European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 20, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Vol. 50, no. 98 saturday july 20,1991 authorized unofficial publication for the . Armed forces 35c d 8693 Abush to Speed arms to Greece move Reward for War Aid greek and american officers Welcome president Bush upon his arrival Friday at Souda Bay a Airfield on Crete. Irked by lethargy in Pentagon Senate panel seeks halt to rims by Chuck Vinch Washington Bureau Washington the Senate armed services committee concerned that All benefits for involuntarily separated service members Are not yet in place wants to give career service members an extra measure of Protection during the current draw Down. Citing the Pentagon so a lethargy in devising its separation benefits policy the committee would like to bar involuntary separations of qualified personnel with Between five Ana 20 years of service until All the pieces of that policy Are in place. The provision is part of the committees defense authorization Bill for fiscal 1992, which includes a military pay raise of 4.2 percent effective Jan. 1. The Bill would not bar the military from separating personnel for failing to meet weight standards for substandard performance or for being passed Over for promotion among other reasons. Even if no draw Down Effort was under Way a certain number of people would normally be involuntarily separated each year in such circumstances and those people will still go the staffer said. A what the Bill says is that there will be no rims reductions in Force a the staffer said. A no one who is otherwise eligible to stay in will be kicked out solely because of the  the Pentagon budget for the next fiscal year includes separation pay for 15,400 service members who would be involuntarily separated under the services current plan. It is unclear How Many of those might be in the category that the committee is seeking to protect but military officials said the number will be Small because the services do not like to Cut qualified career personnel just to meet strength limits. The provisions Impact on the Pentagon a Overall Force reduction efforts is also Likely to be Small. The military expects to meet 75 percent to 80 percent of its draw Down goal of 500,000 Over the next few years by slowing recruiting tightening first term re enlistments and separating retirement eligible personnel. The limited separation freeze provision was easily approved by committee members who Are impatient with the Pentagon for still not completing its separation benefits policy More than 10 months after Congress authorized the creation of the safety net. The explanatory report accompanying the Bill bluntly criticizes the Pentagon so foot dragging Quot on devising eligibility rules for involuntary separation benefits. Christopher John the Pentagon a manpower chief approved Overall guidelines for transition benefits and separation pay june 20. But the services Are now in the midst of a 60-Day period during which they Are devising detailed instructions for implementation. That Means separation pay will not begin to flow until August or see panel on Page 2 Souda Bay Greece apr president Bush toured a strategic . Naval base in the Mediterranean on Friday Ami said the United states was accelerating delivery of armaments to Greece to thank a Quot key member of our coalition Quot in the persian Gulf War. A Greece stood with us from the very first moment of desert shield to the final Victory in desert storm a Bush said. The president was to travel saturday from Greece to Turkey which also was hoping for a Concrete Reward for its unflinching cooperation and major contributions to the War. The president began the final Day of his visit to Greece the first by an american president since 1959 a by touring the ancient temples on the acropolis in Athens and giving a speech to the Greck american chamber of Commerce. After a flight to the Souda Bay naval base on the Island of Crete Bush toured the . Navy frigate de Wert and the greek frigate Limos and paid tribute to greek and american sailors for what he called their key backstage role in the persian Gulf War. The excursion to Crete brought a Surprise for the president. He ordered his motorcade to Slop along the Road so he could Greet some local residents. A Are you from across the Street a he asked a woman who rushed up to him. A no a she replied a Fin from new  the unidentified woman said she was married to a . Serviceman on Crete. After touring the ships Bush spoke to an audience of . And greek forces under a broiling Mediterranean Sun. A today not As president or head of state and without regard to Flag or rank see Bush on Page 2the changing face of usar Euran exclusive interview with Gen. Cromble e. Saint