Army Community Services (ACS)

The Army Family Action Plan (AFAP) is your platform to voice quality-of-life issues, feedback, ideas, and suggestions. It’s the best way to let Army leadership know about what works, what doesn’t, and how you think problems can be resolved. We give Active and Reserve Component Soldiers, Army Civilians, Retirees, Survivors, and Family members a tool to help identify issues and concerns and shape your standards of living.

You can submit issues at your garrison’s Army Community Service office or to a unit Family Programs liaison by filling out an AFAP Issue Form. Army OneSource also facilitates AFAP issues online and makes sure your concerns get the attention they deserve. The information you submit gives Army leadership insight and helps foster a satisfied, informed, and resilient Army Community.

AFAP makes a meaningful difference. Since AFAP was created in 1983, over 698 issues have been submitted, resulting in 128 legislative changes, 186 Department of Defense or Army policy changes, and 210 improved programs or services. 

Visit the Army One Source AFAP website for more information.

Army Family Team Building (AFTB) empowers you, through self-development and leadership skills, basic Army knowledge and specialized training, to maximize your personal and professional potential. 

• AFTB (Level I)
  Military Knowledge (K) Modules train basic information about the Army:
  You’ll learn about the Army life and how to maneuver through daily challenges by discovering how to decipher Army acronyms, utilize community resources, attain better financial readiness, and understand the goal and impact of the Army mission on daily life.

• AFTB (Level II)
  Personal Growth and Resiliency (G) Modules train personal growth skills:
  Learn how to improve your personal relationships, communication and
  stress-management skills. Discover how teams form and grow, how to solve problems, and how to resolve personal conflict. You’ll also learn about Army traditions, customs, courtesies and protocol.

• AFTB (Level III)
  Leadership Development (L) Modules train leadership skills:
  Thrive in the Army and civilian life by expanding leadership skills and effective communication techniques and learning to mentor others into leadership positions. You’ll learn about the different leadership styles, how to run an effective meeting, how to manage group conflict, and how to coach and mentor others.

For more information, contact your Army Community Service Family Program office or Army OneSource.

Download our current AFTB Brochure!

Main Office

Need Help? Contact us:

+1 (831) 242-7660

Army Community Services Programs: charles.a.lyons.civ@army.mil TEAMS 520-691-3552

Nate Pleasantby, California Lead SOS Support Coordinator: nathaniel.e.pleasantbey.civ@army.mil TEAMS 520-691-3554

Allen Rivera, Chief: douglas.a.rivera.civ@army.mil  TEAMS 520-691-3548

Main Office

Need Help? Contact us:

+1 (831) 242-7660

Army Community Services Programs: charles.a.lyons.civ@army.mil TEAMS 520-691-3552

Nate Pleasantby, California Lead SOS Support Coordinator: nathaniel.e.pleasantbey.civ@army.mil TEAMS 520-691-3554

Allen Rivera, Chief: douglas.a.rivera.civ@army.mil  TEAMS 520-691-3548

<p>The Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) provides comprehensive support to Family members with special needs. EFMP takes an all-inclusive approach to coordinate military and civilian community, educational, medical, housing, and personnel services to help Soldiers and their Families with special needs.</p>

Helpful Phone Numbers

• SHARP Victim Advocate 24-7 Hour Hotline:  +1 (831)915-2351
• FAP Domestic Violence Hotline:  +1 (831)206-2789
• DOD Safe Help Line:  +1 (877)995-5247
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: +1 (800)799-7233
   

The U.S. Army Family Advocacy Program (FAP) helps Soldiers and their Families recognize and prepare for the unique challenges of military lifestyles. Our services include seminars, workshops, counseling, and intervention to help strengthen the relationships of Army Families.

We are also dedicated to the prevention domestic abuse, child abuse, and neglect of Soldiers and their Families through offering education, prompt reporting, investigation, intervention and treatment.

If you need help, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline. You should also contact your installation’s Family Advocacy Program for more information.

The Financial Readiness Program is your resource for information on money matters. We can help you better understand financial topics like: 

• Military pay
• Checkbook/debit card management
• Financial responsibility
• Credit reporting
• Debt elimination strategies
• Saving
• Investing
• Budgeting

We can also help you learn about other financial services, including:

• Army Emergency Relief (AER): A private, nonprofit organization established to help Soldiers and their Families in emergency financial situations due to no fault of their own.
• Education Program: Offers need-based scholarships to help eligible Army Families with education costs.

For more information about how the Financial Readiness Program can help you, contact your Army Community Service Center.

The Mobilization, Deployment, and Support Stability Operations (MDSSO) helps support community readiness during deployments and emergencies. We help make sure installation programs align with unit deployment cycles, provide pre- and post-deployment support, and help unit Commanders with their Family Readiness plans and deployment support services for Service Members and their Families. We’re responsible for operating an Emergency Family Assistance Center in the case of an all-hazards event, and supporting Service Members and Families during Non-Combatant Evacuation Operations (NEO) and Repatriation. We also act as a case manager for all requests for assistance through the Army Disaster Personnel Accountability and Assessment System (ADPAAS).

The New Parent Support Program (NPSP) promotes healthy Families through a variety of services including home visits, support groups, and parenting classes. We help Soldiers and Families learn to cope with stress, isolation, post-deployment reunions, and the everyday demands of parenthood. Army Families who are expecting a child or who have children up to age three can participate in all of our services confidentially and free of charge. Download the brochure Here.

Each installation has developed unique New Parent Support Program services that include:

• Home visits: Scheduled at your convenience, home visits bring education and reassurance right to your own home covering many topics, including breastfeeding, sleeping, nutrition, potty training, age-appropriate discipline, developmental screenings, sibling rivalry, stress management, deployment issues, and time management. NPSP-Home Visitors are supportive and caring licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) or registered nurses (RNs). They have extensive experience working with young children and are sensitive to your unique challenges as a military Family.
• Expectant Parent Workshop: Helps to provide valuable information about pregnancy and postpartum health, basic infant care, infant massage, parenting skills, safety, discipline, stress management, deployment issues, and community resources.
• Play groups: Scheduled regularly at installations, they help children learn through play in a supportive atmosphere that benefits parents as well. Activities include story time, crafts, and music.
• Military Homefront: A free weekly parenting email with support, tips and advice, updates about your baby’s developmental milestones, and other great information curated just for you.

Contact your installation Army Community Service (ACS) Family Advocacy Program for more information. You can also call Military OneSource for more information and referrals (CONUS: +1 800-342-9647; OCONUS: 00-800-3429-6477; To call collect with operator assistance OCONUS: +1 (484)530-5908.

Moving is a part of life for Soldiers, civilian government employees and their Families. The Army Community Service Relocation Readiness Program is here to help with a comprehensive support system, whether it’s your first move or the last of many. We have all kinds of information and resources to help you and your family navigate your next military move.

Your first stop should be Army Community Service to meet with a Relocation Readiness Program Manager who can get you started.

Helpful services

• ACS Lending Closet
• Arrival, Directions, Checking In
• Military ONEsource

Our Fallen Soldiers have paid the ultimate sacrifice. Their Families deserve our respect, gratitude, and the very best we can provide. If you’re a surviving Family member, Survivor Outreach Services (SOS) offers you access to support, information, and services, closest to where you live, when you need it and for as long as you need it.

Survivor Outreach Services is part of the Army Casualty Continuum of Care. It’s designed to provide long-term support to surviving Families of Fallen Soldiers. Our goal is to reassure Survivors that they remain valued members of the Army Family.

Helpful Phone Numbers

• SHARP Victim Advocate 24-7 Hour Hotline: +1 (831)915-2351
• FAP Domestic Violence Hotline: +1 (831)206-2789
• DOD Safe Help Line: +1 (877)995-5247
   

The Victim Advocacy Program (VAP) provides emergency and follow-up support services to adult victims of domestic abuse. Advocacy services are available to Service members, their current or former spouses, an individual with whom the Service member shares a child, and significant others of Service members who live together. Our services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Our trained professionals are here for crisis response, information on reporting options, medical treatment options, law enforcement’s response, emergency services, safety planning, obtaining military and civilian protective orders, and accompaniment to medical forensic exams and medical appointments, as well as accompaniment to court for orders of protection hearings and trails. Advocates work closely with their civilian counterparts and ensure a personal and smooth transition for victims who do not qualify for ongoing advocacy services within the military community.

If you need help or want more information, contact the Victim Advocacy Program Manager at Army Community Service.

Army Community Service wants you as a volunteer member of our staff.

Being an ACS volunteer offers several benefits:

• Flexible Hours - ACS offers flexible work schedules to individuals interested in becoming part of a great organization. You choose the hours and the days that you want to work.
• Job Training - Training is provided through hands on experience, close supervision, and workshops. You can get valuable experience and training with computers, office skills, and interpersonal skills.
• Free Daycare - Check with ACS for details.

Contact the Army Volunteer Corps Coordinator to find out more about volunteering within ACS, the Presidio of Monterey, or volunteering in the community at +1 (831)242-7661.

Visit myarmyonesource.com to find additional volunteer opportunities in our community.