Demobilization of reserves sought

Dick Benoit

Thursday, Nov. 21, 2002 | 8:18 a.m.

"The Guard and Reserve have done and continue to do a great job supporting ongoing operations, but we aren't going to keep them mobilized just because it's convenient," Air Force Col. Michael Scott, chief of the Air Force's war mobilization plans division at the Pentagon, said.

The Air Force extended more than 14,000 Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve airmen into a second year in support of operations Enduring Freedom, which is seeking out terrorists around the world, and Noble Eagle, which seeks to protect the United States from terrorist attacks.

However, according to Scott, Air Force leaders are aware of the hardships this extension has caused many reserve component members and their families and employers.

John Truesdale, deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for reserve affairs, said major commands will be responsible for putting together plans for demobilization.

"We've directed major commands to do continuous assessment of their manpower requirements and provide us with plans to demobilize these reserve component members as quickly as possible," he said.

Scott added that these "burn down" plans will be used to scrutinize every operations support plan to address why certain functions cannot be accomplished by active duty people.

"We're serious in our review to make sure any requirement that does call for continued mobilization of airmen is justified and vital to mission accomplishment," he said.

Commissaries scholarship

Applications for the third annual Defense Commissary Agency/Fisher House Foundation Scholarships for military children are available on the Internet (www.commissaries.com) and at the customer service desk at the Nellis commissary and commissaries worldwide.

Qualified sons and daughters of U.S. military ID card holders, to include active duty, National Guard,and Reserve members and retirees, may apply for the $1,500 scholarships.

The program has awarded 920 scholarships and about $1.5 million to military children since its inception.

Completed application forms must be returned no later than Feb. 21.

Art, reading contests

Art Contest 2003, in its eighth year, seeks original artwork from children of military members in kindergarten through sixth grade depicting their active-duty, Reserve or Guard families. Top prizes are $500 U.S. Savings Bonds, and each winner's artwork is used on posters for next year's Military Family Month. The deadline for the contest is Jan. 27.

The seventh annual Armed Services YMCA Essay Contest is open to children in first through 12th grades, with prizes up to $1,000 bonds.

Children of the armed services (active-duty, Reserve, Guard and retired), and civilian employees of the Defense Department and Coast Guard, can enter the contest. Essays can be on any subject related to reading. The deadline for entries is March 17.

Full guidelines for both contests can be found on the Armed Services YMCA website or by e-mailing essaycontest@asymca.org, or by calling (703) 303-9600.

In brief