FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- As Americans were flocking to the polls Nov. 4, Fort Drum community members also were making their voices heard.
From issues regarding single Soldier meal cards to child care fees to travel reimbursement for medical care, delegates at the 31st annual Army Family Action Plan Conference, which was held Nov. 3-4 at the Commons, reviewed, brainstormed and analyzed more than 50 issues.
Since 1984, AFAP has provided an outlet for Soldiers, Family Members, Civilian Employees and veterans to make their voices heard.
This year, 49 individuals representing a cross section of the Fort Drum community served as delegates in one of four working groups: medical / dental, benefits / entitlements, Family support and force support.
Each group received issues pertaining to their topic. With the assistances of facilitators, recorders and room managers, delegates then had the opportunity to discuss the issues, brainstorm and speak to subject-matter experts to determine the most important issues.
"The number of issues each group receives varies depending on what are submitted throughout the year," said Tammy Leeder, AFAP / Army Family Team Building program manager. "Boxes are located on the installation at the Commons, the commissary, (and) Army Community Service, and (people) can submit (issues) online at Army OneSource. Submissions can be done throughout the entire year."
While every issue is reviewed during the conference, not all could be selected for review at the final briefing on Nov. 4, Leeder said.
The working groups selected seven issues to brief to garrison leaders, directors and community members.
The following issues were selected for further review:
Medical / dental
*Travel reimbursement for Family Members who need specialized care outside the local area.
Currently, only travel expenses for trips 100 miles or more are reimbursable. Many times, Family Members must drive to Syracuse, which is roughly 70 miles away, for specialized medical care. Multiple trips for pre- and post-operative care, operations and other procedures cause financial strain on Families.
The group recommended that the mileage requirement be reduced to 50 miles, to cover trips to Syracuse.
*Currently, the Active-Duty Joint Federal Travel Regulation only reimburses travel expenses for Soldiers who have been deemed a "nonmedical attendant," an individual who is required to accompany a Family Member to medical appointments / procedures by a physician.
In some cases, civilian doctors do not know to formally assign an individual as a nonmedical attendant. In those cases, the Soldier is only considered an "escort" to the Family Member's appointment / procedure and will not be reimbursed for travel expenses.
The group's recommendation is to allow commanders to put Soldiers on orders to serve as a nonmedical attendant for his or her Family Member's medical care in order for the individual to claim travel expenses.
Benefits / entitlements
*Single Soldiers should have more meal card options.
Currently, all single Soldiers' basic allowance for subsistence are deducted from their pay in order to be used at dining facilities located on post, regardless of how often the Soldiers use DFACs.
The group recommends that BAS funds should be placed on a digital access card that Soldiers can use at DFACs, the Exchange or commissary.
Family support
*Soldiers are eligible for a 20-percent reduction in Child, Youth and School Services child care fees 90 days after redeployment.
During deployments, children are placed in the care of others. Especially for single-parent Soldiers and dual-military couples, children often live with out-of-state Family Members. By the time Soldiers return to Fort Drum, complete their post-deployment training and are reunited with their children, they are not able to use the full 90 days of reduced fees.
The group recommends that Soldiers be allowed to choose a start date within the first 90 days of redeploying for benefits to begin.
*Statutory volunteers who work with an official government agency currently do not receive child care benefits during their service.
While family readiness group volunteers receive free child care through unit funds, other volunteers who serve at medical facilities, Army Community Service and other government organizations do not.
The group recommends that statutory volunteers receive a discount on child care fees during the time of their service.
Force support
*The Fort Drum website is not user-friendly, some of the links are broken and information is not updated regularly.
The group recommends that something be done to improve the use of the website and ensure updates are made regularly.
*Soldier indebtedness letters are sometimes received late in the month or are delivered without enough notice for them to prepare for a reduction in pay.
A 2/3 cut in pay causes stress and hardship on Soldiers and Families.
The group recommends that a limit be placed on the maximum amount that can be taken out of Soldiers' pay and a command directive be established for Soldiers facing indebtedness to complete a notice of receipt before collection.
After the groups explained their top issues, the delegates voted to determine the three most important issues. The results were as follows:
*Travel reimbursement for Family Members needing medical care (specifically to Syracuse area).
*Allowing single Soldiers to use meal cards at the commissary or Exchange, and not only at the DFACs.
*Travel reimbursement for Soldiers serving as nonmedical attendants and providing commanders the ability to place Soldiers on military orders in order to cover expenses.
Col. Gary A. Rosenberg, Fort Drum garrison commander, thanked all of the delegates, volunteers, facilitators, subject-matter experts and other individuals who assisted with the AFAP Conference.
"I can't fix something if I don't know it's broken, and neither can the Army," he said. "How do we know things are broken? People let us know, and this is a mechanism by which they can do that."
Some of the issues found at local AFAP Conferences around the world will be forwarded to the Army's AFAP Conference, Rosenberg added.
AFAP is a way for individuals to help change Army regulations, laws and policies.
"If it doesn't make sense, let's change it," Rosenberg said, adding that while some of the issues brought forth are Army-level issues, many of the topics up for discussion can be resolved at the local level. "I think these are all really good topics.
"That's a great testament to all of the great work that all of you have done," he said.
Sgt. Chris Roberts served as a delegate in the medical / dental working group. This was the first time he has participated in the AFAP Conference.
"This was a great opportunity," he said. "I was really surprised at all that it entailed. It really gives Soldiers a sense that they can make a difference. As much as Soldiers think they can't do anything to change things, this gives them a better sense that their opinions really do matter."
Roberts added that deciding on the medical / dental group's top issues hit home for him and his Family.
"The first issue about travel reimbursement meant a lot to me," he said. "With a Family of six, my oldest daughter actually had to go down to Syracuse several times for surgery, and I didn't know there was anything in place for reimbursement."
Sarah Jackson, a military spouse, served in the family support working group. Jackson has been a military spouse for more than 12 years, and she said this was the first time she has participated in an AFAP Conference.
Jackson added that she was especially supportive of allowing redeploying Soldiers to choose when their 90-day child care fee reduction begins.
"I was interested to see the process," she said. "Army Families are very near and dear to my heart."
"As Family Members, we see the impacts of everything that goes on in the Army," Jackson added. "The only way to change things is to go out and try to fix it and make it right. You have to get up and make a difference."
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