Leadership works with joint base community to improve quality of life Published Oct. 22, 2010 By James L. Hodges Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST -- The Warfighter and Family Readiness Center is looking for Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, dependents, unit commanders, first sergeants, retirees and civilians to participate in the Military Family Action Plan Conference at the Timmermann Center 7:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Oct. 29. The purpose of the conference is to establish communication between the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst community and leadership to improve the quality of life for those who live and work on the joint base. Col. Gina Grosso, JB MDL commander, will provide opening remarks before the morning kick-off meeting to describe the day's process. Attendees will be divided into groups of 20, with a facilitator, to provide feedback concerning what programs work, which don't and what would improve them. Representatives from the 87th Force Support Squadron, Army and Air Force Exchange Services, Defense Commissary Agency, Retiree Affairs, 87th Communications Squadron, United Communities and others will be on hand as subject matter experts to support the attendees and help develop recommendations. "Following the conference, all of the issues are consolidated for review by [Grosso] and her leadership team," said Fran Booth, Military Family Action Plan Program manager. "Feedback on the status of the issues will be provided via personal e-mail, gomdl.com and the base newspaper. Presently, more senior enlisted are needed to ensure a good representation of the joint base population." The program, adopted by the joint base last year, was created as the Army Family Action Plan in 1983 to provide a voice for the military community that could be heard by the chain of command. Concerns addressed at past conferences include: Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs policies, education, health care, base processes and more. Since its inception, the program has resulted in 117 legislative changes, 162 DoD policy or regulatory changes and 178 program improvements, services and funding. Additionally, countless improvements were facilitated at the local installation level that did not require further elevation for resolution. "The [MFAP conference] reaches out to the entire joint base community for input on how to make our community a better place for all," said Fay Marshall-Dease, U.S. Army Installation Management Command retirement services officer and a MFAP facilitator for the last five years. "The conference allows the attendees to voice their concerns and provide suggestions for overall community improvements." The conference is a direct line for attendees to connect with leadership on issues that affect their everyday routine while at the joint base. "I find it a most helpful avenue to listen to community members of all ranks, rates and status to see what they focus on and are concerned about," said Dr. Denise Horton, U.S. Army IMCOM alcohol and drug control officer and MFAP facilitator. "It is a rich and diverse process that actually is heard by all levels of command." One of MFAP's past achievements is to allow active-duty parents to defer or decline permanent change of station orders if they have a child in their senior year of high school. This allows the student to 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," Col. Joe Poth, JB MDL deputy commander. "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." Registration is required by Monday for participation in the conference. For more information and to register, contact Booth at frances.booth@mcguire.af.mil or call 562-3930.