The Army Quality of Life Task Force expanded its lines of effort from six to 10 to increase the wellbeing of its number one asset: its people.
The task force’s purpose is to review and combine the full range of Army care, support, “upstream” primary prevention, and enrichment efforts and programs; the initial emphasis was on six lines of effort: housing, health care, child and youth services, spouse employment, permanentchange-of-station moves, and support and resilience.
In March 2023, the Secretary of the Army provided direction and guidance to implement a new process to increase visibility of quality-oflife concerns across our installations, camps and stations using the re-chartered QOL TF.
The Army QOL TF continues to evolve to meet the emerging priorities of Army senior leaders with 10 lines of effort that have a strategic-level view of issues that affect the total Army.
The new lines of effort are the Exceptional Family Member Program, Financial Readiness and Economic Security, Army Community Service and Morale, Welfare and Recreation. “Primary prevention ‘upstream prevention’ programs like financial readiness, support for Families with special needs, and other primary prevention efforts to reduce harmful behaviors,” Dee Geise, director of the Directorate of Prevention, Resilience and Readiness explains.
During this three-year period, the QOL TF will review, assess and provide recommendations to inform and influence policies, processes, procedures and funding within the QOL portfolio, with the aims of supporting commanders, identifying gaps and barriers, mitigating challenges and continuing best practices.
“Army Quality of Life programs help promote the health and well-being of the Army’s Soldiers, Civilians and their Families,” says Geise. “They reduce stress, absenteeism and disengagement. Exceptional Soldier and Family programs engender trust between the Army and its professionals, simultaneously improving talent acquisition and retention efforts.”
“The goal is to ensure world-class services promoting talent acquisition and retention while promoting trust between the Army, its Soldiers, Families and Civilians,” Geise says. “The QOL TF will identify and provide recommendations on any QOL issue to the Secretary of the Army and Chief of Staff on emerging requirements and initiatives requiring legislative resolution. This includes providing programs and services at remote and isolated installations.”
Examples of enrichment efforts include:
• Standardizing criteria and levels of need for all Exceptional Family Member Program services.
• Improving financial readiness by collaborating with the University of Georgia on a research study on the effectiveness of Financial Readiness Programs.
• Improving financial readiness by collaborating with the DOD and the University of Georgia on a research study on the effectiveness of financial education.
• Incorporating awareness of financial readiness tools and resources to commanders and personnel supporting wellness checks.
“The Army is committed to providing predictable, flexible, adaptable and tailorable QOL programs to Soldiers and Families,” Geise says. “Effective, efficient and well-executed QOL programs increase the well-being and readiness of the force.
Social Sharing