At Your Service
For and about Hawaii's militaryBy Gregg K. Kakesako
See also: For Your Benefit
Air Force ups spending
in isles by $43 mil in ’01
The Air Force says it spent $43 million more here during the last fiscal year, although the number of people employed at Hickam Air Force Base dropped by more than 100, to 9,701. Overall, the Air Force pumped more than $538 million into the state's economy through payroll, construction and services, supplies and equipment contracts. The greatest increase was attributed to the payroll at Hickam Air Force Base, which was up by $30 million for a total of $382 million for the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30. Major construction contracts held steady at $41 million while contracts for services, supplies and equipment decreased slightly to $74 million.
USS Chafee to be based at Pearl in fall of 2003
The Navy's newest guided missile destroyer, USS Chafee (DDG 90), is now under construction at Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine, and is scheduled for commissioning in the fall of 2003. It will be home-ported at Pearl Harbor. The current skipper is Cmdr. Yvette BrownWhaler, who was temporarily assigned to head the Family Emergency Center following the Sept. 11 attacks. The Chafee is the 40th destroyer of the Arleigh Burke class and the 22nd to be built at Bath. The ship is named after former Sen. John Chafee of Providence, R.I., who also was secretary of the Navy, Rhode Island governor and war hero -- a Marine veteran of Guadalcanal.
Army OKs medal-wearing for soldiers in terror war
The Army has approved soldiers who are actively involved in operations Enduring Freedom and Noble Eagle to wear certain insignia and medal devices. Any reservist who was mobilized for Noble Eagle and Enduring Freedom is eligible to receive the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with "M" device. Volunteers are also eligible, but their orders should cite that duty is in support of the war on terrorists. Also, the sleeve insignia for former wartime service and overseas service bars have been approved for soldiers who have been assigned to units that have participated in ground operations during Operation Enduring Freedom.
Bill reduces reservists' retirement age to 55
U.S. Rep. Jim Saxton, R-N.J., has introduced a bill that would lower to 55 from 60 the age at which a reservist may begin receiving retirement pay. The bill would amend the federal law to lower the age for receipt of military retired pay for nonregular service from 60 to 55. If enacted into law, the bill would take effect on the first day of the first month beginning on or after the date of the enactment and would apply to retired pay payable for that month and subsequent months.
Pentagon devising plan for anthrax vaccinations
Defense officials expect to announce within a month what shape the new anthrax vaccine immunization program will take.In 1998 the Pentagon began a program to vaccinate all service members against the disease, but came under public criticism because of some service members' fears about the vaccine's safety. Critics became more vocal when officials scaled back the program several times due to vaccine shortages. Bioport, today's sole manufacturer of the vaccine, received final FDA approval last January to resume production and distribute more vaccine. Defense Department officials are now looking at how or even whether to continue the previous program of full vaccination of all service members. Pending are a scientific review of the vaccine's safety, a study of the current regimen of six shots over 18 months, and an evaluation of methods of administering the vaccine.
Gregg K. Kakesako can be reached by phone at 294-4075
or by e-mail at gkakesako@starbulletin.com.
