Military Community and Family Policy is directly responsible for establishing quality-of-life policies and programs that help our guardians of country, their families and survivors be well and mission ready. Military OneSource is the gateway to MC&FP programs and services that support the everyday needs of the 5.2 million service members and immediate family members of the military community. These Department of Defense services can be accessed 24/7/365 around the world.
This program is responsible for communicating critical initiatives and program and policy information to service members, family members, leadership and key audiences. This is done through strategic outreach and engagement activities, and the oversight of all MC&FP websites and applications, ePublications and branded social media platforms that connect with the military community. The program also oversees technical direction for all of MC&FP’s digital properties, and manages learning resources like webinars, podcasts and MilLife Learning.
The Defense State Liaison Office engages and educates state policymakers and other state leaders to help remove unnecessary barriers and improve the quality of life for military families. The office works with states on several key issues, such as licensing compacts for military spouses, school transitions for military children and employment protections for National Guard members.
The Casualty Assistance, Mortuary Affairs and Military Funeral Honors Office provides policy oversight of programs pertaining to casualty notification, casualty assistance, mortuary affairs and military funeral honors to deceased, missing, ill or injured personnel.
The Casualty Assistance program assists eligible family members and beneficiaries of service members listed as deceased, duty status whereabouts unknown, excused absence whereabouts unknown, injured or missing. Assistance may include applying benefits and entitlements, obtaining copies of records, legal assistance, receipt of personal effects, relocation assistance and other services as needed.
This program provides military funeral honors ceremonies for service members who die on active duty, or for any veteran who was discharged or released from service by means of honorable or under honorable conditions (general) discharge.
Mortuary Affairs provides the recovery, care, preparation and disposition of remains and personal effects of deceased service members. Eligible family members of the deceased will also be provided with government-funded travel to attend the burial services for the service member.
Military Community Support Programs provides non-medical counseling, information and resources that support service members and their families through a wide variety of quality-of-life issues that have an impact on force readiness. Services are available 24 hours a day in person, online and by telephone through Military OneSource and Military and Family Life Counseling. Assistance to military spouses is also available through the Spouse Education and Career Opportunities program.
Military OneSource provides comprehensive non-medical counseling support and information to service members and their families on every aspect of military life including deployment, finances, reunion, relationships, grief, spouse employment and education, parenting and childcare. Specialty consultations are also offered on a wide range of issues.
The Spouse Education and Career Opportunities, or SECO, program assists military spouses in achieving their educational and career goals. SECO also includes the MyCAA Scholarship, a workforce development program that provides tuition assistance to eligible military spouses, and other initiatives.
Part of the Spouse Education and Career Opportunities program, the Military Spouse Employment Partnership connects military spouses with employers who have committed to recruit, hire, promote and retain military spouses.
The Military and Family Life Counseling Program provides on-the-ground, confidential non-medical counseling and presentations to service members and immediate family members at no cost to them. Available in person both on and off installations, service members and their families can rely on military and family life counselors to rapidly respond when they need it most.
The Morale, Welfare, Recreation and Resale Policy Program is designed to promote socialization, physical fitness, community connectedness, decompression and healthy choices through recreation, sports, fitness, travel, special events and other active-living activities. This office provides the guidance that enables the military services to deliver such programming for service members and their families.
In addition to developing policy for national and international adaptive sports programs, this office coordinates Department of Defense participation in the Warrior Games, which introduces wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans to Paralympic-style sports, and the Invictus Games, an international version of the Warrior Games based in the United Kingdom.
The Department of Defense lodging program provides quality, affordable accommodations and hospitality services for service personnel and their families to support mission accomplishment and quality of life. The program operates more than 63,000 official travel rooms worldwide, providing 11 million accommodations annually at an average savings of $40 per night as compared to commercial rates.
Nonappropriated funds are generated by the members of the military community through their participation in programs and services operated by morale, welfare and recreation activities and Department of Defense resale organizations. Separate from funds appropriated by Congress, nonappropriated funds are used to defray the costs of running activities, resale programs and facilities.
Resale programs provide shopping opportunities for service members and their families through the Department of Defense worldwide commissary and military exchange systems. The Defense Commissary Agency operates more than 230 military grocery stores worldwide, and saves military shoppers an average of 23.7 percent compared to other grocery stores.
The Office of Military Family Readiness Policy provides policy and oversight for the network of agencies, programs, services and individuals who work to promote readiness and quality of life for the military community. The office oversees the Office of Special Needs; Children, Youth and Families; and the Family Advocacy Program.
The Family Advocacy Program addresses child abuse and neglect, and domestic abuse in military families. It provides clinical counseling services, public awareness and training to service members and their families, implements prevention initiatives, coordinates with child welfare services, provides visitation services to new and expectant parents through the New Parent Support program, and provides victim advocacy and support.
The Military Family Readiness Council is a congressionally mandated federal advisory committee that reviews and assesses military family readiness policy and makes recommendations to the Secretary of Defense and to Congress.
The Office of Children, Youth and Families provides policy and budget support, conducts oversight and generates special initiatives addressing military youth. This office supports military children by providing programs designed to address the specific challenges of military life and help children to thrive, including child care. Additionally, the office provides oversight of programs designed to support military families during relocation, and before, during and after deployment.
The Office of Special Needs ensures that military families with special needs receive direct services, assignment coordination and family support.
Part of the Office of Special Needs, the Exceptional Family Member Program ensures that military families with special needs receive direct services, assignment coordination and ongoing family support.
The Relocation Assistance Program offers key personnel planning tools and assistance with housing and transportation in the relocation process.
This program oversees personnel accountability for Department of Defense-affiliated personnel and their families. Accountability begins upon the occurrence of a man-made or natural disaster and requires all personnel affected by the event to check in at the first available opportunity.
Resources and Oversight manages the MC&FP budget and contracting strategies, legislation, research and effectiveness tracking.
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