People who choose to participate in the Obama administration's $75 billion "Making Home Affordable" program should be told all of the pluses and minuses that the program entails.

However, it's now being reported that, prior to having decided to participate, many homeowners who opted for the help program weren't fully apprised of one important negative aspect of what otherwise might have seemed like a godsend in helping them keep their homes. Or, if it was mentioned, the point wasn't adequately emphasized.

That downside is that participating in the program brings about a credit score reduction of as much as 100 points. That makes it harder to get a loan and even can adversely affect a job search.

Of course, that 100-point jolt is milder than the impact of a foreclosure, which can shatter a person's credit for years. According to an article in the March 21 Butler Eagle, a foreclosure can lower a homeowner's credit score by 150 points or more.

Many homeowners who chose to enter the Obama program also were unpleasantly surprised to learn that the negative credit-score impact can kick in during the trial period in which they make at least three payments. That happens when their mortgage company notifies the three big credit bureaus — Experian, Equifax and TransUnion — of their participation.

That too wasn't adequately emphasized to the borrowers in question.

People should know all negative aspects of a program, as well as the positive provisions, before they agree to participate, not after participation has begun.

That some borrowers didn't know all of the important information regarding the program is a bad reflection on those administering it.

The change was slow in coming, but the Army, which hadn't implemented a major overhaul of basic training since men and women began training together in 1980, has now put into effect changes that should enable its troops to be better warriors.The Army, thanks to insight and recommendations provided by drill sergeants with combat experience in the current wars, now is focusing more on honing core muscles and mastering zigzag sprints than on long marches and training that isn't consistent with the kind of situations troops are likely to encounter.One "victim" of the Army's new thinking is bayonet training. That training had continued even though soldiers no longer carry bayonets on their rifles.No more. That training is becoming a memory of the past."We have to make the training relevant to the conditions on the modern battlefield," said Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling of the Army's Training and Doctrine Command.Hertling is in charge of re-evaluating and revamping all aspects of the initial training, including finding new ways to toughen-up troops, part of which involves eating the right kinds of foods.The new basic training changes have been several years in the making and only now are being introduced at some of the Army's basic training facilities.But the old adage "better late than never" is appropriate in this instance, and the other military services, if they haven't already begun a review of their training procedures, should do so in the wake of the Army's positive experience.

Municipal cooperation can help save money or result in questions being answered, enabling projects to be expedited.At least the latter — but also, possibly, savings — might be realized by Middlesex Township as a result of Zelienople Borough officials' offer to provide guidance to the township as it seeks to obtain a graphical information system such as the borough already has in place.According to Middlesex supervisors, the system would consist of a topographical map of the township on which specialized computer software could layer separate township systems. For example, a map layer dealing with public sewer lines would provide not only the main lines' location, but also identify the location of manholes and valves.Another beneficial aspect of the information system would be its help to firefighters in locating fire hydrants and valves — information important to have available when responding to blazes.In addition, the supervisors said lot lines and zoning areas, flood plains, housing developments, agricultural security areas, streams and rivers, and properties with gas or oil leases could all be separate elements of the plan.All, some or just one of the components could be laid on the topographical map at a time to produce the "snapshot" of township features that officials desire.But at the foundation of Middlesex' graphical information system, which will be created by a company not affiliated with the township, will be the help Zelienople has offered to provide the township so it can begin on the correct footing.Many times it's easier to build on the experiences of others.Zelienople officials deserve praise for their generous help offer.