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Special assignments considered for Airmen in time of need

  • Published
  • By Richard Salomon
  • Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) --  Being the parent of a teenager with a bipolar disorder is often a difficult and emotional journey, said an Airman from Randolph Air Force Base recently.

"Like any parent of a child with special needs, there's always a concern that the next location will not have the medical or psychiatric facilities to care for my son," she said. "However, because of the Air Force's 'whole family concept,' that is no longer a worry of mine."

This Airman, and thousands of other active-duty Air Force members like her, has found peace of mind through the Air Force Exceptional Family Member Program, which allows Airmen to proceed to assignment locations where suitable medical, educational, or other resources are available to treat special needs family members.

These special needs include physiological, psychological, medical or educational conditions that require treatment.

The EFMP is limited to the Airman's spouse, child or other person actually residing in the Airman's household who is dependent on the Airman for more than half of his or her financial support and who meets Department of Defense enrollment criteria.

"These problems are usually permanent or long-term where the family may need continued assistance," said Lori Surgnier, the Humanitarian and EFMP Assignments Section chief at the Air Force Personnel Center here.

Ms. Surgnier said it is important for Airmen to first work with their special needs coordinators at their base medical treatment facilities, so they can obtain the necessary assignment limitation code, "Q," which identifies them as having a family member with special needs.

"If their next assignment doesn't have the necessary medical or educational resources available, those Airmen should apply for EFMP consideration," she said. "Our case workers then step in and work with their assignments officers or NCOs to ensure those Airmen are diverted to other locations that can care for their special needs family members. In some cases, if Air Force manning allows, members can stay at their present locations."

In addition to the EFMP, Ms. Surgnier's section also oversees the Air Force's Humanitarian Assignments Program.

"The humanitarian program is distinct from the EFMP in that it is designed to assist Airmen in resolving severe short-term problems that emergency leave alone cannot resolve," she said.

The qualifying factors for humanitarian reassignments or deferments (when the member stays at the base) are varied and can include a terminal illness of a family member when death is imminent or the recent death of an Airman's spouse or child. Other examples include, but are not limited to, the sexual abuse of the member, member's spouse or child, or a serious financial setback such as the loss of one's residence through fire or natural disaster.

In all cases, the Airman's presence must be essential to alleviating the problem, and it must be resolved in a reasonable period of time (normally 12 months).

Also, for a humanitarian reassignment, there must be a valid and vacant Air Force authorization at the gaining location. For example, the Air Force would not be able to reassign a mechanic to a base that does not have such positions for those mechanics.

Airmen must submit their humanitarian or EFMP applications via the virtual Military Personnel Flight, which includes detailed application instructions. For eligibility criteria and additional information regarding humanitarian and EFMP programs, Airmen should review Air Force Instruction 36-2110, Assignments, Attachment 24 (humanitarian) and Attachment 25 (EFMP).

"Unfortunately, many applications are returned because of incomplete information or insufficient documentation. It's important that Airmen review all the information available, so their applications can be processed quickly and properly," Ms. Surgnier said.

"The spirit and intent of both of these programs is to help our Airmen on the home front, so they can stay focused on the mission," she said. "Airmen and their families will always be our top concern."

For more information, see your military personnel section, visit AFPC's "Ask" Web site or call the 24-hour Total Force Service Center at 800-525-0102.