European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 22, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday May 22, 1992 the stars and stripes c Page 3nato women push combat roles by the los Angeles times London a women officers in the armed forces of the North Atlantic treaty organization said thursday that they Are pressing for wider combat roles for females in the services. At the close of a three Day meeting Here of the committee on women in nato forces the chairwoman British air Commodore Ruth Montague said the performance of women in the persian Gulf War had demonstrated their Worth. Further by widening their role in combat she said better use could be made of All armed forces personnel. A women performed Well in the Gulf a Montague said. A they performed Well under pressure they performed As part of a team they got on with the Job. A they confirmed in their male colleagues minds that they could do their jobs a and in the civilian mind that they could perform in All sorts of  Montague s views were backed up by . Army Brig. Gen. Patricia Hickerson who said a we were very pleased by the performance of our women soldiers a As battalion and company commanders and in other ranks a who did every Job they were expected to do in their combat support roles. Quot five of the 16 nato nations sent women to the Gulf combat zone a the United states Britain Canada Norway and Denmark. While none of the women were attached to infantry fighting units Many found themselves under fire. By far the biggest contingent was the United states with 40,000 women in the army. Air Force. Navy and marines a out of americans Overall female service Force of 230,000 a serving in the Gulf. The British sent 300 of its 19,000 service women while Canada contributed 240 of its 8,900 women. Commandant Lane tit Ley of the British Navy nursing corns said that the distinction Between combat and non combat roles for women will be increasingly blurred. A if you Are assigned to a ship in a combat zone you can to really define the difference a a she said. A even in the army it is difficult to define where the front line is. A of the nato nations Only Iceland and Italy have no women service personnel. The italian Delegate said legislation was pending to permit female volunteers into the armed forces. During their meeting the delegates disclosed that they will invite women members of the former East bloc armed forces to discuss with nato their role in their military. Adoption group sets symposium in army Hospital Lan Stuhl Germany a a symposium on adoption will be held saturday at Heaton auditorium in the Lan Stuhl army regional medical Center. The event which will run from 10 . To 4 ., is sponsored by the adoptive Parent support group and the Lan Stuhl american red Cross. The program will feature speakers publications and films As Well As people sharing their experiences with adoption. The support group meets at 7  On the third tuesday of each month in the Lan Stuhl education Center building 3701. The Lan Stuhl chapter of the american red Cross sponsors the group but Isnit responsible for information presented by the group. Most of the group members have adopted children or been adopted. Members bring their information and experiences regarding adoption to share with others at the groups meetings. For More information Call the Lan Stuhl american red Cross at ets 486-8126/7298 or civilian 06371-868126/7298 during the duty Day. Those attending the symposium will be Able to buy lunch at the hospitals dining Hall cafes Hospital snack bar or local restaurants. Fort foothill workers build a 6-foot Block Wall on wednesday in front of the los Angeles police departments foothill division to improve Security. The four men acquitted in the police beating of Rodney it. King were stationed at the foothill division. The building was attacked during the riots that followed the  antagonists end strife As King intervenes Bangkok Thailand a demonstrators and troops left the streets thursday and the government freed thousands of prisoners under a Compromise brokered by the widely respected King of Thailand that ended four Days of bloody protests. But pro democracy activists voiced fears that prime minister Suchinda Kra Prayoon an unelected former army chief who led a military coup last year would not soon relinquish Power despite the agreement. In a televised meeting. Suchinda and opposition Leader Chamlong Simuang keeled before King hum Biol Adulya Dej who told the two to reach a Compromise through a constitutional amendment that would allow Only elected lawmakers to hold the prime ministers Post. The government thursday revoked its 9  To 4 . Curfew withdrew troops from the streets and released about 3,000 people arrested during the protests against the military a continued domination of politics. In a peaceful rally about 100 people walked solemnly around democracy Monument placed Flowers on it and prayed for those recently killed. The Monument along Bangkok a Broad Raj Damneun Avenue was the focal Point of the demonstrations in which at least 40 people were killed and More than 600 injured. Many suspect the death toll is much higher. Intervention by the revered 64-Ycar-old King effectively stopped Public demonstrations. But Many were not satisfied. A dreams die Suchinda to remain pm a headlined the daily newspaper Phoon Atkaln echoing sentiments of Many interviewed following the Compromise. A we re not satisfied with the outcome the Compromise. We want Suchinda and his wife to leave Thailand a said Somsak Theerapong a 42-year-old businessman who took part in the demonstrations. Political groups gathered thursday morning to plot tactics for a meeting monday at which parliament will consider the constitutional amendment called for by the Monarch. Pro democracy groups have demanded Suchinda a ouster on grounds he is an appointed  in rotations from saudi Arabia eased by Check Vinch w Ashington Bureau washing ton a airmen assigned to the 4404th composite Wing in saudi Arabia should face fewer delays m leaving that temporary duty assignment than they have in the recent past an air Force official said wednesday. Rotation delays developed in March when inexperienced logistics officials were unable to line up additional air planes to Speed rotations said capt. Tom Barth a spokesman for Central come air forces at Shaw fab . Personnel usually leave the assignment after a 90-Day tour. Barth responded to questions submitted in mid april by the stars and stripes. The problems were mentioned by former Wing commander Brig. Gen. Richard c. Bethurem in the March 27 edition of the wings newspaper. Barth said rotation flights were provided by a contractor whose plane stopped weekly in Dhahran where the Wing is based. Occasionally there were More people scheduled to rotate than could be booked on one flight. A we had some people in the system Over there who were not quite fully aware of the process through which they could order up More flights a Barth said. A when needs exceeded capacity some people were forced to wait around for the next available  the situation peaked during the unit rotation in late March and Early april Barth said. Most of the person Nel affected were delayed for no More than a week until the next regularly scheduled flight. The situation was sometimes aggravated by expectations of Wing personnel he said. A the orders of personnel assigned to that Wing Actu ally run from 90 to 120 Days a he said. A a there were some people who expected to be gone on Day 90.�?� in his comments in the unit newspaper Bethurem said a we in the 4404th composite Wing Are deeply concerned about the need to return those of you who have completed your rotation Back to your families and Home missions. Be assured. We Are working to fix the current problem and improve the Overall  Cental officials met with Wing personnel at Lac air come Headquarters at Langley fab va., in Early april to resolve the Issue Barth said. A it was a situation where the logistics folks weren to really aware that they had other options for scheduling More flights Barth said. A we informed them of How to Access the system to order up More aircraft or get More frequent flights into Dhahran when they have to a he said