THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 24, 1995 TAG: 9505240552
SECTION: MILITARY NEWS PAGE: A8 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
F-14 CREW SAFE: A two-man crew from Oceana Naval Air Station safely ejected Monday from an F-14 Tomcat as it crashed into the Mediterranean Sea about 100 miles southeast of Sigonella, Sicily. The pilot, Lt. Cmdr. Douglas Burgoyne, 33, and radar intercept officer, Lt. Todd A. Parker, 27, were flying from the Norfolk-based carrier Theodore Roosevelt. The ship is on a six-month deployment. Both men were rescued by a helicopter from the carrier. They are assigned to Fighter Squadron 41 in Virginia Beach. The cause of the mishap is under investigation.
CARRIER VISIT: The aircraft carrier George Washington will be open for public tours 1-4 p.m. Monday, Memorial Day, at Norfolk Naval Station. Enter at Gate 2, the north end of Hampton Boulevard.
DENTAL DISPUTE: The General Accounting Office is scheduled to decide by the end of June on a protest from a losing bidder that has stalled a changeover in the dental plan contract for active duty family members. Delta Dental Plan, which now holds the contract with the Defense Department's TRICARE program, filed an objection to the selection of United Concordia Cos. Inc. of Camp Hill, Pa. The switch had been scheduled for August but will be delayed for six months. Meantime, premiums for dental coverage are scheduled to decrease beginning July 1 - for example, from $10 to $6.77 for a single family member.
DIRECT DEPOSIT FOR VETS: Veterans can enroll by phone in a new program that deposits their benefits directly into their bank. The offer is meant to promote wider participation in the Department of Veterans Affairs direct-deposit program. A benefits counselor will take necessary information over the telephone and enroll veterans in the program, which electronically credits their bank accounts each month. The number is (800) 827-1000. For information, call the state Department of Veterans Affairs at (804) 683-8571. COMINGS & GOINGS
CHANGE OF COMMAND
Army Col. Franklin F. Wise relinquishes command of Fort Story to Lt. Col. Fred C. Barrell III in ceremonies today. Wise is retiring after a 30-year career. Barrell comes to Fort Story from Fort Eustis in Newport News, where he was a staff member for the Army Transportation School.
Col. William R. Looney III relieves Brig. Gen. Gregory S. Martin on May 23 as commanding officer of the 1st Fighter Wing at Langley Air Force Base. Looney is commander of the 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Martin will become joint staff deputy director of force structure and resources at the Pentagon.
Ships Active-duty personnel
1990 580 1993 Officers 71,446
1992 519 Enlisted 454,945
1993 464 This week Officers 59,400
This week 374 Enlisted 384,200,485 by CNB