European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 3, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 10 b the stars and stripes wednesday june 3, 1992 military Navy rates Thurso tops among Small exchanges new York a the facility at Thurso Scotland has been named the top Small Exchange overseas within the Navy Exchange service come for 1991. The award is part of the commands Effort to recognize exchanges that have demonstrated excellence in the areas of customer service operations and management. The Exchange at Gaeta Italy was runner up to Thurso. The Navy Exchange service come chose the facility at Casebo Japan As the top medium Exchange overseas and the facility at Guam As the lop Large Exchange overseas for 1991.reservists win event Heidelberg Germany a a five Man team representing the 7th army Reserve come in Heidelberg took first place in the grenade throwing portion of a Competition sponsored by the French army. The reservists topped 41 other teams that represented French German and . Soldiers. German police officers also took part in the Competition in Gurmer Shim that also included pistol and Rifle shooting. The Reserve team consisted of sgt. Jon Hudzinski maj. Dave Elliott maj. Al Gardner sgt. Maj. Roger Laferte and master sgt. Ron  fair set for july Heidelberg Germany the . Army Europe is sponsoring a three Day transition and Job fair beginning july 12 at the Patrick Henry Village officers club. The fair will include activities that will focus on Job assistance financial planning relocation services education and retirement. Recruiters from the private and the Public sectors arc expected to attend. The fair will be open from 9 . To 5 . July 12 and from 11 a a to 8 . July 13 and 14. The event is open to the Public. Call Becky Choc pfc at ets 379-6387 or 6388 or civilian 06202-80-6387/6388 for More information. Education Parley planned Heidelberg Germany a about 160 people Are expected to attend a five Day education conference in son Hofen beginning monday sponsored by the . Army Europe. The conference under the auspices of the army s continuing education system will include presentations on counselling soldiers during the draw Down education incentives for soldiers and a degree program run by state colleges and universities in new York. Call ets 370-7223 for More  Admiral honoured Rota Spain a a Spanish Admiral was awarded one of the Navy a highest honors late last month by . Mike Boorda the commander of the . Naval forces Europe. Francisco Martin Ordiz de Saracho Admiral of the Spanish naval base at Rota received the Navy a legion of Merit for his efforts toward building relations Between . And Spanish personnel. New Berlin enlisted chief ready to tackle draw Down by Ron Jensen film Borg Bureau Berlin a George d. Quot Dave Gates will take Over As the command sergeant major of the Berlin brigade this month perhaps the last one to hold the title in a brigade scheduled to leave the City by 1994. A red like to be the switch thrower a said Gates referring to the line about the person who turns off the lights when everyone else has gone. Quot that  be a bad thing at All. I think that would be kind of neat to be the last sergeant major of the Berlin  Gates will replace command sgt. Maj. David Smith who is retiring from the service. A Date for the ceremony has not been set. Gates is not naive about the responsibility he will assume. A in a draw Down you incur monstrous responsibilities that Are tied to the family said the 24-year army Veteran. A you have to manage each individual Soldier As Well As manage each individual spouse kid dog cat car you name  As the top enlisted Soldier in the command Gates will ensure that dozens of details have been completed before allowing a Soldier to leave the brigade. That includes visas for German born spouses birth certificates for German born children car inspections pet vaccinations and evaluation reports. Gates who has been serving As command sergeant major of the 40th Armor regt that inactivated recently meets with others weekly to discuss How to move soldiers and their families from Berlin to their new assignments. Quot if we done to do that something will fall through the cracks and a Soldier wont get on an air plane because we did no to do our Job right a Gates said. Gates 43, was born in Manila Philippines and graduated from High school in mount airy . He joined the army in april 1968 and earned a Bronze Star while in Vietnam in 1969 and �?T70. He became a sergeant major in 1986 and has served As an instructor at the army s first sergeants course at fort Bliss Texas and As enlisted company commander at the . Army sergeants major Academy at fort Bliss. Before coming to Berlin he was group sergeant major for the . Army readiness group in St. Louis. This is Gates second tour in Berlin. His daughter was born Here in 1979. A every Day you live history in Berwin every Day a he a a a a a a a a said. A the events that take place in Berlin affect things that happen in the european  but with the Berlin Wall Down and Germany reunited the american presence is no longer As necessary. The draw Down took a big step recently when Gates 40th Armor regt inactivated in a ceremony that bid Farewell to the 6th in the last Active duty unit in the regiment. Quot its a mixed bag of emotions a he said of the you feel so darned proud and see the Guys who be ceremony when you pc worked so hard for you in the  but he said he was also sad because Quot one of the Best tank battalions is going off the  the events however open the door for Gates Brush with history. Quot i have the Honor of being the last command sergeant major of the 40th Armor regt. And i think that a kind of neat. Maybe Well go for a two Fer a he said referring to becoming the last command sergeant major of the Berlin brigade. Sate Quot number look out one there Simonella service members learn about value of Good education by Gary Miller Mediterranean Bureau a new Home grown course that a helping service members at Nas Simonella Sicily learn their Scholastic strengths and weaknesses has a three month waiting list. The we Klong class is called the personal excellence program at Simonella. Those enrolling in the class Are in pay grades e-4 to e-6 and Are hoping the course will help them stay competitive for advancement and retention in the Navy program coordinator Al Gallo said. Among the speakers making presentations to the class Are master chief Petty officers who have participated in promotion Ana review boards. Their talks give students insight into what they need in their records to get promoted Gallo said. Those who have decided to leave the Navy Are also signing up for the course in order to a a demilitarized their resumes Gallo said. Base officials Hope the program will help More people meet the Navy a new minimum education goals such As All sailors having a High school diploma. The goals were established through the chief of naval education and training. A Survey conducted in 1991 indicated that 18 percent of is Gonella a nearly 800 service members met those latter goals according to Kim Greene education services officer for the base s Navy Campus office. The surveys results prompted Greene to design a program from which Navy officials developed the personal excellence program by incorporating students suggestions. A with the draw Down and tighter controls on re enlistments any Effort we can make to Sharpen the skills of our sailors and broaden their educational opportunities will Benefit them personally and More importantly allow them to better serve the needs of our military a said capt. Robert Baker is Gonella a executive officer. It. Cmdr. . Powers is Gonella a training officer said his office will Monitor those who enrol in the program. He Hopes to find out How Many of those who had never signed up for College classes at the base Are enrolling in classes that begin monday. The current session of the program began monday. The first Day consisted of motivational speeches and presentations about the Navy a career programs. An instructor from the University of Maryland was to teach a seminar on taking notes listening and other study skills sessions which account for two Days of the we Klong course. The 15-hour presentation is Worth one credit hour. The courses schedule also includes a Scholastic achievement test an interest inventory an interview skills class a mock interview by a military Board As Well As presentations about personal excellence communications skills and time management Powers said. The air station provides texts and pays course costs not covered by tuition assistance except for a one time $20 registration fee charged by the University of Maryland for the study skills class.2 army Reserve units move to new locations Heidelberg Germany two units belonging to the 7th army Reserve come have moved to new locations in Germany. The 3747th . Army Reserve forces school moved from Mcgraw Barracks in Munich to Reese Cavern in Augsburg and the 312th support Center moved from Hindenburg Cavern in Ansbach to William o. Darby Cavern in Firth. Because the department of defense recently announced that Hindenburg Cavern would be returned to Germany no later than March 1993, the 312th found a new Home about 30 Miles from Ansbach in Firth. Proximity to the former site and adequate support facilities were key factors in placing the unit in Firth said maj. Pete Pearse assistant Public affairs officer for the 7th . Army Reserve come previously aligned with the 1st army div the 312th is now affiliated with the 3rd corps support come. The 3747th is not affiliated with any particular command Pearse said. About 60 reservists work with the 3747th, and about 25 work with the 312th, Pearse said. The 7th . Army Reserve come has nearly 800 soldiers who serve in 23 units located throughout Germany Italy and the United kingdom. The units provide intelligence transportation aviation operations and medical services for . Army Europe units