side. Menus role in the family has changed drastically. I like to think i play a vital role in allowing my wife to follow her dreams and goals while still finding satisfaction for myself. In a not asking for awards i already have my Beautiful family. I sometimes get frustrated but that a part of the Choice we made. Stand up men and be recognized for what you do. I think its High time we were counted our number might Surprise a lot of folks. A Dewayne grooms Augsburg West Germany Ann Landers dear readers writing this column for nearly 35 years has Given me a ringside scat to life. Granted this Job is enormously demanding but it is equally rewarding. You cannot imagine the thrill of knowing that you have been Able to change a life for the better. Just recently with a Little bit of Luck and a lot of help from Good friends i was Able to do just that. The Star in this Story is an 18-year-old fellow named Jeff who lives at turn off a drug rehabilitation Center outside of Palm Springs Calif. Jeff was born with a Cleft lip and a Cleft palate. No one knows what causes this facial disfigurement but it occurs in one of about 600 births. When Jeff was 5. His father abandoned the family. The boy was sure his dad left because of the Way he looked. Jeffs growing up years were rough. The kids at school made fun of him and called him ugly names. Even some teachers were unkind. Jeff was always in a fight. Later he turned to drugs and eventually stealing cars and forging checks to support his habit. He served time in a Florida detention Home in his mid teens. Early in december Marilyn Gellis Jeffs Counselor at turn off. Read a letter in the Ann Landers column from a Young woman who lived in puerto Rico. Quot gise Law had been born with crop zone a disease which produces grotesque facial disfigurement. Giscla told How her life had been totally changed by the surgeons at the Institute of reconstructive plastic surgery at new York University medical Center. When Marilyn saw this column she urged Jeff to write to me and ask if i could help him get an operation. Of course he had no Money. Although i read hundreds of letters every Day. 1 seem to have a built in radar for the important ones. When i saw Jeffs letter. I was determined to do everything possible to turn his life around. I telephoned my Friend Bob Bochat at the National foundation for facial reconstruction in new York and told him about Jeff. I asked if the foundation could help. His immediate response was. A you bet. I la get to work on it  i then called Robert Crandall chief of american airlines and asked if he would Fly Jeff and Marilyn from the West coast to the East coast a for free. Bob said. A a we la be glad to. And  go first  i phoned Marilyn and Jeff and told them the plans were in the works a that they were going for an evaluation. After the consultation it was. A hello. American airlines. How about a second free trip Quot  said Crandall. And off they went to new York headed for six hours of surgery at Tisch Hospital in the new York University medical Center. Jeffs jaws have been wired and he will be on liquids for eight weeks. Or. Joseph g. Mccarthy a world renowned plastic surgeon led the team. The chief dental surgeon was or. Barry Grayson. Two shifts of nurses were at the operating table. Jeff and Marilyn Are now Back in Palm Springs where Jeff will have some orthodontic work and get accustomed to his attractive new face. Or. Mccarthy said Quot this Young Man will be so handsome he wont be Able to keep the women  need i Tell you. Dear readers what a Joy it has been for me to be a Small cog in the big wheel that will change this Young persons life do you know o any Job in the world As Good As mine i done to. C creators Syndicate european edition col. Gene e. Townsend Usan commander editor in chief it. Col. Suzanne l. Phillips Usan Deputy commander editor in chief Marie Kominicki Mert Proctor Deane b. Mcdermott production manager managing editor circulation manager this newspaper is an authorized unofficial publication for members of the military services overseas. Contents of the stars and stripes Are not necessarily the official views of or endorsed by the . Government the department of defense or the . European command. 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