News>2012 Caring for People Forum addresses issues affecting Airmen, families
Photos
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James Roy speaks at the Caring for People forum at Joint Base Andrews, Md., on Sept. 26, 2012. This is the fourth annual forum which provides strategies for commanders, leaders and care professionals to help Airmen and their families. (U.S. Air Force photo/Scott M. Ash)
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III makes remarks at the Caring for People Forum at Joint Base Andrews, Md., on Sept. 26, 2012. This is the fourth annual forum which provides strategies for commanders, leaders and care professionals to help Airmen and their families. (U.S. Air Force photo/Scott M. Ash)
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III makes remarks at the Caring for People Forum at Joint Base Andrews, Md., on Sept. 26, 2012. This is the fourth annual forum which provides strategies for commanders, leaders and care professionals to help Airmen and their families. (U.S. Air Force photo/Scott M. Ash)
Lt. Col. Gregory Laffitte, with the Air Force the Manpower, Personnel and Services directorate, provides Airmen fitness highlights at the Caring for People Forum at Joint Base Andrews, Md., on Sept. 26, 2012. This is the fourth annual forum which provides strategies for commanders, leaders and care professionals to help Airmen and their families. (U.S. Air Force photo/Scott M. Ash)
Paula Roy, wife of Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James Roy, makes remarks from a senior spouse perspective at the Caring for People Forum at Joint Base Andrews, Md., on Sept. 26, 2012. This is the fourth annual forum which provides strategies for commanders, leaders and care professionals to help Airmen and their families. (U.S. Air Force photo/Scott M. Ash)
Lt. Col. Gregory Laffitte, with the Air Force Manpower, Personnel and Services directorate, provides Airmen fitness highlights at the Caring for People Forum at Joint Base Andrews, Md., on Sept. 26, 2012. This is the fourth annual forum which provides strategies for commanders, leaders and care professionals to help Airmen and their families. (U.S. Air Force photo/Scott M. Ash)
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James Roy speaks at the Caring for People Forum at Joint Base Andrews, Md., on Sept. 26, 2012. This is the fourth annual forum which provides strategies for commanders, leaders and care professionals to help Airmen and their families. (U.S. Air Force photo/Scott M. Ash)
by Senior Airman Lindsey A. Porter
11th Wing Public Affairs
9/28/2012 - JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. (AFNS) -- The 2012 Caring for People Forum concluded here Sept. 27 with a presentation of initiatives to members of the Air Force's Community Action Information Board and Integrated Delivery System.
Since its establishment in 2009, the Caring for People Forum has evolved into a two-day seminar during which forum attendees divide into working groups at the beginning and develop initiatives to fix Air Force issues that affect Airmen and their families.
More than 140 active-duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian Air Force members participated in the forum, each contributing their unique total force perspective on the issues discussed during the working group meetings.
"These issues all relate to how the Air Force takes care of its Airmen and their families," said Carl Buchanan, the Caring for People Forum manager. "Without the participants' input, we can't achieve the forum's ultimate goal -- making the Air Force better."
During their presentations, group leaders spoke on why initiatives were chosen and how CAIB and IDS members could potentially resolve each concern. Twelve issues were briefed, with top initiatives revolving around similar subject matters.
Some of the discussed initiatives include the Air Force's Exceptional Family Member Program, housing options for single Airmen, and immigration and naturalization assistance programs.
Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley, who spoke at the conclusion of the forum, told the participants there's nothing more important to the Air Force than its Airmen and their families.
"By attending this forum, you have provided leadership with a glimpse into how we can enhance the lives of our most important asset," Donley said. "By attending, you not only help them but have taken steps to actively improve the whole force."
Air Force CAIB and IDS members will meet in October to discuss the initiatives and decide upon courses of action to address the concerns.
Comments
10/4/2012 10:49:28 AM ET C. Michaud. I agree. I have been a part of this forum and the one thing I learned was any issue that might make the unit or base look bad did not get elevated.
CPF participant, Base X
10/3/2012 1:03:39 PM ET Michaud, I too used to be at Dover. When I was there I saw leadership do some strange things. Colonels drinking in their offices. The MSG enlarged a picture of a subordinate's face and hung it from their door hitting it and laughing each time they walked by. The subordinate they made fun of had alreay PCSed. One officer cheated with another officer's wife and leadership knew this. Just stuff like that. If leadership allows that type of behavior, than I think it's safe to say that caring for people isn't a top priority. You brought up a lot of good points. Take care
Jenny, USA
10/2/2012 8:47:25 AM ET One guy in my group raised an issue about leave but was also dismissed. He is in a career field where the manning is low and time off is hard to get. It was taking a toll on his relationship with his wife. With the focus on resiliency and the high rate of suicide, I'm surprised this was so easily dismissed. Perhaps the single people in our family issues group couldn't relate. Perhaps they could ask the Reserve unit also on the base to help augment the staff so they can take leave. But instead, this guy's issue never left the room. For those who really wanted to help facilitate change in areas impacting them specifically, I feel the forum was a disappointment. I felt like the facilitator for our group was dismissive and didn't even really understand the intent because the way I understood the program was to identify things locally as well as two issues we could send up to big Air Force. It was disheartening to see the way it turned out because the day felt like a waste. From the prese
C Michaud, Part 3
10/2/2012 8:46:38 AM ET Part 2 I have a friend whose husband has children from a previous marriage. He and his ex were stationed in Alaska when they divorced. Therefore he is being subjected to Alaska Child Support Guidelines. Alaska is one of like 10 states that don't factor in the custodial parent's income. His ex is stationed overseas and probably makes even more money than he does, but only his income is calculated for child support because she filed in Alaska. In the military, we can still claim our legal state of residence. We file our taxes there and can vote in our HOR. Why are military members serving their country subjected to the child support guidelines of the place the military sent them or even in some cases wherever the ex may choose to file even if the military member never even lived in that state? Even the new Military Spouse Residency Relief Act recognizes that spouse shouldn't be subjected to state taxes where they are stationed because they are supporting their spouse. Considering the div
C Michaud , Part two
10/1/2012 4:13:30 PM ET I participated in the Caring for People Forum at Dover AFB as part of the Family and School Age Children group. Ironically I was the only parent of a school-age child who actually resided with them in my group and there were many people who were single or didn't have children at all. I tried to bring up issues like family child care and the Give Parents a Break Program. I asked the major leading the forum for our base how the people were chosen for the groups and she said she put people in whatever group they requested. We had single CGOs single Airmen and some people were had children who lived with exes in other states weighing in on issues that impact families in the Air Force. In fact the issue our team sent up was better communication about events on base. I brought up another issue I feel impacts a great deal of military members and it was shot down because it wasn't easily fixable. I have a friend whose husband has children from a previous marriage. He and his ex were stati
C Michaud, Dover AFB
9/28/2012 5:17:57 PM ET Taking care of people will always take a back seat to sortie production. Leaders can attempt to find a balance by eliminating many of the confusing and conflicting procedures which keep Airmen from efficiently performing their duties. Sortie production keeps Airmen at work long hours every day and many many weekends. For any program to be effective the family should have the benefit of the members being at home as much as possible.
