Army Family Action Plan
AFAP is a grassroots process where Soldiers, Families, Survivors, Retirees, and Civilians identify, prioritize and elevate their well-being issues to the Army Senior Leaders for action and resolution. Established in 1983 and codified in the AR 608-1 and AFAP Charter, the VCSA and SMA hold a bi-annual General Officer Steering Committee (GOSC) Meeting where Army Staff present updates on active issues, discuss challenges, and receive guidance on way forward.
AFAP Dashboard
AFAP GOSC Executive Summary
Resources
- Army Family Action Plan (Video)
Governance
Question and Answer
Who Can Submit an Issue?
Soldiers, Retirees, Survivors, Army Civilians and their families.
How do I Submit Issues?
Submit an issue or suggestion at your local Army Community Services office, through your Command representative or Issue Management System (IMS). The Army Family Action Plan IMS allows registered and unregistered users to submit online issues regarding their communities or other aspects of Army life. Issues are reviewed and managed by AFAP staff and IMS can be used to track the status of your issue and view others that are currently under review.
How Many Submitted Issues Have Resulted in Improvements?
Since 1983, over 700 issues have been raised at the Department of the Army level – and those have resulted in over 500 improvements for Soldiers, Families, and Army communities.
What Types of Improvements Have Been Made?
- Authorized reimbursement for CONUS Permanent Change of Station (PCS) Pet Entitlements (Issue 747)
- Allowed Military Family Life Consultants to provide counseling services to Soldiers and Family members regardless of where the member is assigned (Issue 740)
- Indefinite ID card for Spouses age 65 and older (Issue 738)
- Military ID Cards for Surviving Military Dependents under the age of 10 with a Surviving Spouse (Issue 712)
- Allowed military spouses to receive 365 days leave without pay (LWOP) upfront (Issue 748)
- Increased maximum time allowed for final home of station selection for Surviving Dependent family members from 3 to 6 years (Issue 713)
- Allowed installation AER Level 1 approving officials to provide funds to cover essential needs of domestic violence victims (Issue 760)
- Improvement of Communication between TRICARE East and West for seamless transition and continuity of medical care of Soldiers and Families relocating between regions (Issue 755)
- Honorable Discharge for Active-Duty Primary Child Caregivers other than Birth Mother (Issue 742)
- License Reciprocity - DSLOs engaging states for certification and licensing of military and civilian spouses (Issue 736)
- Trusted Agent for Wounded Warrior Service Member (Issue 720)
- Survivors of Retired Soldiers receive casualty assistance support (Issue 724)
- Custodial Parent/Guardian may now have access to MHS GENESIS Portal (Issue 777)
- Developed a Casualty Assistance Officer (CAO) App that provides consolidated content to assist CAOs in the execution of their duties. (Issue 770)
Since 1983, AFAP issues have been instrumental in driving legislative action, policy changes, and improved programs and services. The most recent changes are
Legislative Changes:
Policy Changes:
Improved Programs and Services:
What is the Active Issues Summary?
The active issue summary presents a summary of the current AFAP issues being addressed by the Proponent. This summary details the Proponent, the assigned issue number, the issue title, the date the issue entered the AFAP process, and the submitting agency. To review the issue's complete history and progress, consult the AFAP Issue Update Book using the assigned number.
What is the AFAP Issue Book?
The Army Family Action Plan Issues book is a collection of quality-of-life concerns submitted by Army community members to leadership for review and potential solutions. It acts as a comprehensive archive of past and present AFAP issues, providing vital information about the needs and priorities of the Army family.
When is the next AFAP GOSC meeting?
The next AFAP GOSC meeting is 25 August 2025 at 1300-1500 EDT