European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 19, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday May 19, 1990 the stars and stripes a Page 11iirtnlanders dear Ann Landers when i read the letter from the daughter whose father had been unfaithful to her Mother for 50 years i had to write. She said her Mother was wrong not to let her kids know that their father was a Louse. I disagree. My dad did no to cheat on mom but he was an alcoholic for 40 years. He was mean and abusive to every member of the family but mom chose to stay with him. As a child i tried to earn my fathers love by washing his car shovelling the Snow and getting Good grades in school. I cannot remember him giving me a single compliment or praising me for anything. He criticized momus cooking her housekeeping and her appearance. Once i got so angry when he was belittling mom that i asked a How can you tolerate such shabby treatment Why do you let him talk to you like that a she did no to answer. After a few years i accepted the fact that mom would never admit he was a terrible husband and a Rotten father. We had a silent understanding not to talk about him. In retrospect i realize that in order for mom to maintain her dignity and keep our family together she had to believe that deep Down dad really did love her. But he was so crippled by his own miserable upbringing he just  accept love nor could he give it. I Hope you will print this letter for All those indignant kids out there who Are in similar situations. I now realize that mom was pretty darned heroic and i respect her for her courage and her loyalty to a Man who did no to deserve it. No name please just a Uniontown Ohio dear Uniontown a letter such As yours is far More effective than All the a a professional advice in the world. Thank you so much for writing. Dear Ann Landers can you stand one More letter about the High school girl who was angry with her parents because they moved to another part of the country when she was a Junior and she had to leave All her Good friends my son in Law who is a career military Man was transferred to Florida after a five year assignment in Alaska. A a Bend and my daughter thought their 13-year-old daughter had made the transition Well until my son in Laws commanding officer called him into his office and asked if there were any problems at Home. Ben replied there were no problems that he knew of. His commanding officer then handed him a copy of a letter that my granddaughter had written to Nancy Reagan asking Ner Why her daddy who had spent 18 years in the service of his country had to be transferred from Beautiful Alaska to Rotten Florida. Two years have passed and my granddaughter has fallen in love with Florida. She is at the top of her class has won Many Scholastic honors and has adjusted beautifully. I believe the key was that her parents became aware of a potential problem and handled it correctly. They encouraged their daughter to participate in school activities and make new friends right away instead of yearning for the old ones. She also was made to realize that Many others in her school were new just As she was. Knowing that she Wasny to alone made her feel better. Just sign me a Nana Denver dear Nana right on thanks for a letter that should help Many people Young and old feel More confident about leaving a place they love. A possibilities for Early release discussed in these times of never ending budget cuts where every Days news is filled with which weapons systems will be abolished which bases closed and new numbers of troop reductions Are announced an increasing number of soldiers Are wondering about their futures. They Are understandably worried about what will happen to them. I would like to ask about the other Side of the question. What about the Soldier who has made the decision that he or she does not care to pursue the military service As a career these people wish Only to serve their terms and then leave. In Many cases they would voluntarily terminate service to open More opportunities for promotion to the Soldier who is inclined to stay in until retirement. How does a Soldier in this situation find out about Early releases from service without repercussions from his Chain of command understandably some individuals May be hesitant to broach the subject for fear of retaliation. Are there current programs where a person May apply for Early release what Are the requirements and procedures any information will be greatly appreciated. A name and location withheld editors note a Norman d. Angle chief retirement separations Branch 1st personnel come he Usa eur replies i appreciate the Opportunity to provide information regarding Early release from the army. But first it needs to be made Clear that soldiers who Excel in the performance of their duties and stand out As the True professionals needed for the leadership of tomorrow will have a secure career in tomorrows smaller but better army. Soldiers who know that they Are doing the Job they were trained to do and Are confident they can meet the High standards of a smaller army should stay. Those lacking such Confidence need to re evaluate their career goals and priorities. Regarding Early release from the army in most cases soldiers who desire to leave the army do so at expiration of term of service ets. However the army occasionally announces programs for Early release of soldiers the most recent of which pertained to the officer voluntary Early release retirement program for fiscal year 1990. The Chain of command is the Best source of advice and information on such programs. Give them an Opportunity to assist you. Your personnel and administration Center Pac and personnel services Center pc can provide information on Early release programs As Well As information on application procedures. Other Good sources of information Are the army times and the stars and stripes. They Are normally Quick to report policy and program changes when announced by department of the army. Additionally army regulation 635-200 provides enlisted soldiers the Opportunity to request Early release to attend a civilian College or University. Should the army expand the Early separation program it will be announced through the Media and Chain of command. Policy on cohort extensions clarified please help in determining the Correct ets expiration of term of service Date for soldiers in military occupational specially mos 13e in 2/5 Field arty. Those soldiers signed a three year contract with the army. While at Basic Ait these soldiers were told that they were being assigned to a cohort cohesion operational readiness and training battalion and were required to sign an Extension of 16 weeks. The problem some of these soldiers Are being released at the end of three years and some Are being required to serve out the three years and 16 weeks. As Section chief of two of these soldiers i have been unable through the personnel and administration Center military personnel office first sergeant and battalion commander to find a satisfactory answer. Rumor is that since 2/5 a in is no longer cohort the cohort Extension was dropped through a a a mysterious policy letter. This policy letter cannot be located. Bottom line these soldiers will gladly serve out the Extension if they must but feel if some get to ets after three years then All should. A staff sgt. Johnny Rees Neu Ulm West Germany pen pals i am a 19-year-old German girl looking for pen pals. I like dancing and music. A Claudle sch Fer run str. 25 d-8800 Ansbach West Germany we Are willing to correspond with anyone who writes us. A Elsie Gantala a Nancy Gantala a Rosalita gating 6204 Tanjay Negros Oriental Philippines i would like to have pen pals. A Judy Cadungog Public Market i Ginat iian Cebu Philippines editor s note a Harold Springer chief Force management Branch 1st personnel come he Usa eur replies soldiers who have a cohort cohesion operational readiness and training enlistment option have overseas tour lengths that vary dependent upon the prescribed length of their enlistment contract. Soldiers who enlisted for a three year cohort enlistment option were required to enlist for three years plus training time whereas soldiers enlisting for four or More years did not need to include training. Three of the four soldiers you mentioned enlisted for a cohort option of three years plus 16 weeks training time. The other Soldier did not enlist under the cohort option and therefore has a Normal three year enlistment contract training time not added. We contacted your servicing personnel office and they Are examining the enlistment contracts for All three year enlistees in your battalion to ensure their ets dates Are correctly established. I appreciate you bringing this to our attention and commend you for your concern for your soldiers. I am 22 years old and Enoy writing poetry letters and stories a Michelle Mahmood 21 Blea Tarn re Haviley. Stockport ski 4np England Marquette grads reunion a reunion for All Marquette University grads is planned for May 28, the location to to decided. Anyone wishing to Holp Organ to or attend the Rounion. Or Contact the attending alumni please Contact me at ets 325-7514/8135 or civilian 06172-47927 a Cape Andrea Legel Frankfurt what German the St Zajd ripes european edition col. Gene e. Townsend Usan commander editor in chief it. Col. Suzanne l. 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