European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 21, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 14 stars and stripes saturday april 21 2007 stars stripes Thomas l Kelsch publisher Richard Brauk general manager Europe it col Stephen Oconnor commander news and editorial Robb Grindstaff Doug Clawson executive editor managing editor Europe Sara Aro Rhein Europe Bureau chief Joseph Giordono Mideast Bureau chief Mami Mcentee assistant Bureau chief Washington do assistant managing editors Mary Bender news Sean Moores sports Brian Bowers features Christopher six Patrick Dickson news editor Joe Gromelski web editor addresses of mail unit 29480 Apo a 09211 International mail Postrach 1330 64345 Griesheim Germany fac Dan 3498416 Civ 0 email news letters Central office 529 14th Street new suite 350 Washington do 200451301 phone Dan 3127630900 or Civ 202 7610900 fax 202 7610890 editorial director 529 14th St new suite 350 Washington do 200451301 phone Dan 3127630945 or Civ 202 7610945 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7611183 529 14th Street new suite 350 Washington do 200451301 fax Civ 202 7610890 email printed in Germany by Hurr yet As  deutschland printed in Italy by Ettrice Tel Estampa stars and stripes uses 017252 is published daily except Christmas and new years for 50 cents daily and sunday by me stars and stripes Central office 52914th slow suite 350 Washington do 200451301 periodicals postage paid at Washington do postmaster Send address changes to european stars and stripes unit 29480 Apo a 09211 ombudsman David Mazzarella the stars and stripes ombudsman protects the free flow of news and information reporting any attempts by the military or other authorities to undermine the newspapers Independence the ombudsman also responds to concerns and questions from readers and monitors coverage for fairness accuracy timeliness and balance the ombudsman welcomes comments from readers and can be contacted by email at or by phone at 2027610945 european and Pacific stars and stripes 2007 stars and stripes web site  letters to the editor officer Bonus misses Mark one of the hot topics circulating through the army is the recent Bonus that will be offered to company Grade officers in an Effort to increase the retention of captains once again this proves that the army leadership is not listening to its soldiers the army probably chose this incentive after conducting surveys or due to the Suc Cess of the enlisted the Bonus is an easy relatively cheap tactic it appeals to individuals who do not make much to begin with who take it As a Quick influx of Cash to pay off the Bills support the family or buy that new car Junior officers make competitive salaries and Are generally sin Gle or have Small families Many will take the Bonus but Only the officers who Are going to stay in anyway and buy that new car in the end officer separation rates will remain consistent with rates from pre Vious years Junior officers Are not leaving for High repaying jobs or because of deployments senior officers Are Quick to criticize with an assortment of cliches think the grass is Greener but they Are failing to recognize Why these officers Are leaving officers Are leaving because of Choice the army needs to establish a competitive performance based assignment sys tem the current system is arbitrary and results in promising Young officers being placed in insignificant unrewarding jobs for extended periods in Lessith Anidel circumstances and locations a Bonus will not erase four years of apathy and malaise if s never been about the Money at least not to the officers the army wishes to retain those who show Promise and potential and want to be challenged and Excel first la Kevin Howell Mannheim Germany wants his life Back i am one of the soldiers who will be affected by the downrange tour Extension in my 27 months in the military i would Tell us what you think stars and stripes welcomes your comments on editorials and columns that Are published in the newspaper and values letters on topics of importance in the lives of our readers All letters must be signed and must include the writers address or base and Telephone number please limit All letters to 300 words we Reserve the right to edit letters for length taste and clarity Send your i tiers us mail stars and stripes unit 29480 Apo a 09211 International mail stars an stripes Postrach 1330 64345 Griesheim via fax country code 0 Ksn 3498395 email have spent 15 of those months deployed if it is Only three More months then Why wont the Good Secretary of defense Rob Ert Gates deploy for 15 months stand in Long lines just to barely make out his wife voice and not even know his own children i am 21 years old i want to have a life and not spend it in the desert pfc Adam c Diaz Camp Arifian Kuwait dont count on 15 months Many soldiers like the sergeant with the Headquarters and Headquarters com Pany 10th support group on Okinawa be Lieve that the one year at Home is a prom ise that will be kept Tours a blow for morale Pacific gis say article april 15 Pacific the sergeant stated a year at Home guaranteed is a Good thing even though 15 months is a Long time having certainty is better Lef s Analyse this we have been in Iraq for More than four years almost every sin Gle army rotation has been extended the oneyear Tours turned out to be 15 months Long the Only guarantee we have now is that we will stay there for at least 15 booties Bury months but i will not be surprised if it is extended to 18 months the oneyear stabilization is not Guaran teed either Many soldiers have had consecutive deployments in less than a year and pm sure Many More will As soldiers we will always do what is asked of us if we Are told to stay there longer we will i just Hope that the family members Are prepared to Tell the children that Mommy or daddy will not be coming Home for the next 18 months at the end i just Hope if s All Worth it sgt 1st class Roosevelt Preston Wiesbaden Germany pregnancy parking spots help in response to the april 12 letter preg Nancy has its i understand what the letter writer is getting at we have the same problems with parking on my base i also agree that they should make it Only available to those women who Are at least at their second trimester i have seen Many women who Are Only maybe two months along parking there while a full term pregnant woman has to Park at the very end of the parking lot in not sure if the letter writer has Chil Dren but i know i As Well As Many other women hit the seven eight and nine month Marks and our backs Are kill ing us along with Many other pains not to mention if they have other children they have to keep up with these parking spots Are a Blessing to us and we really appreciate them so if s not useless garbage no pregnancy not an achievement but it is a Beautiful part of life i see Many spots rarely getting used but i dont get mad i simply Park where i find a spot and walk my Point is just because the letter writer cannot find a parking space during lunch at the Post office Doest mean she has to get mad about the parking spaces that she Doest see used during the Peak hours get Over it Jordan Gaffey Mishaw airbase Japan by Garry Trudeau so if we go prickly City by Scott Stantis Mansum i mess