Army Family Action Plan
The Army Family Action Plan (AFAP) mission is to provide Soldiers and Families with a mechanism to influence quality of life changes by alerting Army leadership to well-being concerns.
AFAP envisions being the driving force of improved standards of living for all members of the Army community. AFAP ensures grassroots Soldier and Family input directly to Army leadership on critical well-being concerns by gathering real-time input from delegates representing Active, Guard and Reserve Soldiers, retirees, Department of Army civilians and Family members. Since 1984, AFAP has been the driving force behind hundreds of legislative, regulatory and policy changes, and program and service improvements, all geared towards improving the quality of Army life and enhancing readiness and retention.
Program Information
The Army Family Action Plan provides a way for Soldiers and Family members to let Army leadership know what works, what doesn't - and what they think will fix it.
AFAP was created in 1980 through focus groups but was fully developed with the first official AFAP Conference held in July 1983. Its mission is to help Army leaders address the needs and concerns of the total Army Family. The program enlists representatives from around the world to identify and prioritize issues that will improve the standard of living in the Army. This feedback to leaders results in policy changes that become tangible end-products at garrisons across the Army. AFAP beneficiaries include Soldiers (all components), retirees, Department of Army civilian employees and all their Family members. "We recognize what it takes to be an Army Family, and that our Soldiers draw great strength from their Families," said Army Chief of Staff GEN George W. Casey, Jr. "The welfare of Army Families is increasingly important to all of us," he said, adding that the Army was committed to building a partnership with Families. That partnership is embodied in the Army Family Covenant.
Six hundred thirty three issues have been identified in the past 25 years. AFAP has driven 107 legislative changes, 154 Army policy and regulatory changes and 173 improved programs and services. It is also notable that 61% of all active AFAP issues impact all the Services. Thanks to the foresight of General Wickham and his staff 25 years ago, the needs of the Army Family remain front and center in the hearts and minds of Army leaders today and into the future.
The AFAP program grew out of the voluntary efforts of Army spouses who met to identify and document the concerns of Soldiers and Family members. Looking for the best way to communicate these issues to the highest level of command, the piece of the program that is the AFAP forum was developed.
Integral to the AFAP is the involvement of volunteers at every level. Whether working as a delegate, facilitator, recorder, transcriber, issue disposition person conference committee member, or with paid staff in the office, volunteers are essential to the heart and effectiveness of AFAP.
A Few AFAP Sucess Stories
- Basic Allowance for housing increased by 11% - part of a plan to eliminate out-of-pocket housing costs by 2005.
- Family Support Groups were institutionalized.
- Programs like Army Family Team Building (AFTB) and Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers (BOSS) were born.
HQDA Issue Update Book - Completed & Unattainable 
Hours & Contact Information
| Address | Miller Hall(Bldg 241), 7331 Baltzell Ave (view on map) |
| Phone | (706) 545-8738 |
| Hours | Monday thru Friday: 8am - 4:30pm |
Contact the Army Family Action Plan coordinator  |
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