KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany -- The Army Family Action Plan provides Soldiers, government civilian employees, retirees, teens, family members and tenant organizations a way to express and find resolutions to quality-of-life issues and concerns.
Although people can input AFAP issues at any time, they must submit them by Oct. 20 to be included for fiscal 2018 review at higher levels.
"AFAP issue collection is done throughout the year," said Heather Miles, AFAP coordinator. "The only due date for issues going forward to the Department of the Army level is Oct. 20. So issues submitted after Oct. 20 will still be reviewed at the garrison level, but won't be addressed at a higher level until fiscal 2019."
Kaiserslautern and Baumholder military communities identified several issues in 2016 -- some were complex matters that were up-channeled, while others were easy fixes.
"Last year, an AFAP concern was brought up by the community about park cleanliness and the safety of children playing in the parks," she said. "The garrison took on an adopt-a-park program July 31 to encourage organizations to adopt parks around Baumholder. So the garrison headquarters staff coordinated with the Directorate of Public Works to check out supplies and get the information requirements for adopting a park. That's one example of an issue that was resolved quickly."
The AFAP program has changed over the last two years from an annual three-day event culminating with a town hall meeting to year-round AFAP issue collection using conventional paper methods and electronic means, said Laura Batule, Baumholder Army Community Service site lead and U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz AFAP coordinator.
"The Army Family Action Plan is a critical method of empowering our Army families and giving them a voice for issues or concerns they may have. Although we are no longer resourced to hold week-long conferences, we strongly feel that by using Interactive Customer Evaluation, town hall meetings, 'Ask the Commander' (at http://www.rp.army.mil) and the AFAP issue submission site at www.myarmyonesource.com, we will be able to hear the voices of our Soldiers, civilian employees, retirees and families and resolve their problems at the local level if possible or elevate them to whatever level is required," she said.
Sometimes, a local level issue can be used as a "Best Practice" when possible, explained Batule. For example, at Fort Benning, Georgia, an AFAP issue was submitted requesting a pharmacy priority window for parents of children five years and younger who were seen by a doctor and needed a prescription filled before they left the hospital. The hospital commander agreed to the idea, and parents with sick children were able to get them home as quickly as possible after an appointment, she said.
"This is an example of a local-level issue that could be a best practice at all installations. We are working with Installation Management Command headquarters to implement an AFAP Best Practices webpage to raise awareness of best practices to all leadership for implementation (when applicable) to enhance the quality of life for Soldiers, civilians, retirees and family members across the world -- not just on one installation where the AFAP issue was raised."
Anyone can submit concerns on topics ranging from local issues to matters affecting the entire defense department.
"For example, the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill transferability was an AFAP issue that impacted the entire DOD," Miles said. "Another example is Department of the Army civilian employees adding vision coverage as a part of their medical insurance -- that was another AFAP issue. Prior to that, DA civilians didn't have vision coverage included in their healthcare."
Depending on how complex or large the scope of a matter is, it may not be resolved right away, but people can always check on the progress of their submitted issue, Miles said.
"There is as issue update book that will be released quarterly on the Army Community Service website. In that book, the resolution status of each concern will be provided," she explained. "Sometimes issues take time to solve, so patience is key to the resolution process."
"Since 1983, nearly 700 issues have been entered into the AFAP system. Of the 700, 528 were resolved and led to the enactment of 129 pieces of legislation, 187 policy changes and 212 improved programs and services," said Col. Keith E. Igyarto, U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz commander. "In short, AFAP works because it starts at the grassroots level with garrisons and units, and the issues are oftentimes elevated to the highest policy and lawmaking levels."
People can submit their AFAP concerns at Java Café drop boxes throughout Kaiserslautern and Baumholder, through Family Readiness Support Assistants, on the AFAP link on the ACS Facebook page or contact Miles at heather.m.miles4.civ@mail.mil or call her at 541-9002.
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