THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, January 10, 1996 TAG: 9601100484
SECTION: MILITARY NEWS PAGE: A6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Staff report
LENGTH: Medium: 83 lines
PAY RAISE LIMITED: Though President Clinton and Republican congressional leaders agreed Saturday on a new plan to at least temporarily put the federal government back in operation, part of a military pay raise remains in limbo. Paychecks service members will receive this week will reflect only a 2 percent increase, not the 2.4 percent Congress approved last fall. Service members also are getting only an extra 2 percent in their basic housing allowance, not the 5.2 percent that had been promised. The smaller increases are the most that can be provided because Clinton vetoed a defense authorization bill that would have allowed the full payment. The bill sets policies for all defense spending. Clinton supports the pay boost, but vetoed the legislation principally because of a dispute over provisions concerning deployment of ballistic missile defenses. For almost all service members, the missing 0.4 percent amounts to only a few dollars per paycheck. Clinton and Congress have indicated that back pay will be provided when the authorization bill dispute is finally resolved.
LANGLEY F-15S IN ICELAND: Five F-15C fighters from the 1st Fighter Wing at Langley Air Force Base in Hampton deployed Thursday to Keflavik Naval Air Station, Iceland. The 90-day deployment involves parts of all three Langley squadrons, totaling six pilots and 60 support personnel. F-15s normally assigned to Keflavik were replaced by deployed forces from U.S.-based units beginning a year ago because of force restructuring. Their presence is to intercept and engage any unknown aircraft entering the Icelandic Military Air Defense Idenfication Zone.
SOAPBOX DERBY OF THE SEA: Tim Cullis and Steve Bridgeman, volunteers from the Naval Surface Warfare Center, captured fourth place in their 13-foot submarine Mermaid II in the 4th International Human Powered Submarine Races held at the warfare center in Bethesda, Md. Competing against a fleet of 12 other submarines from universities and organizations, their 400-pound ``wet'' submarine (they used Scuba gear to breathe, recorded a speed of 4.37 knots over a 100-meter, indoor course. The biennial races are sponsored by the Foundation for Underwater Research and Education. Tennessee Technoligical University's entry, Torpedo II, set a world speed record of 5.359 knots.
CARRIER HORNET NOT SCRAPPED: The former Essex-class carrier Hornet, once destined for the scrap pile, will be retained in the Navy's Ship Donation Program for possible use as a naval museum. The ship will remain at Alameda, Calif., until Jan. 1, 1997. Organizations may submit applications to the Navy to see if they qualify to obtain the ship. The Hornet, commissioned Nov. 23, 1943, conducted combat operations in the Pacific during World War II. It served during the Vietnam War and was the prime recovery ship for the Apollo 11 and 12 moon missions before it was retired in 1970. Informatiuon concerning donation requirements may be obtained from: Naval Sea Systems Command Congressional and Public Affairs, 2531 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, Va., 22151-5160, or call 703-602-1574.
SENIOR SAILOR QUALIFIES: Fifty-five-year old Navy Cmdr. Jim Lake has qualified for the 100th running of the Boston Marathon with a time of 3:34:08. Lake, commanding officer of the Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal School in Indian Head, Md., has been in training for the past four years. He had to complete the 26-mile run in a qualifying time of less than 3 hours and 35 minutes. The Boston Marathon will be run on April 15.
COMINGS & GOINGS
DEPARTING:
The destroyer Caron is scheduled to leave Norfolk at 10 a.m. today for a six-month deployment to the Middle East Force. The 336-member crew, commanded by Cmdr. Steven W. Nerheim, will be joined by the Mayport-based guided missile frigate Underwood. The ships will visit Cape Town, South Africa, from Jan. 20 to Feb. 2 before continuing on to the Arabian Gulf. They are to relieve the Norfolk-based frigate Elrod and Mayport-based cruiser Vicksburg.
The Aegis-class cruisers Anzio and Cape St. George left Norfolk Saturday for Hawaii, where they will demonstrate to the Pacific Fleet their revolutionary Cooperative Engagement Capability, an inititive to counter threats from modern aircraft and missiles. The ships will participate in Exercise Mountain Top, involving Army Patriot missile batteries, an Air Force airborne early warning system aircraft, a Marine Hawk missile battery and Navy surface and air assets. Anzio, commanded by Capt. David Shaw, and Cape St. George, commanded by Capt. Al Fraser, will return in early March. by CNB