European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 30, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 12 letters to the editor Friday december 30.1994 thes european edition col Steven s. Hoffman Usan Corr tinder publisher Bernard a. Zovistoski editor news and editorial Deborah Abener. Newt editor bin Walker european editor Bob Wicker sports editor George Menee City editor to write us unit 29480 apoae09211 orpostfach111437 64278 Darmstadt Germany news Tel fax 06155-601416 to Call 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, business news ext. 326. New bureaus Heidelberg Germany Effie Bathen. Room 117, to Mettr. 104, 691 is Heidelberg Telephone Dan 370 7010 or civilian 06221-23421 Tel fax 06221-10554, Kaiserslautern Germany Kevin Dougherty and Doyle Tirman. By wino 2899, Putraw Barracks Apo a 09227-3717 Telephone Dan 4894585 or civilian 0631 62104 Tel fax Dan 489-6357 or civilian 0631-5366357. Nurnberg. Germany Ron Jensen building 21. Wil Liam o. Darby Cavern Apo a 09222 Telephone Dan 460-7250 or civilian 0911-712563 Tel fax 0911-717130. Wurzburg. Germany j. P. Barham building 220. Room 109, a Ulenberg Cavern Apo a 09036 Tele phone Dan 351-4289 or civilian 0931-286956 Tel fax 0931896770. Mediterranean sue Palumbo and Marian Hamilton Naples Italy pc Bio Box 56, Fpo a 09619 Tele phone Dan 625-4880 or civilian 0817624049/4547 Tele fax 003m1-7624048. Northern Italy j. Wolfl Cruler pc 64. Box 473 Apo a 09601 Telephone Dan 632-6176 or conman 0039-434-66-8176 Tel fax 0039-434-668222. United kingdom Nancy Tomer Marc Mcfann and Dave a Toto. Building 464 Cess us Raf mlle shall Apo a 09459 Telephone Dan 238-2226 or civilian 0638-542226 Tel fax 0638-718013. Mew York City Timothy calf a. Room 638, 201 Vark St. New York 10014 Telephone 212-620-3333 Tel fax. 212420-3268.a Washington . Chuck Vlinch and Cindy Wollon Oast a. Try Pentagon room 2e756 . Box 46095, Washington . 20050-6095 Telephone 703 687-6695 Tel fax 703-693-6366. Business departments maj Richard k. Major Usa Deputy commander Jeffrey h. Kingdom comptroller Jamew Yeook circulation manager T circulation. Toll free customer service for Home or office delivery inquiries or delivery problems Call 24 hours Germany 0130-840048 Belgium 07811-8775 Italy 1678-3456 United kingdom 800-898854 Netherlands 06-022-7629 Spain 900-99-4955 Tel fax 06155-601436 Germany aus Burn civilian 0821-544529, Tel fax 0821-544565. Berun civilian 030-6331b48, Dan 332-3548. Kaiserslautern Caton 0631-57070 or 87079, Dan 489-7100, Tel fax 0631-50696. Nurnberg civilian 0911-712558. Dan 460-7001. Stuttgart 0130-640048. Italy Naples civilian 003941-724480, Dan 625-4880, Tele fax 0039-81-7244489. 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Parents to blame too As i opened a recent Issue of the Sta Sand stripes i was disgusted to read that yet another Soldier was convicted of sex Ual crimes against a minor. This was the second conviction in a Many months at Stuttgart s Patch bar Racks involving the same  single service members living in these Barracks we Are concerned that the parents Are not taking responsibility for their own  Are expected to be responsible for Pur own actions. Why Are married serv ice members not held accountable for their own children s actions we Are getting fed up with the irresponsible single service members that Only think of themselves and Label us responsible single service members As child  that ultimately the service member is responsible for what has happened it seems As if the parents should accept some of the responsibility. ,.-. Bottom line is that parents should take a serious look at what their children redoing and get involved with How they Are spending their free time. Scott Fitzgerald Stuttgart Germany to our readers Letu know what you think we encourage our readers especially those who have never submitted a letter to write to us. Letters expressing readers View Points or opinions Are published Dally on this Page. All letters must be signed and include address and Telephone number. Send to letters to the editor the stars and stripes unit 29480, Apo a 09211. Or fax country code 49 06155 601-395, Dan 348-8395. We Reserve the right to edit letters for clarity length and taste. Fluence teen i would be livid. As it Isi m just thrilled to be an educator am know that the stars and stripes has now. Planted in the minds of Many teens the desire to take part in body branding. Are you so hard up for worthy new that this is where your journalism is headed get a grasp on what your responsibility to the entire department of defense Community is and then get you altogether. Willuam l. Belica Ramstein a Germany slow news Day you cannot believe How unimpressed 1was to see not one but two pictures of a nearly nude woman depicting body branding recently. It must have been a very slow Day because this particular trash rated Page 2 and Page 4. If i were a Parent of an easily in thankful for neighbors i am writing to express my thanks to everyone at in Ciurlik a Turkey who helped us put after our House flooded last month. The base response to the flood victim was outstanding from col Barry who was out there filling sandbags to All the people neighbors and strangers who were a our House trying to get our belongings but these Days when everyone seems to be complaining about someone or something it is reassuring to know that at in Ciurlik at least everyone can come together without a Sec Ond thought to help strangers and Friend alike. -.".  Troy j.  Turkey military update thousands of  Active duty during the draw Down have received extra Cash of mistake an the Pentagon in t confident about get Ting it  the Rush to Cut Force size the serv ices made millions of dollars in overpay ments to an undetermined number or de parting members says the Pentagon inspector general. Overpayment to individuals Haye ranged from several Hun dred dollars to several thousand. In a report released in late december the inspector general blames the problem on shoddy bookkeeping. Officials Esti mate that no More than a third of the Money will be returned. The breakdown in controls was particularly serious for the army the re port says. The Navy and Marine corps also had problems though less serious. Only the air Force did an excellent Job of ensuring that personnel who separated were not in the government s  auditors decided to investigate after indebtedness among people leaving Active duty ballooned 47 percent from june 1991 to april 1993, to reach $303.8 million. People leave Active duty from More than 750 Sites throughout the unite states. Auditors examined pay records at Only 11 Sites to learn what went  audit turned to 630 debtors Sepa rated from january through March 1993owing the government a total of $553,000, or an average of $878 per serv ice member. The in found almost two thirds of these debtors had left Active duty before their scheduled separation dates either because they were forced out or enticed to leave with separation bonuses. The overpayment problem usually occurred because the member Sunit failed to notify finance officials of the new separation Date in a timely Way. Therefore automatic pay ments and allot ments continued after separation. The air Force protected against this by requiring units to notify finance centers of revised separation dates three months Tom Philpott before  units the worst offenders often waited until the Day soldiers separated or even Days after separation to notify the finance centers. All the services made other errors too involving Lump sum leave miscalculated taxes and simple addition that Lead Tomore overpayment. In March 1993, an Eye popping 37 per cent of soldiers who left service did so owing the government Money. The indebtedness rate was 18 percent among departing sailors 17 percent among marines and 5 percent for the air Force. The in criticizes the defense finance and accounting service in Alexandria va., for setting a cushy goal that no More than 15 percent of members should leave owing the government. The air Force goal of 5 percent is a More realistic approach the report says. R the services and the finance Agency say corrective actions Are being made. Pay study launched the Pentagon has begun a yearlong study of military compensation with an unusual two prong Agenda solve some prickly Short term problems while designing a compensation system for the 21st  every president since Lyndon Johnson has been required by Law to conduct a re View of service pay or benefits every fou years. This then is the eighth quadrennial review of military compensation. Such studies have a checker past. Some results have been timely and impressive sparking important  were tomes that presidents and lawmakers found easy to ignore. Defense officials while not dismissing the lofty goal of pay system overhaul want the review to address some immedi ate concerns for the Clinton administration. Here Are two should pay raises be targeted by rank president Clinton has agreed to support military pay hikes through 2001that fall one half percentage Point below civilian wage growth. This could Aggra vate a perceived pay Gap with the private sector. One option the review might study is to vary the size of raises by rank perhaps holding Down recruit pay to give bigger increases to senior enlisted serv ice members or to officers so their pay stays More competitive. Is there a better Way to pay housing allowances annual adjustments in Basic allowance for quarters and variable housing allowance Are not tied directly to housing costs in the private sector. Officials would like the review to consider single allowance alternative for stateside areas one that would keep Pace with rental costs off base. Readers comments and suggestions Are welcomed. Write to military update co editor the stars and stripes unit 29480, Apo a 09211. 4 Okay th15&  to pairing a  top with a goip0ro Cape or apricott�&-&ng6anp White a. No.nqof1h5twoteio i think it says?1995 i think it