Admiral Boorda

NORFOLK, Va. -- Straining under Pentagon cutbacks, U.S. military commanders are trying desperately to spare their troops unbearably long family separations as they respond to expanding global crises.The Defense Department is determined not to repeat the experience of the last major defense drawdown, in the late 1970s. That era produced what the Pentagon calls "a hollow force" -- understaffed, poorly equipped and demoralized."We didn't have enough people to do the job, and as we tried to do the job, we ran them into the ground," said Adm. Jeremy M. Boorda, the new chief of naval operations.

Adm. Frank B. Kelso II, sharply criticized for his handling of the Tailhook sex-abuse scandal, relinquished his command yesterday as the Navy's top officer, praised as a leader who opened up more Navy combat assignments to women.During a ceremony at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, where he began his career 42 years ago as a plebe, the admiral said the Navy must continue to open more assignments to women and minorities and deal forthrightly with its problems."In recent years, we have often found ourselves in the spotlight," noted the 60-year-old chief of naval operations, calling it "far more a blessing than a curse."

Brussels -- When the NATO Council meets tomorrow to discuss U.N. Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali's call for authorization for air strikes in Bosnia, it will be in the firm knowledge that such a call could be answered "in a maximum of 30 minutes."More than 140 fighters and bombers under NATO command are deployed at Italian bases and on aircraft carriers close to the Bosnian coast ready for the order to strike.Hundreds of shells fall on Sarajevo each day from the estimated 230 artillery pieces and T-55 tanks ringing Sarajevo.

The U.S. Naval Academy, struck by a recent rash of lawbreaking and criminal allegations, ended its weeklong stand-down yesterday with calls by the midshipmen for a more disciplined and military atmosphere.The 4,000 midshipmen, who met in small groups over the past week, issued a memo through their student leaders saying that the brigade "craves discipline and esprit de corps."As a result, academy officials immediately tightened the school's requirements, ordering juniors and seniors to wear uniforms on weekend liberty and to begin weekend liberty on Saturday morning rather than Friday night.

Med savings accounts won't help the poorI found the article, "Health benefit bill gains in Senate" (April 19) quite interesting. I am glad you brought this issue to the public's attention.As a student who works part-time and was not offered health insurance coverage from my employer, I agree with the critics who believe that the medical savings accounts would not benefit the working poor and sick. These individuals would continually have to weigh one illness over another. And this proposal does not address individuals who are in situations like mine.

The Navy's top officers have lost their "moral courage," abandoning their battle-tested comrades to Tailhook and "political correctness" and standing silently by while the fleet has been shrunk, former Navy Secretary James H. Webb charged yesterday.In a speech before the U.S. Naval Institute in Annapolis that provoked an angry exchange and a tug of war over the microphone with a former Navy undersecretary, Mr. Webb drew a scathing portrait of Navy leadership.Some admirals -- including the current and former chiefs of naval operations -- would rather preserve or promote their careers and curry favor with politicians than support the service, he said.

The Navy's next chief of naval operations has received some free advice from some of his fellow admirals: Put Tailhook behind you.The man who replaces Adm. Jeremy M. "Mike" Boorda should get a "good handshake" from Defense Secretary William J. Perry and members of the Senate Armed Services Committee "and say, 'I want to go to the Navy and say [Tailhook's] over,' " said retired Adm. Stanley Arthur.Arthur said yesterday that the Navy is still reeling from the infamous 1991 naval aviators' convention in San Diego, where women were groped by drunken fliers.

WASHINGTON -- In a surprising reversal, the Navy is no longer trying to persuade a sexually harassed officer to remain in the service and is moving to discharge her.The decision to end the career of Lt. Rebecca Hansen, 28, who failed pilot training, was made after she declined other Navy job offers and made three demands -- an apology from Navy Secretary John Dalton, the upgrading of her low performance ratings to "outstanding" and a return to flight school.Lieutenant...

WASHINGTON -- A Navy helicopter commander who faced a discharge after his refusal to fly combat missions with women has been allowed to stay on active duty.Just before his unit, with its two female pilots, was to depart for the invasion of Haiti last summer, Lt. Cmdr. Kenneth A. Carkhuff, a 13-year Navy veteran, told his commanding officer that he would not go to sea because his religious and moral beliefs prevented him from going into combat with women.Commander Carkhuff's superior immediately relieved him of his duties, and two Navy review boards recommended unanimously this year that he be dismissed for "substandard performance."

WASHINGTON -- Four days after he declared he would not quit, the Navy's top admiral yesterday requested early retirement in an effort to end the service's torment over the Tailhook scandal.Adm. Frank B. Kelso II, chief of naval operations, announced his decision hours after the secretaries of defense and the Navy publicly commended his character and integrity, both of which had been impugned by a military judge last week. For Admiral Kelso, their statements of support were prerequisites for his early departure.