Joint base takes action for military families

Published Nov. 3, 2009
By 2nd Lt. Carolyn Z. Glover
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst leadership assembled with military members and their families Oct. 29 during the Military Family Action Plan conference at the Timmerman Center on Dix.

"Your task today is to find out what works, what doesn't and how to fix it," said Frances Booth, the program's manager, at the opening ceremony.

The Military Family Action Plan was created 26 years ago as the Army Family Action Plan. This year, McGuire, Dix and Lakehurst will benefit from the program's capabilities as a result of the new joint base.

The program's mission: prioritize issues designed to improve standards of living for all military branches, family members, retirees and civilians not only at JB MDL, but on military installations across the country.

The conference occurred during a significant time for military families.

JB MDL is currently celebrating the Year of the Military Family. Its purpose is to highlight, examine and develop existing services. Any services needing improvement will then be altered or expanded to meet the changing needs and expectations of servicemembers and their families.

MFAP provides a means of policy change by helping leadership address the needs and concerns of military members and their families. The program has resulted in 107 legislative changes, 15 Department of Defense policy or regulatory changes and 173 program improvements and services funding.

One of MFAP's past achievements is to allow active-duty parents the ability to decline Permanent Change of Station orders when their child is a senior in high school. PCS orders can be deferred or declined to allow the students remain at school and graduate with the same senior class.

"What this is really about is a love of country and a love of family," said Col. Joe Poth, JB MDL deputy commander. "We all have an intrinsic love of our family.

"We need your ideas. We need your passion. We need your commitment. You can truly make a difference in the lives of families, servicemembers and the joint base," he said.

Conference attendees divided into five groups after the opening ceremony to discuss various issues throughout the day.

Ida Gonzalez, a conference attendee, participated in a group discussion that recognized a need for standardized affordable civilian healthcare options for mobilized National Guard and Reserve members.

She attended the conference in honor of her son, an Army Reservist who was killed in Iraq last year.

"I can't do anything for my son, Michael, but I am here to help the other Soldiers," she said. "I want all Soldiers to be treated the same."

Group representatives briefed Colonel Poth and other JB MDL leaders of the issues discussed during a outbrief session at the end of the day.

A group consisting solely of teenagers requested a way to get more information about base events. The teens felt disconnected with base support services as they get most news from non-traditional sources, rather than the base paper, in which the events are advertised.

Other ideas presented were: means of better, more efficient communication throughout the joint base; the possibility of reinstating a required decal for all vehicles entering base; and a way to give geographically-remote servicemembers and their families the same support services available to other active-duty members.

November has been proclaimed National Military Family Appreciation Month in the spirit of the Year of the Military Family. Servicemembers and their families will be honored throughout the month through planned activities, programs and events.

Despite the November festivities, JB MDL leadership will be at work addressing all of the issues presented at the conference.

"We promise we will respond to all these issues," Colonel Poth said. "We owe you that."