European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 14, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sunday october 14, 1990 the stars and stripes a Page 13business news t cola change will hinge on Survey results civilian employees in Germany wont see their Cost of living allowance upped until officials in Washington can incorporate results of Frankfurt a May 1990 Marke Basket Survey. The state department had been figuring the allowance called Post allowance based on Survey results from april 1989. The Market Basket Survey checks prices on goods and services such As supermarket items furniture clothing medical services Auto repair and transportation. These figures Are compared with those from the Washington area and Post allowance is awarded based on the amount living costs overseas exceed those in the nations capital. The state department adjusts the Post allowances up. Or Down when foreign Exchange rates reach predetermined trigger rates. The new trigger rate for Germany will be set after the new Survey results Are incorporated. C civilians in Italy will Rosemary Sawyer Autwan a in. Crease if the Dollar drops to a trigger rate of 1,140 lira. In the United kingdom a Pound will have to Cost $2.02 before Post allowance is increased. Post allowance rates in Germany were last adjusted aug. 26, when the Dollar bought 1.55 Marks. In Italy the last change was made May 20, when the rate was 1,224 lira to a Dollar. And the United kingdom last saw an increase aug. 26, when a Pound Sterling Cost $1.91. Civilians wont necessarily see their Post allowances increase the Day the Dollar drops to the respective trigger rates for their countries however. For the allowance to begin the Dollar Exchange rate must average at or below the trigger level for the three working Days before the first tuesday of each two week pay period. The amount of Post allowance a worker receives depends on such factors As the number of family members salary and Post classification. Each Community overseas has a Post classification number that reflects the percentage the Community a Cost of living exceeds that in Washington. In Remote communities where the civilian employees have Little or no Access to support facilities like commissaries and exchanges the classifications Are higher. The higher the classification the More Money the worker  Range from 5 to 100. In London where the Post classification is 30, a gs-9, step-5 worker with two family members is receiving an annual salary boost of $4,320. The same worker in a classification-15 Community such As Heidelberg receives half that amount annually. Before May of this year most posts in Italy had no classification. With the dollars weakening against the lira however Post classifications were assigned. Vicenza Italy has a Post classification of 5. Gjs-9 Annua in Post Al Dwarte a i Germany sept. 16, 1989 june 16, 1990 Heidelberg Exchange rate Faly $720 $1 = 2 do $1,440 $1 = 1.70 do Vicenza Exchange rate $0 $1 = 1,419 lira $720 it a 1 a 1,242 lira $2,160 $1 = j .56 do $720 $1 = a pm step kingdom London $2,160 $2,880 $4,320 Exchange rate �1=$1.54 �1=$1.70 �1=$1.89 a step 5 $28,001 with 2 family members source Usa eur Marine mar official opposes merger of Exchange systems by Chuck Vinch Washington Bureau Washington a a merger of the three military Exchange systems would be a a traumatizing for the Marine corps morale welfare and recreation program the services top mar official says. With no end in sight for operation desert shield and base closings and troops withdrawals imminent a the timing could not be worse for a merger said James Joy director of the Marine corps mar support activity. Joys comments came at a hearing before the House armed services committees mar panel on wednesday. Air Force officials have said that the army and air Force Exchange service with a worldwide support Structure already in place should be allowed to absorb the other systems a a View that has rankled Navy and Marine corps officials. In an undated internal memo obtained by the stars and stripes in july undersecretary of the Navy j. Daniel Howard said cafes a is by no Means the most favourable operator of  a both the Navy and Marine corps systems serve their constituencies admirably and with greater efficiency than cafes a Howard wrote to Deputy defense Secretary Donald Atwood. A from what can be gleaned at this Early stage from a projected balance Sheet of consolidated operations Navy and Marine corps exchanges would suffer significantly in performance profitability and mar dividends in a consolidated system a Howard wrote. A study to determine the feasibility of the consolidation is scheduled to wrap up next summer. Joy charged that the study will recommend that the Navy and Marine corps systems should be dismantled without making the new larger system More efficient. In addition significant up front costs for the merger would Cut into dividends for the services mar programs in the Short term he said. Rep. Marvin Leath a Texas chairman of the House mar panel assured Joy that there will be a no predetermined conclusions about consolidation before the study is completed. A amps l Emmett Lewis or. Maryanne and staff sgt. Kenneth Britt of Mannheim Germany discuss Job prospects with Recruiter George my incurs of Schneider National carriers inc. Of Green Bay wis., during an army Job fair at Frankfurt. Job fairs recruiting gis forced to find new careers h. I it by Gary Pomeroy staff writer Frankfurt Germany a military communities traditionally have been less than enthusiastic about allowing companies to interview service members. Commanders did no to want their highly trained troops tempted by outsiders setting up Booths on military installations. A a that a changed a said George Russell a Recruiter for Schneider National carriers inc., a trucking company based in Green Bay wis. A military installations in the states and in Europe Quot now Welcome commercial firms with open  As the military enters the Era of less Money and fewer people it does no to want to give the impression that it is not taking care of its own. That Means helping p conic  civil in careers. Schneider is or eral companies Entong the military s new he., tally. It joined Delia an line coot menial telecommunications Federal a so y stems if Ounn and state Hie a amps Susan Harris sume service at the army warrant Gil ices association Job fair. The fair travelled to five army communities in Germany Between sept. 26 and oct. 5. Russell said most of the service members he has encountered Are at the eight to 10-Ycar Point of their careers and Many share a common trait. A people Are very nervous a said Russell a retired a my warrant officer. Several service members who attended the Job fair in Frankfurt said they  have thought about attending a Job fair a year ago. A the Way things Are going now in a at a Crossroads a said air Force staff sgt. Franz Prewitt. He is a computer technician from Lindsey air station Germany with 11 years in the service. A a in a Here because of the draw Down a said army sgt. Juan Morales a Cook with the 545th Ord co at Munster Cavern near Darmstadt Germany. A i planned on doing 20 years and getting out a said Morales 24, a six year Veteran. He May move to los Angeles and live with his parents for a while if he gets out in december. The High motivation if not desperation of some Job Hunters in Europe was exemplified by air Force sgt. Jef Hohman a 24-Ycar-old with five years of experience As an avionics systems technician. I Lohman drove from Raf upper i Evoid it i. A and it aught a hop from Raf Miklen Hali fur or to t Ger a. A r a As.�?~7 a is ill a o a 1 a a a. A a a a i a so a m , a a Quot a. A. My w to 1, re to m n r him wav.�?T, or. A a a it. I a a no co. Vav i a. I v Chiomo we it. A a Ita Over tar. A. R t. A a were concerned a Iiley woi.-. , of j to  year a valiant said. A to crts a get a questions out there.�?�. Thus the importance of Job lairs particularly in Europe is becoming apparent. Valiant is assigned to d troop 3rd so 7in Cav in Mannheim Germany