Fort Irwin
Issues Out-Brief
26 October 2010
AGENDA
1. High School Teens
2. Middle School Teens
3. Benefits & Entitlements
4. Family Support
5. Force Support
Top 3 Prioritized Issues
from the
High School Teens
Group
Briefers: Myles Minton
Robert Abrams
Top Services in the Community
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•
•
•
Child, Youth and School Services
Army Community Services
Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation
Chaplain Services
Top HQ Department of the Army
Active Issues
• Authorize a one-time round trip airfare to a CONUS point of entry for
OCONUS students who have been accepted to a post secondary school
and their guardian
• Extend medical benefits (TRICARE) for full time students to age 25
years. (TRICARE currently terminates at 22 years)
• Increase enlisted permanent change of station weight allowance to
more closely match officer weight allowances.
• Fund a formal program to provide service dogs for Wounded Warriors
• Authorize and fund a Retirement Service Officer at each Regional
Support Command
• Upon birth, authorize Transitional Compensation benefits for the child
of a pregnant abused Family member
TOP ISSUE: #1
Title: Fan bus for High School hosted events
GROUP:
High School
SCOPE:
Fort Irwin community and students who would like to attend late
activities hosted events at the HS, have no transportation to and from
Fort Irwin. This will provide support and encourage Silver Valley HS
teams.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Fort Irwin to provide Fan buses for hosted events to and from events.
TOP ISSUE: #2
Title: Fort Irwin High School Teen Center Dance Room
GROUP:
High School
SCOPE:
Fort Irwin Teens would like to improve the atmosphere of the Teen Center by
adding a dance floor, lights, and snack bar. This will provide a place for more
teems to come out and have fund on the weekend.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Provide a dance floor and strobe lights for the Teen Center
TOP ISSUE: #3
Title: Fort Irwin Blue Track upgrade
GROUP:
High School
SCOPE:
Due to the holes in the ground several injuries have occurred. With the
improvement of the track and field it would be better utilized by the community.
With the addition of lines on the track, we can create a practice field for all.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Coordinate weekly maintenance of the blue track field. Replace surface with artificial
turf and paint lines, and provide track equipment
Top 3 Prioritized Issues
from the
Middle School Teens
Group
Nominated Briefers:
Miraj Killlingsworth
Jevon Bradwell
Top Services in the Community
•
•
•
•
Commissary
Alcohol and Substance Abuse Program
Child, Youth and School Services
Wounded Warrior Program
Top HQ Department of the Army
Active Issues
• Eliminate Prescription cost shares for Active Duty Family members
not enrolled at a Military Treatment Facility
• Eliminate TRICARE co-pay for replacement parts of durable medical
equipment and prosthetics
• Eliminate the requirement that an active duty Family member must
live with the military sponsor in order to enroll in TRICARE Prime
Remote
• Mandate that all CONUS installations, including Alaska and Hawaii,
provide advanced life support services on or near the installation in
accordance with National Fire Protection Association standards
• Establish a comprehensive integrated rehabilitative program for
Traumatic Brain Injury patients at military Medical Centers (AWC) in
Europe.
• Fund a portion of the cost of eyeglasses under TRICARE or outsource
fabrication through vendors at reduced price or provide Frame of
Choice Program at cost from Military lab
TOP ISSUE: #1
Title: Fort Irwin House Security
GROUP:
Middle School
SCOPE:
We need extra locks throughout the house to keep out trespassers and to increase
safety for children and Families.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
• Make it optional for Military Families to have a deadbolt installed in the house.
TOP ISSUE: #2
Title: Fort Irwin Seasonal Olympic Games
GROUP:
Middle School
SCOPE:
If we have Olympic indoor and outdoor activities and games each season we can
bring Family and kids together for a weekend.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
To add another activity to meet new people, improve teamwork, prevent obesity,
teach new skills and fun.
TOP ISSUE: #3
Title: Fort Irwin Career Day for Middle School
Teens
GROUP:
Middle School
SCOPE:
Fort Irwin Middle School and Teens are lacking career information and would like
to plan for the future now while we are young we will have more choices for life
and career.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Middle School and Teen Director and school liaison officer can bring volunteer
professionals to Fort Irwin to explain several careers and education and allow kids to
go to their work environments.
Top 3 Prioritized Issues
Benefits & Entitlements
Nominated Briefers:
Timothy Messer
Robert Lee
Top Services in the Community
1. Army Community Service
2. Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation
3. Commissary
Top HQ Department of the Army
Active Issues
1. Issue #457: Increase enlisted permanent change of station (PCS)
weight allowance to more closely match officer weight allowances.
(Issue was expanded to increase weight allowance for officers as
well.)
2. Issue #307: Award contracts for household goods (HHG) shipments
to moving companies based on performance and claims history as
well as cost. Provide full replacement value for lost/damaged HHGs.
3. Issue #524: Direct all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and US
territories to grant unemployment compensation to military spouses
who leave a job because of a PCS move.
TOP ISSUE: #1
Title: The Referral Process for Medical Referrals
GROUP:
Ben.& Entl.
SCOPE: The current referral process requires an appointment to obtain the
referral. The current referral process delays medical care. By not requiring
appointments for referrals, it opens up additional appointment slots.
RECOMMENDATIONS: Ease the referral process by authorizing
telephonic referral.
TOP ISSUE: #2
Title: Spousal Preference eligibility
GROUP:
Ben.& Entl.
SCOPE: Not all Spouses are eligible for spousal preference due to the
executive orders and must use preference within 2 years from date of orders.
All spouses should have equal opportunity for preference.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Amend the qualification criteria to include Spouses who were not included
on a Soldier’s permanent change of station (PCS) orders.
Eliminate 2 year time limit for spousal preference from current executive
order for Non-Appropriated Funds (NAF) and Appropriated Funds (AF)
TOP ISSUE: #3
Title: Education Incentive Pay for Enlisted Soldier
GROUP:
Ben.& Entl.
SCOPE: There is no incentive pay for Enlisted Soldiers with higher
education. Enlisted Soldiers are paid less than Officers. Enlisted Soldiers
would encourage higher education
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Provide incentive pay based on level of collegiate degree of Enlisted Soldier.
Top 3 Prioritized Issues
Family Support
Nominated Briefers:
Tony Howard
Virginia Prebot-Valverde
Top Services in the Community
1. Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation
2. Army Community Service
3. Commissary
Top HQ Department of the Army
Active Issues
1. Issue #524: Direct all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and US
territories to grant unemployment compensation to military spouses
who leave a job because of a PCS move.
2. Issue #596: Establish a searchable convicted Sex Offender Registry
and make it available to the military community. Require all
convicted sex offenders who are authorized a DoD ID/IAC to register
with the installation PMO and be entered into the registry.
3. Issue #307: Award contracts for household goods (HHG) shipments
to moving companies based on performance and claims history as
well as cost. Provide full replacement value for lost/damaged HHGs.
TOP ISSUE: #1
Title: Army Wide Housing Policies
GROUP:
Family Support
SCOPE: Placement of housing should be based on number of dependants regardless
of age and gender. Installations are choosing to use different standards to place
families in base housing. This leads to inconsistencies for Families who permanent
change of station (PCS) between installations.
RECOMMENDATIONS: Develop one set of housing standards for Soldiers
with dependants across the Department of Defense.
TOP ISSUE: #2
Title: Separate Rations for Soldiers Living in the Barracks on Fort Irwin, CA.
GROUP:
Family Support
SCOPE: Majority of barracks do not have cooking facilities in their
rooms, nor ease of access to prepare their food if a community kitchen
exists. Soldiers are often limited to meal card use only.
RECOMMENDATIONS: Upon an assignment to barracks, provide
Soldiers the option of separate rations or meal cards.
TOP ISSUE: #3
Title: Procedures for Reserving and Using Community Centers at Fort Irwin
GROUP:
Family Support
SCOPE: Inconsistencies in policies, procedures and prices are misleading to
customers. This leads to miscommunication and confusion for residents.
Implementing standards would provide clear expectations to the residents
reserving community centers.
RECOMMENDATIONS: Develop standards to be consistently followed for
reserving and using community centers at Fort Irwin.
Top 3 Prioritized Issues
Force Support
Nominated Briefers:
Mike Garcia
John Toney
Top Services in the Community
1. Family Readiness Groups
2. Child and Youth Services
3. Department of Defense Schools
Top HQ Department of the Army
Active Issues
1. Issue #645: Increase duration of Temporary Lodging Expense (TLE)
to 20 days.
2. Issue #526: Fund the shipment of second POV for OCONUS tours.
3. Issue #566: Reduce the wide income range in existing child care fees
by increasing the number of child care fee categories.
TOP ISSUE: #1
Title: Soldier Assignment Management at All Levels
GROUP:
Force Support
SCOPE: Branch Managers not responding to Service Members assignment
preferences or career enhancement opportunities. Service Members would like more
interaction and involvement so Service Members are more involved in their
professional and career management.
RECOMMENDATIONS: Active communication within 72hrs from branch
manager. Create/improve interactive portal that allows Service Members to select
assignments from available options provided by branch managers.
TOP ISSUE: #2
Title: Dual Military Assignments
GROUP:
Force Support
SCOPE: Dual military couples are not routinely considered for Joint Domicile
(JD)/Married Army Couple Program (MACP) due to Military Occupational
Specialty (MOS) incapability. Dual military couples not always knowledgeable
about all aspects and regulations (such as 30 day enrollment) in regard to JD/MACP.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Provide mandatory dual military briefing.
Provide open enrollment time frame.
TOP ISSUE: #3
Title: Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) Grade Scale for Alternate Events
GROUP:
Force Support
SCOPE: Service Members with permanent profile are unlikely considered
competitive for promotions. Memo of Instruction (MOI's) for Senior NonCommissioned Officer (NCO) promotion boards specifically mention 270+
as looked upon favorably on NCO Evaluation Report /Enlisted Records Brief
(ERB) by board members. Permanent profile Soldiers are currently unable to
maximize Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) scores.
RECOMMENDATIONS: Provide an opportunity for the permanent profile
Service Member to maximize the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) and
score a 300.