JAFAP conference brings issues to DoD

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Ty-Rico Lea
  • JBER Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENODRF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  The Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Community Education Complex hosted JBER's second annual Joint Army Family Action Plan conference March 20 through 22.

"JAFAP is a grass-roots process that identifies issues or concerns from the armed forces," said Frederica Norman, JBER JAFAP program manager, in opening remarks for the conference.

Standardizing JBER procedures and services where there was an inadequate flow of information between command, personnel and families, was rectified by developing a process that continually evaluates the challenges of JBER," said Kelsey Shimmin, last year's JAFAP conference "Benefits and Entitlements" focus group's spokesperson.
The feedback to leaders results in policy changes which then become tangible end-products at installations across the United States.

JAFAP beneficiaries include all service members, retirees, civilian employees, surviving spouses and all their family members.

The JAFAP program gives individuals in the JBER community the opportunity to influence their quality of life.

Issues are discussed amongst the JAFAP board and are then filtered through leadership channels to be further addressed. Leadership uses the information to influence change that improves standards of living and support programs.

These changes foster a satisfied, informed and resilient military community.

"As a military family, we face the same struggles and so we want to find a way to come together and share in the development of solutions, the identification of issues and rectify them using the process," said Air Force Col. Robert Evans, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and 673d Air Base Wing commander.

Information from pamphlets provided by the JAFAP organization explained the programs history of economic endeavors.

The program enlists representatives stationed around the world to identify and prioritize issues. They focus on those that will improve the standard of living on installations, as well as within an organization as a whole.

A total of 683 issues have been identified during the past 29 years, leading to 126 legislative changes, 177 Army or Department of Defense policy changes, and 197 improved programs and services.

During the three-day event, focus groups had time to brainstorm various issues, ideas and answers concerning the joint base's well-being.

Representatives briefed 10 major concerns, which included moving companies not fulfilling all terms of their contracts and facilities fees for retirees.

The focus group had the support of the military community as well as other family readiness groups composed of Soldiers and families were also addressed.

"Using the Joint Army Family Action Plan, we can mediate source issues through the Army chain of command and through the Air Force chain of command," said Army Maj. Gen. Raymond Palumbo, commander of U.S. Army Alaska and deputy commander of Alaskan Command.