FFSC supports exceptional family member program

Moving is a hard reality of military life. For the vast majority of Sailors and their families, moving all over the world
every several years is something to be coped with, with love, support, and all of the assistance that the Navy can provide.
Fortunately, the Navy’s Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) is there to help with programs such as the Exceptional
Family Member Program (EFMP).
EFMP assists Sailors by addressing the family’s special needs. This includes any special medical, dental, mental health,
developmental or educational requirement, wheelchair accessibility, adaptive equipment or assistive technology devices
and services.
Jack Williams, FFSC Everett Work and Family Life consultant and relocation specialist, notes the great cost to the both the
Navy and the family resulting from improper use of this program.
“Back in 2002, the Navy paid nearly $2 million for early returned families from overseas. The families wouldn’t disclose, or
they disclosed inappropriately, and they went overseas and found out that the medical facilities can’t provide services for
the child, because of their needs, so the families had to return to the States.”
Family members are placed into the program through a liaison at their medical facility. The program is completely
confidential, non-punitive, and designed so the service member can continue with their career, while everyone receives the
appropriate care.
There are six categories in EFMP, with each category allowing for the Sailor’s assignment to a billet where proper medical,
education, or special care is provided.
Families in Category 1 are free to choose any billet available, with each further category restricting locations to CONUS/limited
OCONUS, to areas with major medical facilities, and flexibility on a case-by-case basis.
“If the service members needs to do something to get their career off the ground, if they need to do some overseas
or at-sea stuff, then the family is going to stay here,” said Williams. “The service member then might have an unaccompanied tour,
so that they can still go on with their careers. It’s not the most ideal condition, but it’s going to be the best for all involved.”
Upon enrollment in EFMP, the Sailors record is flagged at the detailer level, so when the Sailor is within the transfer window, they
are assigned the appropriate station for them and their families.
“It interacts with other programs,” said Williams. “If your EFMP level 4 and up, you’re priority housing. They are going to put you at the top of the list for local housing, plus if the housing office is aware of EFMP status, they are going to recommend that these families live in locations where the medical facilities are nearby.”
“I hope the system works,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class Jane Rice, Naval Station Everett. “The program is
good for the families that do need help with all of this. I definitely think it would be good for there to be an increased
awareness about it, so that the people can use it.”
Williams encourages Sailors and their families to learn about the program, stressing that EFMP is designed to help, not
punish, those who have families with special needs.
“If there is a family with someone with a medical condition, maybe something that has just been diagnosed, or it may
have been something you’ve known about for a long time and didn’t think it was a big problem, but what you should do
is have the appropriate medical facilities check it out. What you should do as a service member is make sure that the
military medical facilities are aware of these conditions, so that when assignments come up you won’t be assigned to a
place where these people won’t be able to receive care.”
For more info, contact Williams at the NAVSTA Everett FFSC office at (425) 304-3731, Hospital Corpsman 1st Class
Stephanie Regolado, Branch Health Clinic Everett EFMP liaison at (425) 304-4069, or go online to http://www.militaryonesource.com{{PERIOD}}