Earlier this year, members of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel discussed the current state of the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP). Testimonial by participating members of the military community highlighted its many shortcomings.  

EFMP is a DOD enrollment program that helps coordinate PCS assignments to support military families with special needs members. 

“Somehow families are being taken for granted and are not being provided the services they both deserved and are required to have by law,” said subcommittee chair Jackie Speier at the hearing in February. 

In order to improve the quality of the of EFMP, the U.S. Navy has launched a survey to identify and improve the services and resources of the program.  

“Congress has repeatedly expressed the belief that expanding support for families with special needs is a critical requirement for the all-volunteer force and we agree,” said Karen Ruedisueli of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA). “Shortfalls with the EFMP and problematic TRICARE policies must be addressed to improve support.” 

The survey can be found on MOAA’s website and is open until June 15. 

Photo by Jason Bortz/Navy