Fort Sill, Oklahoma

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2007 Fort Sill AFAP Conference


Fort Sill, Oklahoma
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2007 Fort Sill AFAP Conference





Yasmin A. Malone AFAP Program Coordinator
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The Army Family Action Plan

Teen AFAP
Spokesperson AJ
Byerly Facilitator
Nichole Haycock
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Teen AFAP

• Five Most Valuable Programs
• or Services
• Youth Services
• Army Family Action Plan
• Army Community Services
• AAFES
• Exceptional Family Member Program

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Teen AFAP

Issue Title 07-91 Enhance Youth Services Bus
Transportation
Scope There is a lack of transportation during
school breaks and holidays and no transportation
to Youth Services from some school districts.
This lack of transportation leads to the
cancellation of field trips and activities that
require mass transportation of teens. Providing
transportation to the Youth Services will enhance
the attendance of Youth Services and decrease
unsupervised teen activity.

• Recommendation
• A sixty passenger bus with air conditioning to be
  purchased or donated to the Youth Services.
• Require LATS to create a dedicated route to
  provide transportation that serves the Youth
  Services population.
• Change policy to require TMP to provide buses on
  a first come first serve basis.

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Teen AFAP

Issue Title 07-96 Multipurpose Area For Teens
Scope There is no centrally located
multipurpose area that supports activities that
include but are not limited to skateboarding,
basketball and volleyball on Fort Sill. The lack
of a multipurpose area prohibits teens from
gathering together to participate in these
outdoor activities. Providing a multipurpose area
would allow Fort Sill teens a greater opportunity
for positive interaction while participating in
these healthy outdoor activities.

• Recommendation
• Build or modify a multipurpose area in a
  centrally located area within Fort Sill.

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Teen AFAP

Issue Title 07-92 Youth Services Grant Policy
Scope Current Army policy limits Youth
Services to only apply for grants from affiliated
partners to implement specific programs. This
policy hinders the available funds for Youth
Services to provide for activities, equipment and
transportation. A less stringent grant
restriction would result in increased
opportunities for teens.

• Recommendation
• Increase Morale Welfare and Recreation (MWR)
  funding to support Youth Services initiatives.
• Authorize Youth Services to establish more
  partnerships with grant offering affiliates.

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The Army Family Action Plan

Benefits/Entitlements
Spokesperson Antinita Graham
Facilitator Jamie James
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Benefits/Entitlements

• Five Most Valuable Programs
• or Services
• Army Community Services
• Medical Dental
• Army Family Action Plan
• Physical Fitness Center
• Education Center

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Benefits/Entitlements

Issue Title 07-05 Quality Assurance for Off Post
Housing
Scope The quality of rental properties in the
Lawton/Fort Sill community fails to meet adequacy
standards in accordance with AR 210-50 Chapter 4.
Currently 80 of the Soldiers and Families live
off post. Due to this demand and the projected
BRAC increase, there are a limited number of
available quality rentals within the Lawton/Fort
Sill area.

• Recommendation
• Provide a quality assurance team to ensure the
  current rental cost correlates with the quality
  of the properties in the Lawton/Fort Sill
  community.
• This team will also ensure the rental properties
  meet the adequacy standards in accordance with AR
  210-50 Chapter 4.

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Benefits/Entitlements

Issue Title 07-01/02 Revision of BAH Rate
Computation
Scope Original BAH Law results in at least 20
of out of pocket expenses. The current
environment of BRAC has resulted in expenses over
that amount. In 2000, the Secretary of Defense
committed to reducing these expenses. REF
Department of Defense Basic Allowance for Housing
January 2008.
Recommendation Revise the formula and
the data collection process used to calculate BAH
to reflect the current structure of todays Army
Families.
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Benefits/Entitlements

Issue Title 07-03 BAH Entitlement for Junior
Enlisted with Joint
and Partial Custody
Scope Based on current policy Junior Enlisted
Single Soldiers with joint or partial custody of
dependents do not qualify for BAH. As a result,
there is no current environment conducive to a
healthy visitation as children are not allowed in
the barracks. This policy creates an undue
hardship on the Soldier and their family
financially.
Recommendation Authorize BAH for Junior
enlisted Single Soldiers with joint or partial
custody of dependents.
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The Army Family Action Plan

Consumer Services
Spokesperson Dave McAleer
Facilitator Sherri
Blasengame
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Consumer Services

Five Most Valuable Programs or Services 1.
Medical and Dental 2. Rec-Plex 3. Commissary 4.
Housing 5. Harry S. Truman Education Center
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Consumer Services

Issue Title 07-24/25/29/30/33/36 Customer
Service Concerns On
Fort Sill
Scope Recurrent complaints have been voiced
against various agencies at a high rate without
apparent resolution by the agency managers.
Approximately 25 of the overall consumer service
issues were about customer services. This
negatively impacts the morale and welfare of the
Fort Sill Community. Consumers and employers need
to be thoroughly educated on consumer service
policies and procedures.

• Recommendation
• Demand Supervisor accountability for customer
  service issues.
• Require random secret customer service visits to
  each agency on a regular basis, no less than once
  a month, with results visible to command group.
• Provide consumers and employers with educational
  materials on rights, responsibilities and
  reporting procedures.

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Consumer Services

Issue Title 07-26 Outdoor Exercise Safety On
Installations
Scope The health and welfare of our Soldiers
is adversely affected by the unsafe conditions of
our tracks and exercise areas on the
installations. Some running areas have inadequate
lighting, uneven running surfaces, and poorly
maintained equipment. The above issues discourage
individuals efforts to improve the health and
well-being of the high level of fitness service
members are required to maintain.

• Recommendation
• Install adequate lighting through all exercise
  areas.
• Require smooth surfaces for exercise.
• Consistently maintain equipment in proper working
  order.

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The Army Family Action Plan

Family Support

Spokesperson Pam Williams Facilitator Carol
Herrick
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Family Support

Five Most Valuable Programs or Services 1. Army
Community Service 2. RACH- Labor and Delivery 3.
Army Emergency Relief 4. Fitness Center 5.
Education Center
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Family Support

Issue Title 07-47/53 Inadequate Hours of
Operation at Fort Sill
Child Development Centers
Scope Limited operating hours do not meet
childcare needs for Fort Sill. Currently, the
child development centers are open from
0530-1730, Monday through Friday. Of all Army
Family Action Plan Family Support issues
collected at Fort Sill in 2007, 23 were related
to the child development centers hours of
operation. This affects Soldiers and Families in
diverse circumstances, to include varying duty
hours and Families in emergent situations.

• Recommendations
• Increase normal operating hours to 0400-2200
  hours for daily and hourly care, Monday through
  Friday.
• Require 24-hour care availability seven days a
  week.

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Family Support

Issue Title 07-138 Family Readiness Support
Assistant (FRSAs)
for all Army Commands
Scope Fort Sill has had Family Readiness
Support Assistants (FRSAs) for FORSCOM units
since 2004, but has never had FRSA support for
other Army commands. Cadre for our Initial Entry
Training (IET) Soldiers are away for training 75
of each month and many are recently returned from
deployment. DENTAC and MEDDAC will benefit from
FRSA support for Families of Individual
Augmentees. FRSA support will result in
deployment ready and Army Strong Families.

• Recommendations
• Provide FRSA support to other Army commands to
  include DENTAC, MEDDAC, and TRADOC.
• Funding to be provided by respective
  Headquarters.

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Family Support

• Issue Title 07- 62 Surviving spouses
  identification card
• relationship status

Scope The current acronym URW causes confusion.
Widows are often asked to explain what URW
means, Un-Remarried Widow, when using
entitlements, such as commissary, PX, and medical
services. A simple trip to get gas or groceries
leaves the clerk apologizing, kids crying, and
everyone in line feeling uncomfortable. This
action results in spouses not using services on
military installations.

• Recommendations
• Create a status that is easily identified as a
  military widow, such as WIDOW or WID.
• 2. Require initial and refresher training on
  identification card acronyms for all customer
  service providers at all military installations.

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The Army Family Action Plan

Force Support
Spokesperson Tripp Smith Facilitator Theresa
Sims
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Force Support

Five Most Valuable Programs or Services 1.
Fitness Center 2. AAFES 3. Commissary 4.
Education Center 5. Medical Dental
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Force Support

Issue Title 07- 81 9 Month Deployments for All
Branches
Scope Current length of deployments causes
undue stress and tension among Families and
Soldiers. It fosters resentments between branches
of military that deploy for less than one year.
Tours longer than 9 months can increase
complacency, decrease morale and negatively
affects retention.

• Recommendation
• Standardize tour lengths to 9 months in theatre
  of operations for all branches of the military.

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Force Support

Issue Title 07-90 Individual Deployment Cycle
Management
Scope There is a significant disparity of
frequency of deployment rates between individuals
within same military occupation specialty and
rank. Some Soldiers are going on more
deployments than their peers and not getting
appropriate recommended one year dwell time. This
disparity degrades morale, decreases unit
readiness and unit retention.

• Recommendation
• Revise a system that tracks both RC (Reserve
  Component) and AC (Active Component) units and
  deploys those units and individuals within the
  units equally at all levels from HQ of the Army
  to Battalion level, by rank and military
  occupation specialties.
• Develop and enforce an order of merit system list
  (OML) that tracts deployments to ensure
  equal deployment time and dwell time across the
  entire Army.

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Force Support

Issue Title 07-78/83 Lack of Parking in 75th
BDE Area
Scope Recent unit relocations into a
concentrated area resulted in a limited parking
availability in vicinity 75th BDE. Soldiers have
been ticketed for parking on seeded areas, which
results in undue financial hardship on the
Soldier. Over crowded parking lots leads to
Soldiers frustration and traffic congestion.

• Recommendation
• Build more parking lots in the vicinity of 75th
  BDE footprint to meet long term and interim unit
  needs.
• Temporarily ban issuing parking tickets to
  drivers parking on seeded areas until parking
  issues are resolved.
• Utilize additional physical training locations
  and times in order to alleviate crowded parking
  lot issues.

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The Army Family Action Plan

Housing and Relocation Services
Spokesperson Michael Bennett

Facilitator Gregory Brogdon

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Housing and Relocation Services

• Four Most Valuable Programs
• or Services
• Army Community Service
• 2. Legal Services
• 3. Medical Dental
• 4. Housing

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Housing and Relocation Services

Issue Title 07- 116 Insufficient Relocation
Benefits
Scope The current Army standard of 10 days in
lodging is insufficient time to find and occupy
housing after permanent change of duty station.
The 10 day limitation generates pressure on
Soldiers to settle for inadequate housing. The
Soldiers only other recourse is to pay out of
pocket expenses for extended lodging time, which
creates unnecessary financial burdens. This
limitation ultimately affects the stability of
the Army Family.

• Recommendation
• 1. Increase the standard from 10 days to 15
  days in lodging.
• Develop an exception to policy process for
  periods in excess of Army standard.

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Housing and Relocation Services

Issue Title 07- 102/104 Substandard Housing
Maintenance
Scope Government quarters are poorly
maintained. Work orders are not completed in the
prioritized time limits outlined in accordance
with AR 210-50. This critical issue impacts the
health, safety and morale of Family members as
well as the retention of Soldiers.

• Recommendation
• Develop and implement a referral service for jobs
  taking longer than prioritized standards (AR
  210-50).
• Increase funding and staffing for Fort Sill DPW
  and Housing.

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The Army Family Action Plan

Medical and Dental
Spokesperson Sean
OBerry Facilitator
Wednesday Robinson
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Medical and Dental Services

• Four Most Valuable Programs
• or Services
• Morale, Welfare Recreation
• Army Continuing Education System
• Commissary
• Medical Dental

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Medical and Dental Services

Issue Title 07-122/131 Healthcare Appointments
Scope When the PCM (Primary Care Manager) is
unavailable there is no online system default to
provide a back-up provider. Fort Sills
mobilization and deployment missions restrict
access of routine care at the healthcare
facilities for service members assigned to Fort
Sill. Current healthcare appointment
availability window does not support OPTEMPO
level.

• Recommendation
• Change TRICARE online parameters to reflect care
  team rather than PCM only.
• Increase dental staffing in order to maintain
  deployment readiness on Fort Sill.
• Change dental appointment availability and
  processes to mirror medical appointment
  standards.

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Medical and Dental Services

Issue Title 07-125 Medical Care for Families
During Non-Duty Hours
Scope There are no medical facilities for
urgent (non-emergency) care during non-duty hours
on Fort Sill. Patients must utilize the
emergency room for non-emergency care. Increased
workload in the emergency room causes unnecessary
strain on the emergency room while increasing the
wait time of the patients.

• Recommendation
• Establish an urgent care facility separate from
  the emergency room.

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Medical and Dental Services

Issue Title 07-117/132 Patients Equal Access at
Red Leg Clinic
Scope Inadequate staffing causes inadequate
care at the Red Leg clinic. Service members lack
of knowledge of patient rights hinders the
ability to fully utilize the medical system.
Current screening process encourages generic and
inconsistent diagnoses of Service members.

• Recommendation
• Develop and initiate an aggressive campaign to
  promote and increase marketing and education of
  patients rights for service members on Fort
  Sill.
• Enforce the right of a second opinion during
  patient care, ensuring individualized quality
  care for the service member.
• Authorize additional medical staff at Red Leg
  clinic to provide the highest standard of care.

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FORT SILL
ARMY FAMILY ACTION PLAN (AFAP)
18-20 September 2007
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Top 5 Active HQDA AFAP Issues

• 601- Full Compensation for Uniform Changes
• 577- Non-chargeable Leave for Deployed Soldiers
• 497- Distribution of Montgomery GI Bill for
  Dependents
• 566- Child Care Fee Category
• 447- Audio/Video Surveillance for Child
  Development Centers.

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Top 5 2007 Fort Sill AFAP Issues

5. 07-122/131 Healthcare Appointments 4. 07-116
Insufficient Relocation Benefits 3. 07-125
Medical Care for Families During Non-Duty
Hours 2. 07-01/02 - Revision of BAH Rate
Computation 1. 07-81- 9 Month Deployments for all
Branches
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2007 Fort Sill AFAP Conference
Facilitators, Recorders,Transcribers, Issue
Support Persons, AFAP Planning Committee, AFAP
Volunteers, and Subject Matter Experts


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Thanks to the following supporters .....
Fort Sill Federal Credit Union