European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 17, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The Simand Lpes vol. 53, no. 214 50 thursday november 17,1994 i 86935 major units saw decline in readiness Dod admits by Art Pine Losangel Stimes Washington the Pentagon disclosed tuesday that an armoured cavalry regiment and four of the an Hyp a 12 combat divisions have suffered a significant decline in military preparedness primarily As a result of can flow problems stemming from the deployment of . Troops to Rwanda Haiti and Kuwait this year. In a letter to key lawmakers defense Secretary William Perry said the erosion was caused by the army a being forced to cancel important maintenance operations and training exercises to offset the Cost of the overseas operations. The admission was considered Likely to Embarrass the Clinton administration which has been denying allegations that military readiness was being impaired while republicans have been warning otherwise. Defense department officials said the armoured cavalry regiment and one of the affected divisions were among the rapid deployment forces that Are the first to go into any combat operation. But they said the Gap involved shortages in equipment and personnel and was Heing eliminated quickly. However the damage incurred in the other three would require additional funding. The divisions a one heavy Armor and two infantry a a Are All in a later deploying heavy reinforcing units that Are among the third tier of army units that would be deployed in a War. The army divides its forces into three Broad areas contingency forces that Are see decline on Page 2 warning sounded in Europe. By Vince Crawley staff writer the . Army a readiness in Europe has declined because of funding shortfalls and the command would not be Able to respond to another deployment on the scale of operation desert storm a senior spokesman said wednesday. A the Bottom line Here is readiness has suffered a said col. Dick Bridges spokesman for the . Army Europe. He cited Lack of funding and an in creased number of unplanned no notice deployments that place soldiers in peacekeeping missions instead of combat roles. Quot you get what you pay for and right now we re paying for an uptempo operations Tempo that is underneath what we used to consider the Standard a said Bridges reacting to the Pentagon a announcement late tuesday that some of the army a divisions have been allowed to slip from see warning on Page 2 Ltd it Ltd a a s Vav a r. V. A. A it. A v Ltd All aboard for Winter it now boarding enthusiasts enjoy the Snow wednesday it a skiing area on Germany a highest Mountain the 1,000-Fopt Zug Spitze South of Garmisch Parten Kirchen along the austrian Border. Freezing weather and Strong winds accompanied the opening of the ski season in the bavarian Region. Span Dahlem Ramstein hike child care fees by Kevin Dougherty Kaiserslautern Bureau Ramstein a Germany a Ramstein and Span Dahlem air bases this week became the fifth and sixth air Force communities in Europe to increase fees at child development centers. In addition to higher weekly rates the child care Center at Ramstein is now charging parents when the child is away on a family vacation. The change ensures a child a Slot is reserved for the weeks he or she is absent a base spokesman said. At Span Dahlem rates have been increased slightly More to cover the unpaid vacation weeks but the rates Are still comparable with Ramstein a a spokesman said. Charging parents for the weeks their child is not at the Center is an option that has been available to military communities for a couple of years said Helga Sellers the director of Spang Dahlem a child development Center. Although the majority of stateside installations have gone that route most military communities in Europe Haven to done so until this year. A spokesman for the army in Europe said child care rates Nave not changed in this fiscal year. Typically army child care centers allow parents to withdraw their children for up to two weeks a year without Cost. The rate increases at Ramstein and Span Dahlem which took effect monday fall within the fee schedule set by the defense department for fiscal 1995. Military installations can adjust their rates within the prescribed Range. Ramstein and Span Dahlem Are not the Only bases in see hike on Page 4 baking up a storm for Christmas see stripes Magazine inside today general in Usa eur picked for Haiti Post a see Page 3 letters to Santa Start today