European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 09, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                \ Page 12 letters to the editor Friday september 9/1994 european edition col Steven s. Hoffman Usan commander publisher Bernard a. Zovistoski editor news and editorial Deborah aether news editor Bill Walker european editor Bob Wicker sports editor George Man dry editor. To write us unit 29480 Apo a 09211 Orost Facell 1437 64278 Darmstadt Germany news Tel fax 06155-601416 to Gall us dial 06155-601 plus Extension or Dan 348-8 plus Extension As follows news ext. 237, 255, 282, 226, 326. Sports ext. 225, 269, 263, 332 321, 221. Features ext. 230, 245, 341. Letters to editor ext. 208,400/ education Jami Jones ext. 226. Business news ext. 326. News bureaus Heidelberg. Germany Effle Bathen room 117,. Rome str. 104, 69126 Heidelberg Telephone Dan 370 7010 or civilian 06221-23421. Kaiserslautern Germany Kevin Dougherty John Bohmer arid Doyle Tillman. Building 2899, Pulaski bar Racks Apo a 09227-3717 Telephone Dan 489-6585 or civilian 0631-52104 Tel fax Dan 489-6357 or civilian 0631-5366357. Nurnberg Germany Ron Jensen. Building 21. Wil Liam 0. Darby Cavern Apo a 09222 Telephone Dan 460-7256 or civilian 0911-712563 Tel fax 0911-717130. Wurzburg Germany Dave Melancon building 220, room 109. Faulenburg Cavern Apo a 09036 Tele phone Dan 350-6770 or civilian 0931-286956 Tel fax 0931-8896770. Mediterranean sue Palumbo and Marian Hamilton Naples Italy pc 810, Box 56, Fpo a 09619 Teto phone Dan 625-4880 or civilian 0817624049/4547 Tele fax 0039-81-7624049. Northern Italy j. King Cager pc 54, Box 473 Apo a 09601 Telephone Dan 632-8176 or civilian 0039-434-66-8176 Tel fax 0039-434-668222. United kingdom Nancy Torner Marc Mcfann and Dave Didio. Building 464 Cess us Raf Mike shall Apo a 09459 Telephone Dan 238-2226 or civilian 0638-542226 Tel fax 0638-718013. New. York City Timothy Cahill room 638, 201 Varick st., new York 10014 Telephone 212-620-3333 Tel fax 21220-3268. Washington . Chuck Vinch. Cindy kill on Oast a the Pentagon room 2e756 . Box 46095, Washington . 20050-6095 Telephone 703-697 6695 Tel fax 703-693-6366, business departments maj Richard k. Major Usa Deputy commander. Oale Efteni newspaper operations director fre Shaine new York operations director James Wysocky circulation manager Jeffrey h. Kingdom comptroller circulation toll free customer service for Home or office delivery inquiries or delivery problems Call 24 hours Germany Belgium Italy United kingdom Netherlands Spain Tel fax. 0130-840048 07811-8775 1678-34560-800-898854 06-022-7629900-99-4955 06155-601436 Germany Augsburg civilian 0821-544529, Tel fax ob21r644565. Berlin civilian 030-8331846, Dan 332-3548. Kaiserslautern civilian 0631-57070 of 57079, Dan 489-7100, Tel fax 0631-50696 Nurnberg civilian 0911-712558,  460-7001. Stuttgart civilian 0711-797.7552, on 421-4277 Italy Naples civilian 0039-81-724480, Dan 625-4880 Tele fax 0039-817244489 Vicenza civilian 0444-515358, Dan 634-7545, Tel fax 0444-300-641, Spain Madrid Dan 665-5807, civilian and Tel fax 00341,6561465. Turkey Istanbul civilian 0090-212-272 48 43, Tolela 0090 212-2743209. United kingdom Cirencester civilian 0285-713-637. Dan 247-4445. Advertising display Germany 06155-601247 or 601309 Dan 348 8247. Classified Germany 06155-601349, Dan 348-8349. Advertising Tel fax 06155-601412 please Recycle this newspaper is an authorized unofficial publication for members of the military services overseas. Contents of the stars and stripes do not necessarily reflect the official views of or endorsement by the . Government the department of defense or the 0. S. European command. The appearance of advertising in this publication including inserts or supplements does not constitute endorse ment by the department of defense or the Siars and stripes of the products or services advertised. Thumbs up for Mac i feel for the Soldier who lost his Finger and thumb in the Retreat ceremony in Baum older but please the individual he blames is loved Well known and respected in the Baum older Community Asa people person -. Hugh Mackey will go the extra mile for All he meets. I sometimes Call him the Mac attack for All the determination he has to get things done for the soldiers and civilian sin the Community. I know he feels bad about the Accident and if he could he would give the Soldier his Finger and thumb. " a. Carlos Romo Adkins Baum older Germany saluting Retreat heroes the recent Salute Cannon incident Inbau Holder was a tragic Accident. My sincere condolences go out to the injured Soldier and civilian. The matter is under investigation an the findings will be released when completed. In the interim i cannot idly sit by while the stars and stripes does great injustice to several people who Quirand properly responded to help the injured. Kudos to the military  Normal complement of five for Retreat was not available because you were investigating a Case in the housing area. The four maps at Retreat acted superbly. They were at the flagpole across the Street and 156 feet from the visibly obscured Cannon when the noncommissioned officer in charge radioed for an ambulance immediately after hearing screams and seeing mayhem near the Cannon. The Coic ran across the Street calmed the injured Soldier located the severed thumb and put it on which the fire department delivered. Two maps retrieved and folded the Fla while the fourth my a combat Lifesaver grabbed his combat life save bag from hism vehicle and began first Aid on the injured Soldier to include administering univ. After the Flag was secured the other two maps directed traffic permitting Quick arrival and departure of the ambulance. Also heroic were the deeds of an armo Captain an infantry lieutenant an army nurse and Frau Stefanie Ide. They All provided immediate and prompt assistance. I am sure there Are More who deserve credit and some whom i will realize when the investigations Are Complete some will forever be Unsung heroes. I Salute All who displayed functional discipline i.e., instinctively doing what is right without hesitation on aug. 25 and on every other Day even though your deeds do no make the newspaper. Maj. Gen. William g. Carter Iii commander 1st army div bad Kreuz Nach Germany editor s note we encourage our readers especially those who have never submitted a letter to write to us. Y. Letters expressing readers View Points Are published Dally on this Page. All letters must be signed and include address and Telephone number. Prefer ence is Given to Shorter letters so that More can be published in a timely Man Ner. We Reserve the right to edit letters for clarity length and taste. Send to let ters to the editor the stars and stripes unit 29480, Apo a 09211. Or fax 06155-601-463, Dan 348-8463. Military update up by out officer system m ". V " -. " a a. Only one american employer forces wave after wave of Well educated highly trained managers to retire in Middle age often at the Peak of their professional prowess /. / .-,., that employer is the .  More than 40 years the armed services have managed their officer corps using a controversial promotion system called up or out regardless of How Many officers ear outstanding fitness reports or Fly High performance jets or prove their Mettle on the Battlefield Only a Small percentage can win promotion to a senior  not selected during a yearlong window of eligibility must retire to make room for younger officers. That s How the system has worked since after world War ii. Youth and vigor push aside maturity and  the youth and vigor Era might be near its end. A study delivered to con Gress during the labor Day recess lays the foundation for major changes in the Way officer careers Are managed. Titled future careers for . Military officers the study challenges the serv  infatuation with youth and suggests new ways to reduce turnover and to boost career satisfaction As the officer corps lips to its lowest level since 1950. The 375-Page report prepared by analysts from the defense think tank ramd corp., does not endorse a specific alternative to the current system. That will come next year in a follow up study. But Rand researchers clearly see Merit in moving toward longer More Sta ble careers. That should please the Senate armed services committee which ordered the study and set its Agenda two years  careers should be the Rule rather than the exception and the up or out features should be adjusted accordingly the committee said. Harry j. Thie a senior Rand re searcher who directed the study said Sev eral factors argue for major change Sinthe Way officer careers Are managed. They include the shrinking officer corps a dramatic shift in missions that could enhance demand for experience and technical expertise and a growing unease in this country Over any form of age discrimination. Thie suggested for example that it becoming increasingly difficult forthe services to contend there s direct link be tween youth and Igor. People Are vigorous at a far older age than they Ever were previously he said. Loner working lives the Way society  Rand calculated that longer office careers Cost no More or less than Shorter ones. Higher pay and retirement costs Are offset by savings on accessions and training. But longer careers do bring greater stability and  today typically retire Between age 42 and 48.that sounds attractive until one real  that these men and women Are Only Halfway through their working lives. Their retired pay while generous Doe Little More than restore earning Power lost in having to begin second careers i Middle age according to numerous pay comparison  who commit to careers ought not to have to seek another career a midlife the report says. A better retirement age for officers Tom Philpott Rand says is 55 to 57, late enough inline that they Don t have to begin second careers. One Way to accommodate longer careers would be to keep up or out Only for Junior officers thus creating enough turnover for a steady flow of officers into the reserves. Officers accepted into the career Force could fall under a up and stay promotion system. Up and stay thie said would promote people based on their ability to meet the needs of higher grades and keep others based on their ability to do a  the officer Grade Structure now resembles a Pyramid with tens of thousands of Junior officers at its base and the Popula Tion narrowing steadily with rank toward an Apex of several Hundred Star rank offi cers. Thie and his team said they found no reason to preserve this Pyramid. They suggested the British army s Grade Struc Ture might better suit a smaller . Offi cer corps. That Structure is shaped like an aircraft Carrier with Junior Grade below decks the 4 Grade the bulge of the Carrier deck am the higher Grade the narrower  the study also discusses expand ing the promotion eligibility window in higher grades from one year to five years to recognize that with a smaller Force not All officers will have a Chance to develop at the same rate. Rand will work with the services an Congress Over the next year to develop a detailed officer management system to be ready when the a Adown ends. One key feature thie said will be transition plan for the current Force. The Pentagon is expected to order Sim Ilar studies into the management of enlisted forces. Readers comments and suggestions Are welcomed write to military update co editor. The stars and stripes unit 29480, Apo a 09211. Of knotty that thing yousa1p aboutrjnnin6ahi6h . The lower. W reset the bar id attract 5wpent&, our. Reputation ha5 Suff a you y�5 a fn57eapcf have a 1win6toholpon Tourfa Ping ip5n that could be off putting