Fort Irwin Issues Out-Brief 26 October 2010

1. Fort Irwin Issues Out-Brief 26 October 2010

2. AGENDA • High School Teens • 2. Middle School Teens • 3. Benefits & Entitlements • 4. Family Support • 5. Force Support

3. Top 3 Prioritized Issues from the High School Teens Group Briefers: Myles Minton Robert Abrams

4. Top Services in the Community • Child, Youth and School Services • Army Community Services • Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation • Chaplain Services

5. 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

6. TOP ISSUE: #1 GROUP: High School Title: Fan bus for High School hosted events 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.

7. TOP ISSUE: #2 GROUP: High School Title: Fort Irwin High School Teen Center Dance Room 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

8. TOP ISSUE: #3 GROUP: High School Title: Fort Irwin Blue Track upgrade 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

9. Top 3 Prioritized Issues from the Middle School Teens Group Nominated Briefers: Miraj Killlingsworth Jevon Bradwell

10. Top Services in the Community • Commissary • Alcohol and Substance Abuse Program • Child, Youth and School Services • Wounded Warrior Program

11. 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

12. TOP ISSUE: #1 GROUP: Middle School Title: Fort Irwin House Security 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.

13. TOP ISSUE: #2 GROUP: Middle School Title: Fort Irwin Seasonal Olympic Games 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.

14. TOP ISSUE: #3 GROUP: Middle School Title: Fort Irwin Career Day for Middle School Teens 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.

15. Top 3 Prioritized Issues Benefits & Entitlements Nominated Briefers: Timothy Messer Robert Lee

16. Top Services in the Community Army Community Service Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation Commissary

17. Top HQ Department of the Army Active Issues 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.) 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. 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.

18. TOP ISSUE: #1 GROUP: Ben.& Entl. Title: The Referral Process for Medical Referrals 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.

19. TOP ISSUE: #2 GROUP: GROUP: Ben.& Entl. Title: Spousal Preference eligibility 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)

20. TOP ISSUE: #3 GROUP: GROUP: Ben.& Entl. Title: Education Incentive Pay for Enlisted Soldier 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.

21. Top 3 Prioritized Issues Family Support Nominated Briefers: Tony Howard Virginia Prebot-Valverde

22. Top Services in the Community • Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation • Army Community Service • Commissary

23. 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. • 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. • 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 HQ Department of the Army Active Issues

24. TOP ISSUE: #1 GROUP: Family Support Title: Army Wide Housing Policies 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.

25. TOP ISSUE: #2 GROUP: Family Support Title: Separate Rations for Soldiers Living in the Barracks on Fort Irwin, CA. 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.

26. TOP ISSUE: #3 GROUP: Family Support Title: Procedures for Reserving and Using Community Centers at Fort Irwin 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.

27. Top 3 Prioritized Issues Force Support Nominated Briefers: Mike Garcia John Toney

28. Top Services in the Community • Family Readiness Groups • Child and Youth Services • Department of Defense Schools

29. Issue #645: Increase duration of Temporary Lodging Expense (TLE) to 20 days. • Issue #526: Fund the shipment of second POV for OCONUS tours. • Issue #566: Reduce the wide income range in existing child care fees by increasing the number of child care fee categories. Top HQ Department of the Army Active Issues

30. TOP ISSUE: #1 GROUP: Force Support Title: Soldier Assignment Management at All Levels 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.

31. TOP ISSUE: #2 GROUP: Force Support Title: Dual Military Assignments 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.

32. TOP ISSUE: #3 GROUP: Force Support Title: Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) Grade Scale for Alternate Events SCOPE: Service Members with permanent profile are unlikely considered competitive for promotions. Memo of Instruction (MOI's) for Senior Non- Commissioned 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.