European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 5, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday december 5, 1991 the stars and stripes c Page 3bush plans to replace Sununu Quickl Choice of Skinner not a done Deal . Source says Washington a the White House said wednesday that president Bush will act quickly to select a new chief of staff the Day after the abrasive John Sununu offered his resignation. Speculation focused on transportation Secretary Samuel k. Skinner As the Likely successor to Sununu. A White House source said the official selection was a not a done deals As of wednesday morning. One source said an announcement could come As soon As wednesday or today. Bush a press Secretary Marlin Fitzwater said Bush would a be making a selection As soon As  a we Haven to made any specific decisions on announcements certainly there Haven to been any on Skinner selections. The president is still considering a number of candidates a Fitzwater said at a White House Media briefing. Earlier Fitzwater said he did not believe Bush had made the offer to Skinner. A the does no to have a timetable a Fitzwater said but added Bush would act soon. On Capitol Hill Republican sources said Skinner has been told by the president that a Job change May be in the works. The president has turned to Skinner 53, to manage crisis after crisis. Skinner was meeting at his office wednesday with staff members on the pan american world airways crisis and the surface transportation legislation. One senior administration official said that while insiders believe Skinner is Bush a Choice the official selection was a not a done deals As of wednesday  gop congressional source said tuesday that the decision to give Skinner the Job was a definite but not official.�?�. Sununu handed Bush a five Page Handwritten resignation note tuesday on air Force one while Bush was on a trip to Florida and Mississippi. Bush accepted the resignation effective . 15, and said in a statement that Sununu would remain As a Counselor with Cabinet rank through March 1. Later standing beside Sununu on air Force one Bush said a the has taken a lot of hard shots that would have landed on my  a Day after his resignation Sununu chaired the morning senior staff meeting in a Chipper mood and there was joking All around officials said. He was warmly applauded by the staff and made a few remarks about How he had enjoyed his three years working there Fitzwater said. Others said to be in the running were defense Secretary Dick Cheney who was chief of staff under president Ford former gop rep. Bill Frenzel of Minnesota and former new Jersey gov. Thomas Kean a Strong Bush loyalist who now is president of Drew University in Madison . Sununu a former new Hampshire governor ended weeks of speculation and criticism when he told Bush in the letter that he a would never want to not be contributing positively much less be a drag on your  he later told reporters that the president did not push him to resign but a a we be been talking a Long time John Sununu White House chief of staff gestures As he walks with president Bush on tuesday in Meridian miss. About just the general situation Over the past eight or nine  he told Bush in an Oval office conversation monday that he thought he should resign. A it became pretty Clear to me that he was putting a Campaign together for re election Sununu said. A anytime anybody creates an additional political target for a president who is running you ought not to be there. And i just Felt it was the Good thing right thing to  Bush said he regretted but supported Sununu so Good decision to resign. Sununu in an interview published wednesday in the Union Leader of Manchester n.h., rated As a absolutely Zero the Chance of his heading the presidents re election Campaign. But he predicted that he and Bush will both be in new Hampshire to Campaign before the feb. 18,1992, primary. �?o1 done to want to head the Campaign a Sununu said. A a in a going to go into the private sector. A few folks Down Here suggested i might be  although Sununu a resignation is not effective until . 15, officials expected Bush to act quickly to name Well liked and skilled at dealing with Congress. Skinner had dinner with Bush on sunday and then had breakfast on monday with the presidents eldest son and political troubleshooter George w. Bush. It was Bush a son who told Sununu last week that republicans were upset with the combative chief of staff Over the Way he was handling his Job and in their opinion hurting Bush. Sununu was criticized for the administrations handling of the Economy As Well As changes in position that gave Rise to accusations of a White House in disarray. Some republicans blamed Sununu for delays in getting Bush a Campaign organization up and running. But the president said while flying Back to Washington that Sununu would be involved in the new Hampshire primary. Bush said Sununu also will a be co Riseling with my top people on a lot of projects a including the state of the Union address in january. Earlier this year Sununu was the subject of a White House ethics investigation a and heavy outside criticism a for his extensive use of government jets and limousines for personal and political travel. Bush clearly distressed approved new rules sharply limiting he Sununu has taken a lot of hard shots that would have landed on my Chin president Bush a successor and move ahead with troubles on the Domestic Agenda. Chief among those Are the nations economic woes that Are driving Bush a approval ratings downward As he Heads into the election year. Skinner a former Federal District attorney in Chicago is seen As a vigorous take charge manager who is Sununu a Access to such travel perquisites. White House aides noted that this time there had not been specific allegations for Sununu to address. Rather they said there was a general erosion of support for him. Right up until the resignation White House spokesman Marlin Fitzwater insisted that Bush had a full confidences in his aide. But other officials speaking on condition of anonymity had said they doubted if Sununu would survive the latest controversy. Bush wrote to Sununu a it is with reluctance regret and a sense of personal loss that i accept your resignation As chief of  he said he was a very grateful for Sununu a three years of service adding a you have never wavered in your loyalty to us and More importantly your loyalty to the principles and goals of this administration. You have indeed helped with the issues and you have intercepted Many of the a arrows aimed my  deadline nears for senior sergeants by Crystal Lac re an o staff writer Schwet Zingen Germany some army sergeants overseas have less than a month to request an enlistment Extension if they want to retire in the United states a 1st personnel come spokesman says. Staff sergeants sergeants first class master sergeants and first sergeants can extend their enlistments for up to 13 months to move stateside before their retirement. The extensions apply even if they result in the non commissioned officers exceeding the maximum time in service allowed for their ranks said master sgt. Marshall b. Wischem senior retention operations no at the . Army Europe retention Branch. A staff sergeant May stay on Active duty for 20 years a sergeant first class for 24 years and master sergeants and first sergeants for 27 years. The time limits a called retention control Points a for sergeants first class master sergeants and first sergeants Are expected to change soon Wichern said. After Jan. 1, these cos no longer will be allowed to extend their enlistments. Soldiers must have at least 13 months remaining in service to make a move. After Jan. 1, senior sergeants who reach the time in service limit for their rank while overseas and who do not have 13 months remaining in service will stay at their overseas duty station until they retire. Retention officials Are trying to notify soldiers who will be affected by this change Wichern said. He advised soldiers who fit the criteria for Extension and who have not been contacted to see their local retention no immediately