European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 31, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Aging baby Boomers still shaping America by Tim Bovee associated press in the past decade baby Boomers began to take command of the country a moving into the front offices political posts and leadership positions vacated by their retiring parents. The Torch was being passed once again to a new generation just As surely in the 1990s As when president Kennedy used the phrase in his 1961 inaugural address. But this generation is huge. An a analysis of 1990 census data found that baby Boomers a those born Between 1946 and 1965 a now make up nearly one third of americans 248.7 million people. The baby Boom has often been described As a pig moving through a Snake an enormous bulge in the population. Simply because of its size the generation has had a phenomenal Impact on american society. It s also one of the most studied Analysed self conscious and watched Over generations in history. The marketplace is looking now to see what Boomers will Wanlas they age a the youngest of them became adults in the 1980s and the oldest Are now Middle aged. Quot businesses for years have been focusing Inyoung adults Quot said Cheryl Russell author of 100 predictions for the baby Boom Quot they think Young adults spend the most Money. They re wrong. The Middle aged spend the most  readers action line not baby Boomers a those bom Between 1946 and 1965 a now make up nearly one third of americans 248.7 million people. Lots of baby Boomers Are now having children of their own a the number of kids under age 5 was 14 percent higher in 1990 than a decade earlier. And that too is having an Impact. Quot with so Many parents out there it will have an effect on about everything we do a Russell said. Quot i think that a Why the nation has become so conservative lately a Antidrug anti Drunken driving. All these people Are concerned for the health and safety of their  that a also Likely to change National spending patterns Russell says Fine dining with a big Tab will be out and relaxed inexpensive eating at places that serve kids will be in women a clothing stores will be less profitable and kids clothing stores will take off. The entry of the baby Boom into adulthood meant a Large group of americans left the years of learning and began working. Quot before they were takers. Now they re givers Quot said Martha Farnsworth Riche a sociologist with the population reference Bureau which is a Washington research group. Quot we should be entering a 10-year to 20-year highly productive period for our  several experts think the baby Boomers will Harden the conservative cast of american politics. Neil Howe co author of the Book generations believes Boomers will add a moralistic tone to Public life. He says it is because they came of age during a time of vivid social change highlighted by the civil rights movement and the Vietnam War. A a they la be less compromising on the issues of Good is. Evil Quot said Howe a Boomer himself. Quot we re going to be  but Riche said the generation May have tended toward conservatism All along. Quot the Woodstock Flower child and hippies people were a very Small minority Quot Riche said. A anybody that wants to reach these people As a group has to understand  a the size of the aging Boomer generation pushed the median age upward by three years in a decade to 33. And in 1970, 28 was the median age meaning half the population was 28 or older and half was 28 or younger. Boomers May be the biggest generation but the fastest growing generation was retiring in the 1980s a the number of people age 65 and Over grew by 22 percent. The Boomers Impact in mid life is Likely to be exaggerated by the Small numbers in the generation that follows a the so called baby bust generation. The 1990 census recorded an 11 percent decline in the number of people Ages 18 to 24, and a 5 percent decline in the number of school aged children. The bust generation is a Little older than the children of the Boomers who Are nicknamed the baby Boom Echo. Some definitions have the baby Boom starting As Early As 1943 and others As late As 1947. But the widely accepted definition is 1946 through 1965,Job protections for d0d civilians of a the omnibus budget reconciliation act of 1990, signed nov. 5, 1990, contained the Quot portability of benefits for no appropriated fund employees act of 1990&Quot Section 7202. The plan is effective retroactively to jan.1.1987, and remains in effect indefinitely it applies to All current permanent employees who moved Between non appropriated fund Naf and civil service employment systems within department of defense Dod or . Coast guard without a break in service. The office of personnel management pm and the office of the Secretary of defense old have not issued the required regulatory guidance. U a. Army Europe Usa eur civilian personnel division Cpd inquiries to pm indicate that implementation guidance will not be available until fiscal year 1992. Conventional forces Europe cafe reductions installation consolidation closure and the termination of appropriated fund apr to non appropriated fund reimbursement will result in the displacement of Many overseas civilians by the end of this fiscal year. The intent of this legislation was to protect these civilians who have served the government and Dod. It is imperative that the portability package legislation be translated into administrative action this fiscal year. As an overseas limited appropriated fund department of the army civilian Dac who converted from Naf employment in a affected by this legislation. The Neu Ulm facility where i currently work is due to close sept 30 without full implementation of this Bill i will be removed from my current position without any rights As a career apr employee Eric Lee Brewer Neu Ulm Germany Anita Jordan personnel management specialist. Civilian personnel division no appropriated fund Branch he Usa eur replies appendix f to the department of defense manual 1401.1-m Quot department of defense personnel policy manual for no appropriated fund  Quot was issued for implementation on april 19,1991, by the department of the army. Alt Usa eur civilian personnel offices have a copy of the required instructions to effect conversions from no appropriated Naf to appropriated apr fund positions utilizing appendix of Quot Dod employee Benefit. Portability  Naf to apr conversions Are in fact already ongoing in several Usa eur activities. Should you have specific questions regarding the employee Benefit portability program you May Contact your servicing civilian personnel  television needs stronger signal it i would like to address what i feel is a very important matter to Many americans stationed in Germany a the armed forces network an. Since first coming to Germany with my father from 1980-82,1 have seen Many Good changes from an. But there is still one tremendous fault a its inability to reach most of us who live on the Economy. I live in a Valley a Good 20 Kilometres from my base. I have a Strong Antenna and what the germans Call ver starker for stronger reception. I still Don t get it. I be heard different rumours about the ability to receive an with a satellite. There will probably be copyright and Royalty problems but if you sell a decoder then this also would take care of this would t it Allol us pay tax dollars a portion of which goes to support an i feel it s time an supported us and gave us the enjoyment All those stationed in and around our bases enjoy a Michael Jackson Spang Dahlbom a Germany a capt. Mark Turner 5th signal come Public affairs officer replies while the 5th signal come is not responsible for the Fine programming available on american forces network Europe we do assist them in reaching their audience. We regret that the an signal is not available to every member of the american forces stationed in Europe. Restrictions including some that involve permission to use copyrighted material prevent us from reaching everyone we d like. However we Are proud to say that where americans live in an off Post concentration a such As in leased housing a we have been quite successful in providing an adequate signal. And frankly we see it As More reasonable to focus our efforts on areas under american control because locations where americans live on the Economy change frequently. The Reader has some interesting ideas regarding technical alternatives for distribution of the an signal some of which we have been discussing with the German government. As previously reported an is available through satellite receivers. But the satellite dish must be fairly Large �1.5 to 3 meters and equipped with a licensed scientific Atlanta a Mac decoder. The decoder costs about $1,700 and a 5-year licensing fee is 250 Marks. These prices Are subject to change. The application process is outlined in the Quot an answer Book Quot which is available in most military communities. To write us a headers action line is the readers Quot court of last resort Quot striving to answer some of the questions about life overseas in a military environment or questions about policies and guidelines when other avenues for answers Are not readily available. If you have a question and Don t know where to turn for the answer write to readers action line co the stars and stripes Apo 09211-4211. All letters n lust be signed and preference will be Given to those seeking information of general interest to our readers Page 16 a the stars and stripes saturday August 31, 1991