European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 6, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 10militarythe stars and stripes wednesday May 6,1992 army policy to cover women in combat Washington the army plans to release its first reputation dealing with combat related assignment restrictions for women. Army regulation 600-13, army policy for the assignment of female soldiers consolidates parts of other regulations and policy statements and is due out this summer according to the army news service. The new policy is not intended to open or close existing tables of organization and equipment positions said it. Col. Marcene Etchieson of the Soldier policy division at the Pentagon. The new regulation simplifies the coding system for toe units. Instead of seven codes there Are now just two i for positions closed to women and p2 for open jobs. All positions on tables of distribution and allowances will be coded gender Neutral except for special cases approved by department of the army. In a 600-13, the direct combat position coding system classifies each duty position in the army by the probability of direct combat. The army policy excludes women from specialities positions or units assigned the routine Mission of engaging in direct combat a units such As infantry Armor Cannon artillery Short Range air defense combat Engineer and combat aviation. It also excludes women from jobs and units that Are routinely co located with direct combat units Etchieson said. Unlike the air Force and Navy there is no Taw governing the assignment of women in the army. Instead the army a policy for assigning women incorporates department of defense guidance which stresses Low casualty work. The policy however does not prevent women from exposure to  Petty officers get third Chance at voluntary separation Washington a the Navy is offering voluntary separation incentives for a third time to Petty officers first and second class in some skills and career Fields that Are at Over strength. As of mid april about 1,400 sailors a or 10 percent of those eligible a applied for voluntary separation. The third round of the voluntary separation incentive and special separation Benefit programs applies to the same 47 ratings As in the second but adds 11,640 sailors to the eligibility list by lowering the minimum length of service required to 10 years for Many ratings and raising the maximum to 17 years for All ratings. Only sailors whose enlistment ends after july 20, 1992, Are eligible for either the Vii or sub under the third round. Those assigned overseas must have a projected rotation Date before oct. 1, 1992. Also applicants for either separation plan must meet eligibility requirements As of july 1, 1992. For example a Sailor who is promoted to et7 before july 1 would not be eligible. The Navy first offered Vii and sub in february to 4,100 Petty officers in selected jobs. In March an additional 9,260 sailors were added to the list. Under the most recent expansion approximately 25,000 Petty officers Are eligible to apply for the voluntary separation payments. Applications for either separation plan under phase three must be received by the Bureau of naval personnel by May 20. Those approved for either separation plan will be notified by june 20. Requests cannot be withdrawn once they Are approved. Separations must occur by july 20 and can occur earlier at the discretion of commanders. Petty officer 1st class Alethea d. Pearson 1991 Sailor of the year for the . Navy Europe works on a computer Printer with Petty officer 1st class Steve Burcham at the Navy european operations support activity in  processing technician named Europe s Sailor of year Iraklion major is selected top Safe judge advocate Iraklion Crete a a major has been selected the top judge advocate in the . Air forces in Europe. Maj. Michael Schmitt Heads a staff of six at Iraklion. He and his staff handled More than 100 civil litigation cases in addition to Legal matters associated with air Force and Navy personnel assigned to the Island. Schmitt is a former air Force intelligence officer and has studied Law at Southwest Texas state University at san Marcos the University of Texas and Yale University. By Walter Jahncke staff writer a data processing technician in London is the . Navy Europe a Sailor of the year for 1991. A Navy Board selected Petty officer 1st class Alethea d. Pearson from four finalists who went to London for individual interviews before the Board. The finalists were selected from the Navy a 15,000 Shore personnel in Europe. A fall four of us were pretty much neck and neck a Pearson said of the finalists. A Competition was Tough and any one of us would have been a Good  she said she did no to know Why the Board selected her although Board members mentioned that her composure during the interview was a Factor. Pearson supervises eight computer technicians at the computer support division of the Navy european operations support activity. Her division provides hardware and software maintenance for the approximately 250 computers in the Navy a Headquarters building. The activity is scheduled to inactivate june 1, according to it. Jack Papp a spokesman for Navy Europe. Papp said most of the people stationed with the command will merge with the Navy a european Headquarters staff or the naval computer and telecommunications station in London. Along with honors As Sailor of the year Pearson who lives in suburban London received a weeks lodging for two in London two complimentary passes for London a bus and subway transportation theater tickets dinner for two at a London restaurant and airfare and lodging for two for a weekend in Paris. She will also be guest of Honor at a . Navy league sponsored awards dinner in London on May 16. Pearson said she will go on the London and Paris excursions with her husband chief Petty officer Michael Pearson and also with their two sons Eric 8, and Christopher 4. She will represent the . Navy Europe in the Navy wide Shore Sailor of the year Competition in Washington d.c., this  playing Host to military Retiree meet Ramstein a Germany a a Daylong gathering for . Military retirees living in Europe will be held saturday at the Ramstein officers club. The event is geared toward air Force retirees living in Germany France Belgium the Netherlands and Luxembourg but army and Navy veterans and service members widows May attend said Norm Hershfield the director of retirees activities at Ramstein a. Many of the subjects scheduled for Dis Cussion Are of Likely interest to most military veterans he said. Charles Keller chief of Retiree activities at the air Force military personnel Center at Randolph fab Texas will be the keynote speaker. In addition the morning session will include discussions about personnel affairs consular services social Security medical services and other issues affecting retirees overseas. Opportunities for individual counselling Are scheduled for the afternoon. A a there a a lot of people out there who done to know about some things going on a said Hershfield noting pending legislation concerning retirees and health care issues for example. A those Are the things that Are of most interest to retirees because it affects their  retirees can take advantage of free medical and dental screenings. Free cholesterol checks Are included As Well. Those interested in the cholesterol Check must fast for 12 hours before the test which starts at 7 . Lunch will be served in the officers club but seating is limited. Those interested in lunch should make a Check out for $7.50 payable to retirees Day and mail it to 66 mss Cdr unit 3220, Box 405, Apo a 09094-0405. Billeting is available for Friday and saturday for those who have responded to the letters that were mailed. Anyone else who needs billeting or has additional questions should Call ets 480-5486 or 480-2417 wednesday morning or 063118588 Between 7 . And 10