THE
ARMY FAMILY ACTION PLAN (AFAP) CONFERENCE
1501 William C. Lee Road
Room 103
Fort Campbell, Kentucky 42223
270-798-2063
FAQ
What is the AFAP Conference?
The AFAP conference is a grassroots effort
in which delegates selected from the Total Army family
come together to discuss quality of life issues.
Who can participate in the AFAP process?
The process encompasses and is available
to everyone closely associated with the Army family. When
we refer to “the Army family”, we are speaking
of the global Army family – Active and Reserve Component
soldiers, retirees, civilians who work for the Army, and
family members of all those groups. These are the individuals
who make the AFAP work, who serve as delegates or as volunteers
to help plan and run the symposia.
Where do the issues come from? - Submit
Your Issue!
Issue Submission Forms are distributed throughout
the community through several different avenues – Family
Readiness Groups, Unit Commanders, Fort Campbell MWR website,
and various information boxes placed in common areas throughout
the installation. The delegation is also encouraged to
bring forward issues from the area they represent.
What kind of issues can be submitted?
There is no limit to the type of issue that
can be submitted for consideration. Suggested categories
are listed on the Issue Submission Form – Entitlements,
Benefits, Education, Family Support, Leadership, Reserve/National
Guard, Relocation, Transition, Health Care, Consumer Services,
Housing, Soldier Support, Dental Care, Volunteers, Employment,
Youth, Force Support, and Youth.
Do the issues submitted have to be
local issues?
The process allows for any level of issue
to be submitted. Some issues can be resolved at the local
level; however, some issues require higher-level resolution
such as new legislation.
How are the delegates chosen?
A demographic category listing of delegates
is formulated and the majority of the delegates are requested
through the major unit commands at Fort Campbell. Delegate
applications are also distributed through the Family Readiness
Groups. Local Reserve and National Guard units are provided
with delegate applications and the retiree delegates are
solicited through the Retirement Services Officer. Anyone
can submit a Delegate application for consideration through
the AFAP office located in the Soldier and Family Readiness
Center (address listed above). All delegate applications
are subject to a delegate selection process in order to
gain a diverse delegation representative of the Total Army
family
What actually happens at the conference?
The delegates are broken up into six different
work groups to examine the issues, recommend resolutions
and determine which issues they consider the most important
to the welfare of the Army family. Each work group must
prioritize their issues, and select no more than three
that they recommend be incorporated in the Army Family
Action Plan. All issues recommended for the Plan are briefed
to the Commanding General and command staff for approval.
What happens to the issues that are
presented to the leadership?
The issues that can be handled at a local
level are adopted into the local Army Family Action Plan
and are assigned to the appropriate directorate to be worked
toward resolution.
What happens to issues that cannot
be resolved at the local level?
If an issue prioritized at the local conference
is applicable outside of the local community, it is forwarded
to the major Army command (MACOM) and incorporated into
the MACOM AFAP conference. Here again, if the issue is
MACOM specific, it becomes part of the MACOM action plan
and is worked at that level. If the issue has Army-wide
applicability, however, it is forwarded to Community and
Family Support Center (CFSC), where the AFAP staff consolidates
all issues from the field and prepares them to be reviewed
by delegates at the HQDA AFAP Conference.
How do we know when and how the issues
are resolved?
Local issues that are adopted into the local
Army Family Action Plan are tracked for status and resolution
by a Steering Committee. The DA level Plan is followed
by a General Officer Steering Committee, at this level
issues may be resolved by changing existing programs and
services or establishing new ones, by changing or establishing
Army or OSD policy, or by changing or enacting legislation.
How long does it take for an issue
to be resolved?
Some issues can resolved within 90 days of
the conference, however, some issues that require higher
level action such as changes to Army and OSD regulatory
guidance and policy and to Federal law require time to
accomplish. Some issues prove more difficult to resolve
than others. On the average, issues at the HQDA level take
2 ½ years to complete.
What changes have we seen due to
the AFAP conference?
To get an idea of what AFAP has done for
the Army family; take a look at some of the benefits available
today as a result of the process.
*Servicemen’s Group Life Insurance
(SGLI) increased from $50,000 to $200,000
*Expanded dental insurance plan that increased coverage for dental procedures
and
some orthodontic services.
*Temporary Lodging Expense increased from 4 to 10 days.
*A standardized military Identification Card for Reserve Component family
members.
When is the Fort Campbell AFAP Conference?
The 2004 Fort Campbell AFAP Conference is
scheduled for 16-19 November 2004 and will be held at the
Dale Wayrynen Recreation Center located on Desert Storm
Drive. The public is invited to attend the Out Brief session
scheduled for 19 November at 1130 hours.
Where can I get more information about the program?
In addition to the information found on the
local website - www.fortcampbellmwr.com - you can visit
the Army-wide website at www.goacs.org or
call the local AFAP office at 270-798-2063.
Submit
Your Issue Today! |
