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by Christine June
U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern
Everyone here can have a voice in making the KMC a better place to live and work at the U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern’s 2007 Army Family Action Plan Conference.
Themed as “A Chance to Change Tomorrow,” the conference is 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 23 and 24 at Armstrong Community Club on Vogelweh Housing.
The deadline to volunteer or submit issues to be discussed at the conference is Oct. 4.
The brainchild of Army spouses, AFAP is an Army-wide program that gives all members of the Army team – active duty and retired military, family members and civilian employees – a chance to voice concerns and raise issues to Army leadership.
“This is about change – positive change in our community and Army,” said Angela Bellamy, AFAP coordinator. “AFAP is a way to let your voice be heard and affect the quality of lives in our military.”
Given the joint demographics of the KMC, Air Force members can also submit issues and volunteer at the conference. Issues can be submitted by filling out worksheets located at central places on Pulaski Barracks and Landstuhl Regional Medical Center.
“We are looking for any issues that pertain to quality of life for Soldiers and their family members,” said Mrs. Bellamy.
The majority of volunteers will serve as delegates. Mrs. Bellamy said she needs about 80 delegates to form seven focus groups. These work groups come up with recommendations for the Army to fix the top issues facing the KMC. This year’s proposed focus groups are: teens, health and dental care, community support and consumer services, children and youth, housing and public works, DOD and Department of the Army civilians, and Soldier support.
This conference is a chance for people to say what is and what is not working, as well as how to fix it within the KMC, Army and DOD, said Linda Slaughter, the garrison’s Army Community Service director.
“The changes that have occurred since the start of AFAP have significantly made huge differences in how the Army supports the force – the ‘total’ force,” said Mrs. Slaughter.
Since the program began in 1983, action plan issues have become Army or DOD policy. These Army-wide conferences have discussed close to 1,000 issues resulting in more than 90 changes to legislation, 150 revised policies and 190 improved programs and services, said Mrs. Bellamy.
Locally, the Kid’s Zone on Pulaski Barracks became a reality due to an initiative started at the 2001 conference here.
Community members can bring forth their issues to the conference by filling out proposed issue worksheets located at ACS, Kids’ Zone and post office on Pulaski Barracks, and at Landstuhl library and hospital. In addition, Family Readiness Group leaders also have issue worksheets to give to their members. Those wanting to bring up issues can e-mail the AFAP coordinator at angela.bellamy1@us.army.mil. For more information or to register for this year’s AFAP, call Mrs. Bellamy at 493-4232 or 0631-3406-4232.
