USAG Kaiserslautern 2009 Army Family Action Plan Conference Report Out

3. Teen Shuttle to KMCC Commissary KMCC Bowling Teen Center

4. Top Two Issues Teen shuttle bus schedule and routes Vogelweh movie theater schedule

5. Issue #1 Title: Teen shuttle bus schedule and routes Scope: The current teen shuttle bus schedule and routes are inefficient and impractical. They do not meet the needs of the working teenage population and those who wish to participate in tutorial and CYSS programs. There are many unnecessary stops and no direct routes from Vogelweh to Ramstein between 1600-2000 hrs. As a result of these inefficiencies, there are only 30 registered users for the teen shuttle bus. Recommendations: Implement a new schedule that includes a direct route from Vogelweh to the KMCC. Also, provide later pick up times to accommodate working teens and those who participate in sports and CYSS programs, specifically between the hours of 1730 and 2130. Discuss the teen shuttle bus schedule and routes within student government/council meetings quarterly. Establish a KHS, RHS, FMWR workgroup to implement the final schedule.

6. Issue #2 Title: Vogelweh Movie Theater Schedule Scope: The Vogelweh movie theater was a major entertainment outlet for teens in the KMC area. Due to the opening of the KMCC, the Vogelweh movie theater hours and showings have been reduced. The current showings are not age appropriate for the entire Vogelweh teen population. This results in low participation and limited choices to strengthen the family unit and give teens positive alternatives. Recommendations: Designate Friday night (1900 hrs showing) as teen night. Expand the movie schedule. Open theater on school out days.

8. Commissary LRMC FMWR ACS BX/PX / Youth Services / Schools

9. Top Three Issues Establish an enlarged and combined Army/Air Force Military Clothing Sales in the Kaiserslautern Community Kaiserslautern Amendment to Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) 4500.36-R, Section 5-6 AR 58-1, Chapter 5, Para. 5-2, Transportation Expansion of satellite shoppettes

10. Issue #1 Title: Kaiserslautern Military Community clothing sales size and location Scope: Military Clothing Sales and Services are not meeting the needs of the combined Army and Air Force communities. The facilities are not adequately sized. In addition, they are not central to all military locations to meet the community and transient needs. Current facilities do not meet the community needs by having adequate stock. This impacts every facet of the mission to include Garrison operation, schools/training and deployment. Recommendations: Establish a combined Army and Air Force clothing sales at Ramstein AFB that will provide for the needs of the community and transient population. Provide a larger facility to create more space for stock to have the items needed for service members. Develop communications between operations managers, AAFES, and community leadership to better forecast the needs of the community and transient needs.

11. Issue #2 Title: Amendment to Department of Defense Instructions (DoDI) 4500.36-R, Section 5-6, AR 58-1, Chapter 5, Para. 5-2. Transportation Scope: There is a defect in the transportation policy that negatively impacts all DoD Identification (ID) card holders in the Kaiserslautern Military Community (KMC). There is transportation available from the Warrior Transition Unit, Teen bus, Department of Logistics bus, Air Crew bus, Ramstein on base bus, and the Guest House bus; however, each of these transportation services have limitations that are detrimental to the community with their restrictions. This DoDI creates inadequate services that directly impact mission readiness, quality of life and morale for Soldiers and Family members. Recommendations: Amend the DoDI C 5.7. Military Community Activities to capitalize and meet the greater demand of KMC which benefits all DoD ID card holders to include morale and quality of life, i.e., KMCC, Commissaries. Consolidate all transportation operation services into one comprehensive functional operation system to include expanded stops and hours including weekends, which benefits all DoD ID card holders. Provide sufficient marketing to inform service members and their families of the available resources for transportation to community services, such as the Commissary and BX/PX.

12. Issue #3 Title: Expansion of Satellite Shoppettes Scope: Current satellite shoppettes have inadequate product selection for all service members, families and civilians to have easy access to daily necessities. There is not a convenient or timely solution for consumers to obtain items that they would have purchased previously at the BX/PX at Vogelweh. This directly effects the morale and welfare of all service members and civilians in the KMC. Recommendations: Expand existing shoppettes with size and product selection at all satellite installations throughout the KMC. This expansion should include healthy alternative choices, i.e., fresh fruits and vegetables. Also, the expanding selection should include more household goods and personal items.

14. CRD MEDCOM AAFES CYSS DECA

15. Top Four Issues Primary medical care after duty hours Continuity of Psychiatric care for Wounded Warriors Blue Cross/Blue Shield Insurance Additional Satellite Pharmacies within USAREUR Communities

16. Issue #1 Title: Primary medical care after duty hours in all medical clinics for eligible beneficiaries in USAREUR Scope: There are not enough family practice care medical clinics open during off duty hours for eligible beneficiaries. Loss of manpower to providers and patients during duty hours significantly impacts mission related goals and creates undue waste of manpower. Insufficient after hours access to care in military communities causes undo stress to units, Soldiers and Families. Recommendation: Provide additional evening and weekend shifts during off duty hours for family practice care at medical clinics and medical facilities in USAREUR.

17. Issue #2 Title: Quality and consistency of psychiatric/psychological care for combat veterans Scope: Soldiers with combat stress are not receiving continuous and consistent care with the same psychiatric/psychological providers effecting the quality of treatment. Insufficient availability and lack of psychiatric/psychological professionals prevents timely recovery and delays Soldiers� readiness. Recommendation: Authorize longer tours for psychiatrists/psychologists. Review patient to psychiatrists/psychologists ratio and establish proactive measures (quality control). Provide patients information about their rights to choose or change psychiatrists/psychologist. Establish long term psychiatrists/psychologist patient relationships to build trust. Trust is crucial for patient recovery.

18. Issue #3 Title: Lack of representation regarding non-Tricare health insurance issues for OCONUS civilian employees/contractors and their Family members. . Scope: OCONUS civilian employees/contractors and their Family members required to use host nation health care providers are questioning insurance companies� payment decisions and length of time to be reimbursed. OCONUS civilian employees/contractors and their Family members have no local representative to address and challenge private U.S. based health insurance companies regarding reimbursements for host nation medical bills. Out of pocket health expenses and insufficient reimbursements are causing financial burden and undue stress to OCONUS civilian employees/contractors and their Family members. Recommendations: Provide an advocacy service to represent OCONUS civilian employees/contractors and their Family members who are covered by non-Tricare health insurance and are required to utilize host nation health care providers. The advocacy service should address underpayments, payment refusals, and lengthy delays with reimbursements.

19. Issue #4 Title: Additional Satellite Pharmacies within USAREUR Communities Scope: There is a need for additional community satellite refill pharmacy locations for eligible beneficiaries USAREUR-wide. Currently there are lengthy waiting times and congestion at LRMC and other health clinics. The additional of satellite pharmacies USAREUR-wide will positively effect eligible beneficiaries by alleviating undue stress and allowing convenience while increasing work productivity. This will eliminate wait times and reduce overall congestion at LRMC and other area health clinics. Recommendations: Provide additional satellite locations for refills and over the counter medications at commissaries and BX/PX USAREUR-wide for eligible beneficiaries.

21. Army Community Service 2. Commissary 3. DODEA 4. MEDCOM 5. AAFES

22. Top Three Issues Career Progression Challenges for Military Spouses Transition from NSPS back to GS Extending/Improving Civilian Fitness Program

23. Issue #1 Title: Career Progression Challenges for Military Spouses Scope: Due to constant relocations and availability of jobs in chosen career field at duty stations, military spouses have difficulty maintaining career stability. This career instability adds stress during the PCS process, and limits the spouse�s financial contributions to the family, and prevents the full utilization of the spouses� skills and abilities in the community. Constant PCS moves make it difficult for military spouses to advance as quickly as other civilian DoD employees. Recommendations: DoD and contracting agencies should allow spouses to transfer to comparable jobs at their gaining installation, as applicable opportunities are available, allowing all positions to count toward DoD time in grade. �Safe pay� (supplemental pay to maintain previous salary) should be offered to DoD (to include GS/NAF/AAFES) military spouse employees who PCS with their service members, with the goal of returning the employee to his/her previous grade within a certain time period. DoD should build partnerships with national/international companies, to encourage companies to provide transferable, civilian, �telecommuting� jobs for military spouses, and highlight those employment opportunities through job fairs, advertising, etc.

24. Issue #2 Title: Transition from NSPS back to GS Scope: Employees may not be compensated for step increases and pay they would have earned if they had stayed under the GS system. This affects all NSPS employees, and it is a problem because of the potential disparity (salary, step, etc.) between GS and NSPS employees. The NSPS employees will be at a disadvantage compared to others who did not convert to NSPS, because performance bonuses were not added to the employees� salary. Recommendations: Each NSPS employee�s performance should be reviewed by a board to determine what pay level the person would have attained if they had remained under GS, taking into account the employee�s self assessment and rating. Initiate retroactive corrections for missed step increases, promotions, etc. For OCONUS NSPS employees, special emphasis should be placed on training/education, as related to the specific job. These employees should be given the opportunity (in a defined time period, specific to each position) to obtain additional training and education in order to be more competitive with CONUS GS counterparts.

25. Issue #3 Title: Extending/Improving Civilian Fitness Program Scope: A healthy workforce means reduced sick leave and medical expenses for the government. The CFP is only offered for a six month period, one time during the employee�s career, which is not sufficient to maintain the health of the workforce. Additionally, many employees who enroll in the program are not able to take the time to participate, because of mission requirements and lack of managerial support. This affects all civilian employees, especially those with high-stress jobs or demanding personal and family lives, who may not otherwise have time to focus on their health/fitness (childcare issues, etc.). Recommendations: Participation will no longer be limited to once during an employee�s career, but employees will now be able to re-enroll every six months, based on approval by CFP manager, with consideration of progress toward personal goals and other appropriate criteria. Implement greater command and managerial support for employees to participate in the program, even when the operations tempo is high, by allowing employees the flexibility to work out as the mission permits. To this end, managers should institute a back-up policy, to ensure that staffing needs are met during work out times. Management will review participants� progress throughout the initial six moth period, through an employer-directed tracking system (at employer�s discretion). At the end of this period, the CFP manager will determine whether the employee may continue to participate.

27. Medical Care 2. ACS 3. CYSS 4. AAFES 5. Community Recreation

28. Top Three Issues Child Care Service Fees CDCs Unavailability of Child Care Child Care Services at Base Gyms

29. Issue #1 Title: Child Care Service Fees Scope: All patrons in the same fee category pay the same for child care regardless of whether it is considerably more expensive infant care or less expensive preschool care. Parents are forced to pay more for self sustaining older children due to higher income; however, it is the younger children that require more care, time and attention. Failure to standardize child care service fees based on age of the child creates a burden on all service members and families when total income is considered. Recommendations: Establish and implement new guidelines for child development and school age service fees. Develop and standardize equal pay according to child�s age group and not household income.

30. Issue #2 Title: CDCs Unavailability of Child Care Scope: There is a lack of available full time and hourly child care slots at the CDC. Unavailability of daycare effects the quality of life and morale of military service members and families. Insufficient availability of daycare can cause depression, hardships on deployed family members, and stress which can make it more difficult to attend to appointments, to obtain employment, and/or to further their education. Recommendations: Create more family home care providers. Implement new incentives that will bridge the gap between CDCs and available home daycare. Attract home daycare providers that offer hourly care and provide a list of available teen babysitters.

31. Issue #3 Title: Child Care Services at the Base Gyms Scope: Unavailability of daily child care provided at the base gyms do not allow working/non-working parents to exercise. Most military gym facilities do not provide child care services. The lack of the availability of child care services does not allow working/non-working parents to relieve stress and it discourages physical fitness. Recommendations: Authorize child care providers hourly slots in the gyms for parents to pay as they work out. Hire child care provider staff members and charge monthly fees to parents which allow a set number of sessions.

33. DECA AAFES and ACS Education Center/Services CDC Libraries

34. Top Three Issues 24-Hour Suicide Prevention Hotline based OCONUS Spouse Information Packet Distribution Availability and Quality of Housing Services

35. Issue #1 Title: 24-Hour Suicide Prevention Hotline based OCONUS Scope: With no active suicide prevention hotline OCONUS, the resources available to at-risk Soldiers, Civilians and Family members are inconsistent, inadequate and require multiple telephone transfers that never reach a designated contact. Currently, available �resources� include Chaplains, Military Police and Mental Health Offices. According to Senate Arms Committee Chairman, the Army suicide rates are dramatically increasing due to inadequate treatment and improper care. The inability to find immediate support through a designated suicide prevention hotline effects the Soldiers, Civilians, and Family members OCONUS. Recommendations: Fund and staff a 24-hour Suicide Prevention hotline that mirrors the current Sexual Assault Response program OCONUS.

36. Issue #2 Title: Spouse Information Packet Distribution Scope: Spouses are left out of the information process when coming to a new duty station. It is optional for family members to attend in-processing with the Soldiers. Spouses are unaware of available programs within the community and feel isolated. Recommendations: Commanders should distribute ACS Fact Sheets and community information packets provided by ACS directly to the spouses.

37. Issue #3 Title: Availability and Quality of Housing Services Scope: Quality and availability of service in the Housing Office is substandard due to poor staffing levels and inadequate hours. The current website, www.ahrn.com, is not updated regularly and is not an appropriate substitute for person-to-person contact. The current system results in longer Temporary Lodging Facility (TLF) stays during an incoming Soldier�s housing search. Recommendations: Relocation specialist assigned to incoming families. Fund and staff an Army liaison within the current housing office. Extend daily office hours and include Saturday hours. Establish a join housing policy for all service branches in the KMC.

39. BOSS Outdoor Recreation Army Emergency Relief ACS Auto Crafts

40. Top Three Issues Meal Cards POV Drivers License Requirement for Service Members Assignments

41. Issue #1 Title: Revision of Meal Card System Scope: Meal card holders are paying for food they do not eat. The amount deducted from meal card holders pay is not always equal to the number of meals consumed by each individual card holder. Recommendations: Implement a system that tracks the meals that meal card holders consume and charge them accordingly. Reimburse meal card holders for meals they do not eat at the DFAC.

42. Issue #2 Title: POV Driver License Requirement for Service Members Scope: Mission capability is compromised due to unlicensed Soldiers in the military. Unit morale is decreased due to repetitive tasking of licensed Soldiers. Soldiers cannot drive off the installation without a POV license. POV licensing will increase the Commands� capabilities by allowing Soldiers to operate tactical vehicles off the installation. Soldiers will receive more realistic training off the installation. Recommendation: Require initial entry Soldiers to obtain POV license prior to enlistment.

43. Issue #3 Title: Community Specific Assignments Soldiers are Being Diverted to Communities Other than those Listed in their Original Orders Scope: Soldiers are being diverted to communities other than those listed in their original orders. Diversion from original orders contributes to an ineffective sponsorship program. Recommendation: Assign Soldiers to specific OCONUS communities prior to arrival in country.

44. USAG Kaiserslautern Top Five Services 1. Commissary 2. BX/PX 3. Medical Issues 4. ACS 5. FMWR

45. A Special Thank You to our FRTI Teams, SMEs, Delegates and Corporate Sponsors!