Caring for People Forum identifies, resolves base personnel concerns

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Benjamin Sutton
  • 366th Public Affairs
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho --  Military and civilian personnel met to discuss issues during the Caring for People Forum (CfP) June 6 at the Gunfighter Club here.

Since its inception in 2009, the CfP has evolved quickly and is now a preferred means for Air Force leaders to receive local community feedback for review, action and resolution, according to the 2010 Air Force CfP handbook.

MHAFB focused on identifying and prioritizing issues that affect base member's personal and professional lives, by dividing into particular groups.
During the forum, groups developed solutions to each of the main concerns in five main topic areas. These areas include family, deployment, school and single Airman support, as well as spouse communications. The main issues from these topics are reviewed by forum members to determine whether or not the solutions can be resolved locally, or if it will be elevated to the MAJCOM level.

"The purpose of the Caring for People Forum is for local community members, either military or civilian, to identify issues then utilize a particular point of contact to resolve the problem," stated Mark A. Tschampl, MHAFB Health and Wellness Center's health education program manager.

Forum participants discussed issues such as extended family support during deployments, federal government downsizing and its affect on the MHAFB community, extended duty hours for some specific services to help accommodate Airmen working swing or mid-shifts, and more educational opportunities for Airman and their dependents.

A significant portion of time was spent on figuring out ways to better support Airmen and their families before, during and after deployments. According to the forum members, many military families are reluctant to ask for any kind of assistance, despite the obvious need.

"One possible idea we came up with was peer-led groups to provide support and friendship during all three phases of the deployment," said Master Sgt. Ebony L. Stepp, Airman and Family Readiness Center's readiness noncommissioned officer.

Forum members agreed one of the main ways to help support families during deployments is to ensure families have access to quality education.

"The education center here can create an educational program that will meet individually specific goals," said Mike Jewell, 366th Force Support Squadron school liaison officer. "What we need now is a flexible master's degree program to help further support our Airmen and their families. We currently have a few online schools available as well as an undergraduate degree program from Boise State University."

Along with educational concerns, another issue voiced by members of the forum was access to flexible, on-base child care services. According to family support, many Airmen are forced to seek child care off-base due to extended hours or different shifts, at a significant cost.

"This issue of extended hours is something we have to take up to the MAJCOM level," said Susan L. Rueger, 366th Force Support Squadron community readiness consultant. "The backlog list from the child development center determines how many child care providers are available."

At the end of the day, the forum members succeeded in identifying the main concerns affecting MHAFB personnel. The solutions to those concerns are currently being addressed in order to make the quality of life here better than anywhere else in the U. S. Air Force.