JFAP Conference gives JBER community a voice

  • Published
  • By Airman Valerie Monroy
  • JBER Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --   For 32 years, the Army has provided people the opportunity to raise installation-wide issues to higher command. With joint basing, the program has been grandfathered to become what is now the Joint Family Action Plan.

Five years later, the program continues to help bring issues to light with its annual conference at the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Community Education Complex, Oct. 28 and 29.

JFAP is a connection linking the community to the command and a place where voices can be heard.

"It provides the JBER community with a direct line to leadership," said Lisa Williams, 673d Force Support Squadron work/life specialist.

"It gives command ideas of what's going on in the community and issues we need to fix to make our community better."

Forty delegates were chosen to work on the issues presented. The delegates were chosen from a variety of demographics - including active-duty military, National Guard, retirees, civilians and spouses.

During the first day, the delegates divided into smaller groups to discuss their issues.

"We had a total of 27 issues that were submitted this year for the conference, and those 27 issues were divided up into the three work groups," Williams said.

Each work group then looked at all the issues and prioritized them in order to choose which issues would be briefed to the command.

"The second day, we have an out brief to the command," Williams said.

Command will look at all 27 issues, but were only presented the top two issues from each group during the brief, Williams said.

As an example, one issue brought up was the hours of operation of the Arctic Valley Gate.

They provided several examples; 
The hours are not conducive to the needs of the commuters, due to insufficient manning and funding, gate hours have been reduced over the past four years.

The exit-only nature of this gate contributed to its low-priority placement.

The current hours of operation - 4 to 7 p.m., Monday to Friday - and lack of morning commute hours led to higher traffic flow through residential areas and two separate school zones.

The likelihood of accidents and safety issues and violations affecting school kids and residents may increase due to this issue.

Delegates recommended the following solutions;
Increase hours during peak times to 6 to 9 a.m. and 2 to 6 p.m.
Require a sign at gate to accurately reflect hours of operation.
Review the current Security Forces augmentation program and its utilization here at JBER.

Though command is able to listen to these issues and work on them throughout the year, there are some issues which they might not be able to fully fix themselves.

For instance, an issue with healthcare continuity for Tricare beneficiaries requires more work than what JBER's command can do.

Delegates within the JFAP conference said that, when transferring duty stations, Tricare beneficiaries have to re-establish healthcare treatment plans.

However the requirement to establish a new primary care manager before continuing previously prescribed treatment plans delays access to service providers and creates lapses in care.

"We can't fix everything here but the command can obligate it to be looked at by higher command," Williams said. "I encourage people to participate because their voices are heard by command.

"This command takes all these issues seriously and we can only make our community better and safer if we know the issues."

Williams said it all starts when one person speaks up and raises attention to the issue at a grassroots level conference.

"Whether it be a simple issue with the paint color in housing or a more complex issue that requires a service-level answer, we're able to advocate on behalf of those issues to bring closure," said Col. Franklin Howard, 673d Mission Support Group commander.

"Hopefully we'll be able to satisfy everyone's concerns."  

Howard said command takes every situation very seriously.

During closing remarks, Col. Brian Bruckbauer, 673d Air Base Wing and JBER commander, said he appreciated the work of each individual who participated and raised important concerns for command to work on.

"There will be a feedback mechanism, so you all know what we did," Bruckbauer said.

"You all put a lot of time into this and I want to make sure you get an answer back."

Those who missed this year's conference can still raise issues throughout the year by submitting them to the work/life specialist at 384-1513.

"I take issues year round and already have two issues for next year's conference," Williams said. "Nothing is too big or too small."