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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (March 1, 1982)
HB9HHSMHH3H national Battalion/Page 12 March 1, 1982 lU.S. spends $15 million Green Berets train troops United Press International j FORT BRAGG, N.G. — With Title fanfare, an entire battalion of Salvadoran troops is being •trained by the famed U.S. Green ; Berets and at least partially -^equipped in the United States. The 1,000 troops here plus nearly 500 in officer training at IFort Benning, Ga., make up ^nearly a tenth of El Salvador’s .army. „ The Salvadorans, who ar rived in the U.S. wearing civilian Tclothes, are training in U.S. Jmilitary fatigues and using M16 .. rifles. Pentagon spokesmen said I the weapons and uniforms will return to El Salvador with the troops. Many of the Salvadorans appear to be teenagers. The training they are receiving, according to military officials, is similar to basic training in the American armed services. Col. Paul D. Fisher, deputy commander of the John F. Ken nedy Center for Military Assist- -ahce here, says Army Special Forces personnel, popularly known as Green Berets, are in volved in the training because that essentially is their mission. “A Special Forces soldier is a teacher,” Fisher said. “He is not some 18-foot-tall gun-toting sol dier. He is a teacher.” It is estimated the U.S. will spend about $15 million on the training, which is expected to last about 10 weeks. Nearly a year is allotted to give the same training to U.S. soldiers but, said Lt. Col. Harold G. Isaacson, public information officer for the JFK Center, “The time frame is not' taking any thing away from the training.” He said U.S. troops would spend a lot of the time on leave or in transit while the Salvador ans are training six days a week and for longer hours. As to the quality of the trainees, he said, “We were told ahead of time they were very eager to learn and there has been nothing to dispute it.” Despite the cost, the Reagan administration apparently has decided it is politically cheaper All are welcome to attend a free lecture entitled: 'Family: Proving Ground for God's Love" given by to bring the Salvadorans to the Green Berets than to send the Green Berets to the Salva dorans. The U.S. has been sending in structors into El Salvador, mak ing sure they are kept away from the fighting. Sending the num ber of Green Berets needed to train the Salvadoran force would only play into the hands of critics who claim the country is once again on the road to a war it cannot win. In the pine thickets and red clay of this 130,000-acre North Carolina base, the Salvadoran soldiers are learning military tecnmques that they can use against leftist guerrillas in the jungles and mountains of their own country. It includes use of Communications equipment as well as day and night tactics with emphasis on squad teamwork. Additionally, Isaacson said: “They are receiving instruction, as do American units, in the code of conduct and in the Geneva convention and the laws of land warfare. “That whole spectrum deals not only with how you behave as a prisoner should you be cap tured but how you should treat prisoners and how you should treat the civilian population in your area of operations.” Largely, the Salvadorans stay to themselves. Fort Bragg offi cials have declined news media requests to interview the Salva dorans or watch the training. Col. Isaacson said the decision to exclude the media was made by the Salvadorans and not U.S. officials. Isaason said the Salvadorans fear there will be reprisals against their families in El Salva dor if their names or photos appear in U.S. newspapers. “There is a real sense of vul nerability among these people,” he said. The Salvadoran commanders have kept the troops confined to Fort Bragg. Fort Bragg is the home of the 82nd Airborne Division, which is part of the nation’s first strike force, and of a super secret anti terrorist unit whose complex is hidden behind a barbwire- topped fence. That unit drew international attention in 1980 when it was learned it was involved in the unsuccessful attempt to rescue the hostages in Iran. But it is two gleaming white buildings that are drawing the attention now, for they are the home of the Green Berets. The buildings house the JFK Center, essentially the operational arm of the Green Beret, and the In stitute for Military Assistance, primarily responsible for the training of the Special Forces enlisted men and officers. Although the JFK Center has trained foreign officers on a li mited basis, this marks the first time that a foreign unit the size of the Salvadoran contingent has come to the U.S. for training. The combat role of the Green Berets is to create havoc behind enemy lines. Ellen Shank Collins, a member of the 7 Christian Science Board of Lecture- j) ship. March 1 8:00 p.m. All Faith's Chapel Sanctuary ‘We Need Your Head to Run Our Business!' BILL'S BARBER 6e Roffler Style Shop Hair Styling For Men dr Women "A Great Cut at a Reasonable Price!" 215 University (next to Campus Theatre) 846-2228 Open Mon.-Sat: Appointments Available Moving up Mike Whatley, a senior forest science major from Amarillo, climbs a 20-foot United Presi Females lanetary spao i the science V’s “Battlesta In real lift met Earth, male Navy p she can — \ photo by Karen Kaltj _ to get Comb elf and other he military. pole in the annual Skidadoo forestry Tosemary E competition. leutenant cc leen pushing s —ombat trainin LOUPOT S a t m ££ OFF CAMPUS CORNER (At The Corner Across From The Post Office) rr Preleasing For Fall Whether you are moving off campus for the first time or just plan to change your current residence, now is the time to begin looking for fall housing. Many area apartment complexes begin leasing for the fall during March and April. If you are interested in living in a particular complex, this is a good time to contact the manager. As the summer progresses, apartment availability declines and your choices are limited. Before you actually begin to look for your housing, decide what you are interested in — the type of housing, location, and most importantly, the amount you can afford to pay for rent and electricity. Other criteria may be the length of the lease, whether or not pets are allowed and the amount of privacy the housing allows. You may decide an apartment complex does not suit your needs. However, most homes, duplexes, rooms in homes and mobile homes do not begin advertising fall vacancies until the summer months. After you have made some initial decisions, come by the Off Campus Center. The Center maintains a comprehen sive rental listing service which includes up-to-date infor mation on availability and prices. The Off Campus Center does not approve or recommend housing. Therefore, it is important that you ask your friends and other off campus students about where they have lived. Ask specifically what they liked and why. After finding a place that interests you, knock ojna few doors and ask the tenants if they are happy with the environment, the management and other services. Tenants will usually be frank if they are unhappy with their apartments. Store bills emale pilots. JRshe said a: ampaign she >artiai credit fi >f women fl; ‘Battlestar Gal I “When t< reduced rvomen warm generation of ;hen you know impact on soci United Press International Mariner Cal NEW YORK — A new stud'early. It’s also ii on energy savings indicates f'father, Capt. < costs can be reduced by millw'an Air Force p of dollars in American supckilled in a eras markets. H Typical annual savings f Mariner saic 1015 percent have already bet lection of her f realized in 230 supermarketsu wanted to fly ; ing microprocessor-based s' remember. Sh terns to control refrigeratidtoaNavy flyer heating, air conditioning, ligf mas Mariner J ing and delicatessen equipmer bat craft the study showed. f The petite Phil Kruger, spokesman f ches, 112 poo Honeywell’s Energy Manajf long-term goa ment Center, said $52 of tf expanded rol< annual grocery bill for a faint women.” of four in the Northeast goesfo To help ad supermarket fuel bills. BE The Off Campus Center also maintains a Complaint File which may be helpful in finding out about other students' experiences in various apartment complexes. It is a good idea to select your roommate before signing a lease. The Off Campus Center offers a Roommate Locator Service which allows you to contact students who need roommates or a place to live. The service is easy to use and has been successful in the past. Remember to read your lease carefully before signing. Have a full understanding of your responsibilities and an awareness of the managements' responsibilities. If you cannot see the actual unit you will be living in, have the manager add a sentence in the section labeled "special provisions." The statement should read as follows: "This lease does not take effect until the landlord designates a unit which is equivalent to the model apartment." Make sure you keep a copy of this agreement. If you have any questions or difficulties, contact the Off Campus Center at 845-1741 or come by our office located in Puryear Hall across from the YMCA building. Off Campus Calendar Off Campus Aggies: General meeting March 10 & 24, 6:30 p.m. Rudder 601. Rape Prevention: A panel discussion on Rape. Tues. March 9, 7:00 p.m. 206 MSC. # "Moving Off Campus": The Off Campus Center is sponsoring programs for students who will be moving off campus next fall. Tips on apartment selection and more! Mon., March 1, 7:00 p.m. AT Lounge (Comer of Hughes and Fowler) Tues., March 2, 7:30 p.m. Commons Area Lounge Tues., March 23, 6:00 p.m. AT Lounge (Comer of Hughes and Fowler) Thurs., March 25, 7:00 p.m. Rudder 607 Roommates: The Off Campus Center is now accepting Room mate cards for the fall and summer sessions. Come by if you need a roommate! What's On Your Mind? The Off Campus Center is always looking for better ways to serve all off campus stu dents. This column, the "Off Campus Corner" is one way our staff is trying to improve communication with A&M's 25,000 off campus students. So far, the communication has been one way. In the fu ture, we would like to include a question and answer section. Please submit your questions and comments about off cam pus living, as well as your sug gestions for the column itself. To submit questions or ideas, stop by the Off Campus Center or mail them to our of fice. Loupot's Off Campus Comer is sponsored each month by Loupot's Bookstore at Northgate as a service to Texas A&M stu dents. Stories and artwork are provided by the staff of the Off Campus Center. Monday Night Madness Sit back and enjoy the evening with a hot, delicious pizza delivered right to your door! Monday Night Madness Special shro 8 A Hot 16" Pepperoni and Mushroom Pizza With Two 32 oz. Pepsis. $Q00 only Fast... Hot... Free Delivery! Offer Good Mon., March 1, Only 846-7785