- Get Involved!
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GET INVOLVED TODAY!
View HQDA AFAP Active Issues, to get a full booklet of HQDA Completed/Unattainable Issues please contact AFAP at +1 (831)242-7661.
Involvement in AFAP is open to all – Service Member, Family Member, Retiree, Department of Defense Civilian. Volunteer opportunities include becoming a Conference Committee member, an Advisory Council Member, an Issue Support Person, a Facilitator or a Delegate.
- Armed Forces Action Plan Top Issues
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Family Support, MWR, Employment
Issue Title: Family to Family Sponsorship
Scope: Current sponsorship programs within the units do not address concerns of Family members. Sponsors are inadequately trained and are often incompatible with the Families they are paired with. Inadequate communication between the sponsor, the Service member and their Family leads to lack of integration and results in family isolation.
Recommendation: Designate a family member(s) within each unit to act as a point of contact/sponsor for family-to-family distribution of local community resource information and integrate inbound families into the local military community prior to and during PCS.
Status: Closed. Plans are currently in place to increase awareness of support services available to assist first term Spouses who are relocating to Monterey. For information on the Monterey community or for instructions on how to receive a welcome packet, contact ACS at +1 (831)242-7660.
Issue Title: Childcare During Military Training Holidays
Scope: The Monterey Road Child Development Center (MRCDC) is closed for the purpose of staff training on four military training holidays. Currently, there is lack of standardization across Service branches with regard to the use of these days. The Defense Language Institute (DLI) Commandant intends to increase OPTEMPO on these scheduled days, requiring Service members to participate in respective unit training. Service members are left without adequate and affordable childcare options when the MRCDC closes on military training holidays.
Recommendation: Provide childcare at the MRCDC for children of Active Duty Service members who are on duty during training holidays.
Status: Closed. CYSS remains committed to their patrons and will operate its facilities in accordance with current OPTEMPO, and continues to inform all Families of closures in a timely manner. For questions about CYSS, contact Parent Central Services at +1 (831)242-7765.
Force Support
Issue Title: Internet in the Barracks
Scope: Students are not able to access class materials while in the barracks and other common areas where they routinely study. Class resources are unavailable after class and over the weekends in commonly used study areas (such as lobbies, common areas, and barracks rooms). The inability to access resources while in common study areas decreases the quality of study time, creates poor study habits and directly impact the ability of students to complete mandatory assignments.
Recommendation: Establish the EDU network in the barracks and other building where students regularly study. Require BOINGO to fulfill its contractual obligations.
Status: Active. AAFES is actively working with BOINGO to improve service to customers living in the barracks. Improvements are already underway and expect to be completed in the near future.
Issue Title: Installation Access
Scope: Current base access is difficult and time consuming. It contributes to parking frustration and congestion at the gates. Current access points and hours discourage walking to work which additionally contributes to the problem.
Recommendation: Expand gate hours. Add turn styles, in particular, near the Price Fitness Center and Pacific Grove. Increase the ease of using Bolio Gate. In particular, the one way street. Having the ability to turn left, go south, and from the base and to be able to enter base easily coming from the north.
Status: Closed. Presidio of Monterey officials are continuing to develop plans mitigate installation access issues. For questions, contact ACS at +1 (831)242-7660.
Housing, Public Works, Transportation, Relocation
Issue Title: Utility Billing and Resident Energy Conservation Program (RECP) Clarification
Scope: Prospective and Current privatized military housing residents are not being properly informed about BAH breakdown and RECP billing practices. This creates a perceived monetary inequality between neighborhoods because of the inconsistent number of RECP policies being implemented.
Recommendation: When applying for housing, but before accepting a home, the potential monetary effect of RECP should be explained for the prospective neighborhood. An informational paper should be provided to all current and prospective residents, through both mail and digitally, including current monthly statistics and upcoming changes. Pinnacle should annotate on the housing availability list which homes include additional utility charges.
Status: Closed. The RECP at the Presidio of Monterey has been a huge success, and the focus on resolving this issue surrounds community support and cooperation. For information on conserving energy in our community and how you can get involved, visit www.monterey.army.mil/DPW/energy.html or email the Directorate of Public Works at usarmy.pom.usag.mbx.energy@mail.mil.
Issue Title: Privatized Housing Employee Training on Military Culture, Regulations, and Policies
Scope: The privatized military housing residents are affected by housing employees’ lack of understanding of military culture, regulations and policies. Customer service is affected by difficulties relating to Service Members and their Families. Misunderstandings about branch-specific documents, terms, and policies create added stress on Service Members and Families.
Recommendation: Require privatized housing employees to familiarize themselves with forms specific to each branch as well as standard real estate practices through additional training. Government housing office should include a script for privatized housing employees to follow when working through leasing requirements based on the branch of the applicant.
Status: Closed. Our installation prides itself in employing highly trained and qualified individuals to make our community a better place to live. AMS employees receive semi-annual training that now includes a one hour block of instruction on military culture from local leadership. Your local leasing office is more than happy to assist you, please contact the Parks at Monterey Bay at +1 (866)902-6522 for assistance.
Medical & Dental
Issue Title: Medical Malpractice Accountability in Non-tactical Environments for Military Medical Service Providers
Scope: There is no matter of recourse for the Service Members who have been victims of tragic outcomes to medical procedures due to poor decision making on the part of military medical service providers. Service providers are not being held accountable for their malpractice because they are currently protected by law against malpractice suits. This protection is only important in certain tactical environments.
Recommendation: The protection of military medical service providers under the Gonzales Act should be limited in scope to tactical environments in which they are operating under extreme and austere conditions. An amendment should be created to allow for full prosecution of any military medical service provider who has conducted malpractice in a non-tactical situation.
Status: Elevated – sent to OACSIM for consideration
Issue Title: Standardization of all Medical Forms for Patients of Military Treatment Facilities
Scope: Incongruent accounting of medical services and inappropriate handling of information leads to loss of man hours for medical facility employees, patients, and patient commands. There is a lack of standardization regarding medical forms and documentation between branches of the military.
Recommendation: Standardize the documentation, recording, and handling of medical forms and records across the Department of Defense. Establish a Department of Defense regulation that governs the utilization of all medical forms universally.
Status:Elevated – sent to OACSIM for consideration
Issues not prioritized and pending review by Garrison Command
- Sample of AFAP Results
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Here’s a sample of AFAP results:
- Dedicated Special Needs Space in Child, Youth, and School Services (CYSS)
- Distribution of Montgomery GI Bill benefits to dependents
- Annual Leave carryover increase from 60 to 75 days
- Extended educational benefits for Spouses
- Dental and visual insurance coverage for Federal Employees
- Medical Coverage for Activated Reserve Component Families
- Military pay table (targeted pay raises)
- Military Thrift Savings Plan
- TRICARE for Life for eligible Retirees
- Funding for Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers (B.O.S.S.)
- Active Duty Enlisted Soldier Compassionate Reassignment Stabilization
- SGLI increases
- Minimum standards for Army Child Care
- In-state tuition for Military Dependents
To submit an issue or suggestion, go to your local Army Community Service office or Army OneSource.
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.