The Fort Hood Sentinel (Temple, Tex.), Vol. 37, No. 7, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 20, 1978 Page: 4 of 24
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4 -A
THE FT. HOOD SENTINEL hursday
Why should soldiers
give to the AERfund?
The Army Emergency Relief
(AER) is having their annual
fond drive. AER is a fond set
up to help soldiers out in case
of financial emergency.
Last year on Ft. Hood the
AER program loaned out
$293000. The post was only
asked to donate $45000. This
year the goal for Ft. Hood is
the same $45000.
anyone connected with the
RIGGER $ COMPANY
THE N E TIME
YOU MAKE COFF
MAKE IT S
W E E IT LESS
S O N I
S
Army holding an ID card has
an immediate financial crisis
which threatens their welfare
and has exhausted all other
possibilities is eligible for help
under the AER program.
Soldiers on Ft. Hood have
their own reasons for giving to
AER. Here are some of the re-
masons that Ft. Hood soldiers
feel make AER a worthwhile
cause.
SFC HAROLD DECK
E Co. 227th Avn. Bn.
IstCav.Div.
“They should donate because
they never know when they are
going to need the money back.
CAPT. LOMAN E. MILLER
DENTAC Dental Co.
“I would tell them that the
fund is set up for them to help
themselves if they ever need
it.”
PVT. 2 CINDY TROTT
HHCIH Corps
“It is like a special help for
military that they can go to
when they are in debt or
something.”
SGT. DAN FISHER
HHT 7/17 Cav. 6th ACCB
“It stays for ourselves we
use it for each other it’s for the
Army and not for anyone else.”
PVT. 2 CHRISTOPHER
PERRY
HHC IH Corps
“To have funds available to
help individual soldiers.
FT. HOOD SENTINEL
ublished in the interest of military and civilian personnel a Ft. Hood. Tex. every hursday bv Bell Publishing
om pany. em ple Tex. Policies and statem en ts reflected in the new and editorial columns rep resen views of the in-
dividual rite rs and er no circu stances are to be considered those of the epartm en of the A rm y. A dvertise-
ents in this publication do not constitute an endorsement bv the ep artm ent of efense of th products services
ad rtised All new a tte fo publication should be sent to the Public A ffairs Office Ft. Hood SEN TIN EL Ft.
Hood. Tex. 76544 elephone 685-2436. This is not an official A rm new spaper. ow ever this publication receives A rm
News S ervice a terial an ap rs are authorized to reprin noncopvright ARNEW S material without permission from
ARNEW S.
FORUM197820April
PR-yoR
E W
O
Editorial
By BARBARA J. SORENSEN
The young private quickly entered the of-
fice and looked around. In a pleading voice
he said to the woman behind the desk
“Miss I need to talk to someone about a
loan. My car broke down my wife’s mother
died and she went home and I have the
baby but no money for the electric bill.
They’re gonna shut it off and the food is
running out. I’m broke I can’t afford a
babysitter please” he begged in a
strained voice “can you help me?”
SHE SMILED UP at him and in a sym-
pathetic voice explained “I’m sorry we
won’t be able to help you. Do you re-
member that fund drive we kept extending
last year?”
“Yes” answered the confused soldier.
‘'Well it seems few had the compassion
or concern to contribute so we’ve decided
Commentary■
By MAR DAVIS
DIDN'T^
HAVE TO
ATE
TS WAY
OUT/
The objective of the Army is to provide a
service.
Although numerous products are
generated in the Army’s effort the even-
tual result is a service which no other or-
ganization can provide.
The defense of the nation can certainly be
categorized as a service.
As apart of that service the Army
employs hundreds—even thousands—of
people who themselves provide a service.
Their job of providing service fits into the
goal of the Army.
1116 service provided by the Army is
big—larger than any other one organiza-
tion.
Unfortunately as big gets bigger the dis-
ease called bureaucracy takes over.
No one knows when exposure takes place
or even how long the incubation period is.
Bureaucracy is very apparent in its ad-
vanced stages.
It is characterized by triplicate copy re-
quests acronyms like “NLT” “ASAP”
and phrases like “Replay to the Attention
of.”
The more advanced the case of
bureaucracy the more prevalent are the
acronyms.
The acronyms result from a conscious
desire on the part of the patient to speed up
communication but in doing so the whole
process slows down.
NOT BECAUSE OF the acronyms but
because of the advanced stages that pro-
moted the patient to dream them up.
A few years ago I had the misfortune to
come to Washington D.C. on a TDY
(another acronym).
I had arrived by military air but since
there was not military aircraft returning I
would have to get a TR (another) and then
an airline ticket.
I arrived at the proper office to get a TR
and there I found four ladies sitting behind
a bench looking for all the world like
(Ed. note Forum is dedicated to personal viewpoints expressed in editorials and commentaries. Free lance writers are invited to participate in the Forum.
All comments should be addressed to: Editor Ft. Hood SENTINEL and must be signed.)
The 133$ A tm Emergency Belief Fund cam-
paign will be conducted at Ft Hood April 13
their families in times of emergencies
brought on by conditions beyond their control.
Hany times such basic needs as food clothing
and shelter are met by monies obtained from
AEE
AER funds come from contributions of soldiers
and others interested in the welfare of sol&ers
and their families. This year's goal of $15008 can
be met if we ail help. Let us make true the
slogan uThe Army takes care of its own” by do-
A dvertising copy should be sent to: Business Office P.O. Box 868 Tem ple Tex. 76501 or Business Office. P.O. Box
27 111 N worth Second illeen Tex. 76541. Subscription off post $7.00 per year. $2.00 forth ree onths. istribution on
post free.
nless otherwise credited all pictures are United S tates A rm photographs. nless otherwise noted the publication
of th se is not restricted except in cases involving republication for advertising purposes a which tim permission of
the ep artm en df the A rm ust be obtained.
E ery thin ad ertised in this publication ust be ade available for purch ase use or patron age without regard to
the ra creed color national origin or sex of the rchaser ser patron. A confirmed violation or rejection of
AER cancelled due to lack of funds
to close down this month due to lack of
funds.”
“But I thought the Army Emergency
Relief would go on forever even if I didn’t
help the government has lots of money
what happened?”
“Well people often take things for grant-
ed when they are available all the time.
Our intensive drive didn’t work. We
thought if you felt the loss without us you
all might find it within your hearts to make
a small contribution just as a thank you
for always being here. Very few thanked
us.”
“But what about my baby. He couldn’t
help it and he’s gonna go hungry.”
“Neither could we” retorted the woman
as the phone rang......
With a start the soldier woke up to the
shrill sound of the alarm clock. The dream
haunted his conscience as he lay in bed
struggling to get up.
Supreme Court Justices ready to pass sen-
tence.
I hesitantly walked up to the nearest and
asked if this is where I get a TR.
“Overseas or CONUS?” she asked.
“Overseas” I replied.
SHE GAVE ME a blank stare for a mo-
ment and then her eyes began to rise conti-
nuing upward until she was looking straight
over her head. I too looked up and saw sus-
pended over her head like a protecting
halo a sign that quietly proclaimed
“Stateside Travel.”
“Ok” I said. “Where do I get an over-
seas FT?” I should have known better than
to ask. She turned her head to the left and
as I followed her eyes I spotted another
sign that said “Overseas Travel.”
I knew I was making progress and I
tried not to think about my car illegally
parked in the south parking lot.
Although it pained me very much to in-
terrupt the quiet solitude of the next lady I
asked if I could get an overseas TR.
She looked up and said “Would you
please take a number and I’ll be with you
shortly.” I was the only alien soul in the
place and she wants me to take a number.
I looked around and sure enough on the
opposite wall was placed a sign and the in-
evitable stock of numbers.
The sign erroneously proclaimed that
they could provide better service if ever-
yone took a number and a seat.
I looked around to see if I was on Candid
Camera or something equally absurd. But
no so I took a number and took my seat.
No sooner had I sat down in the chair did
she announce “Number One.” Sure enough
that was my number.
QUICKLY I GOT up and presented her
with the number and she presented me with
a very mechanical and recording-like
sounding “May I help you?
I finally got the TR but only as a result of
impersonal grudgingly given assistance.
That is bureaucracy at its worst.
MARVIN 0 FULLER
Lieutenant Oeneral USA
Commanding
Army suffers from bureaucracy-itis
CG issues AER Passover messages
“It was only a nightmare. I know AER
isn’t going to close but just imagine if it
did. What would I have done?” he realized
in an instant.
EARLY HE ENTERED his first
sergeant’s office and plopped down a crisp
new bill. “It’s not much first sergeant but I
want to make sure Billy Jr. will always get
fed. Sorry I kept ignoring your drive for
contributions” said the solemn soldier.
With a puzzled acknowlegement the first
sergeant deposited the bill in the AER fund
drive envelope and gave him a receipt.
No AER wouldn’t close down but ac-
cording to current statistics the AER pro-
gram has loaned out over $293000 to more
than 2500 needy people in the last year.
Last year the post was asked to donate only
$45000 in the AER fund drive.
Again this year even after the tremen-
dous help AER has been for these needy
soldiers the goal is still set for only $45000.
If there is a bureaucracy at its best it can
only be seen inbrief glimmers in individual
people who have not been smothered in the
quagmire of impersonality.
Impersonality and grudingly given
service have come to be away of life in
Washington D.C. but it is not by any
stretch of the imagination localized to that
region.
There are however occasional times
when the ability of individuals to overcome
the bureaucracy stand out like a beacon in
the night.
I caught the DoD bus back to the Pen-
tagon from the Forrestal Building the other
day and after all the passengers had
boarded an elderly gentleman boarded
the bus.
He was well dressed in a conservative
sport coat and carried a breif case. He of-
fered to pay the fare for the ride to the Pen-
tagon.
THE DRIVER ADVISED him that he
could not pay on this bus and he would have
to catch another bus to get to the Pentagon.
He told her that he was a retired colonel
and needed to get to the Pentagon and was
unfamiliar with the bus schedules.
She then advised him that he would have
to get off and catch the other bus.
An Air Force major sitting on the first
row spoke up and said “That’s OK driver I
recognize him. He’s with me.” The driver
presented with away out of a potentially
difficult decision said OK.
Then the elderly gentleman sat down
next to the major and then I could see that
he had several miniature lapel pins on his
coat.
He was obviously proud of who he was
and what he had done. He immediately
thanked the major for helping him out.
I COULD ONLY hear brief parts of the
conversation as he told the major that he
was in town for a reunion with General
Omar Bradley. He had received a letter
from the general personally signed
to edit all copy to conform ith SEN TIN EL journalistic standard s.
Bob athis. 778-4444 ........
W alter M. TiI lev 526-5141
April Thom ason. 526-5141
On the occasion of Passever-the Jewish
Festival Freedom—I extend my warmest
greetings and best wishes to all personnel of the
Passover the symbol of liberation from bon-
dage has been a source of inspiration to various
peoples throughout history as they have sought
to cast off the yoke of tyranny This Biblical
tradition continues to express Hie yearnings of a
major sector of mankind*
As Jewish families the world over celebrate
Passover this year we at 01 Corps and Ft. Rood
join with them in rededieating ourselves to the
ideals of freedom*
The AER program is the Army’s way of
fin an cially taking care of those
servicemembers who come upon financial
difficulties due to reasons beyond their con-
trol.
Anyone connected with the Army hold-
ing an ID card has an immediate uncon-
trollable financial crisis which threatens
their welfare and has exhausted all other
possibilities is eligible for quick action by
the AER.
OF THE $293000 a percentage of this was
paid out in grants with no return and the
rest was interest-free loans.
These figures alone show an overwhelm-
ing need for the AER program. The AER
may never put up a closed sign but AER
should not be taken for granted. It’s nice to
say “Thank You” for being there just in
case.
which invited him to the reunion of the
General’s staff from the days of Normandy
invasion and march across Europe.
HE CAREFULLY OPENED the letter to
show the major and pointed out the real
signature of the general.
He then told the major of some of the
days before Normandy and some personal
remembrance of the general.
He again thanked the major for helping
him out and the major replied “That’s OK
sir. That’s a small thing compared to the
service you’ve performed for the country.”
I could never have said something like
that for fear of sounding trite but the ma-
jor said it with sincerity and the retired col-
onel seemed deeply moved that there was
still a place and time that what he did and
what he was could be appreciated.
Everyone around was moved by the ex-
perience and then others around him
began asking questions about the “old
days” and how it was in the war.
Someone offered to help him find the of-
fice he was looking for in the Pentagon and
another checked the return bus schedule to
make sure he did not miss it.
I only hope someone would vouch for him
on the return trip.
A bureaucracy runs on rules and to be
honest most are necessary but the excep-
tions although occassionally provided for
are seldom communicatecT to the people
who have to carry them out.
THE SYSTEM WORKS best when the re-
gulations are attacked from the positive
end. If the person asks what’s the best
service I can provide and if possible can I
do more than absolutely required.
What’s wrong with saying “We normally
don’t handle that but I think we can help
you out.”
If you can help fine. If not cheerfully ad-
vise the person where the right office is and
how to get there.
The “system” will work better for ever-
yone.
MARVIN D. FULLER
Lieutenant Ceneral USA
Commanding
................ A dvertising manager
.K illeen Sales ep rasentative
..K illeen Sales epresentative
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The Fort Hood Sentinel (Temple, Tex.), Vol. 37, No. 7, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 20, 1978, newspaper, April 20, 1978; Temple, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth309344/m1/4/: accessed May 21, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Casey Memorial Library.