ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE
 
ROUTINE       
 
R 021847Z APR 02 ZYB MIN PSN 344197J28
 
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1//
 
TO NAVADMIN
 
UNCLAS //N01754//
NAVADMIN 088/02
 
MSGID/GENADMIN/N1//
 
SUBJ/EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY MEMBER (EFM) PROGRAM//
 
REF/A/DOC/PERS-66/07SEP1993//
 
AMPN/REF A IS OPNAVINST 1754.2A, EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY MEMBER PROGRAM//
 
RMKS/1.  PER REF A, FAMILY MEMBERS WITH LONG-TERM MEDICAL,
PSYCHOLOGICAL, OR SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS ARE REQUIRED TO BE
ENROLLED IN THE EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY MEMBER (EFM) PROGRAM AS SOON AS
SPECIAL NEEDS ARE IDENTIFIED.  THIS ENABLES SERVICEMEMBERS AND
DETAILERS TO SELECT ASSIGNMENT LOCATIONS WHERE SPECIAL SERVICES ARE
AVAILABLE TO MEET THE INDIVIDUAL SPECIAL NEEDS.  HOWEVER, EFM
ENROLLMENT DOES NOT IMPACT SEA-SHORE ROTATION, NOR DOES IT LIMIT
WORLDWIDE ASSIGNABILITY OF THE SERVICE MEMBER.  THERE WERE 18,100
(4.5 PERCENT NAVY) EFM PROGRAM ENROLLMENTS ACTIVE IN 2001.
 
2.  EFM ENROLLMENT IS CRITICAL TO OPERATIONAL READINESS, FAMILY
STABILITY, AND THE LONG TERM WELFARE OF THE SPECIAL NEEDS FAMILY
MEMBER.  AS A RESULT OF THE EFM PROGRAM, EARLY RETURNS FROM OVERSEAS,
HARDSHIP DISCHARGES, HUMANITARIAN REASSIGNMENTS AND FAMILY
SEPARATIONS HAVE BEEN REDUCED WHILE THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE EFFICIENT
MEDICAL SERVICES AND MEET SPECIAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS HAVE
IMPROVED.
 
3.  EFM CATEGORIES ARE BASED ON SPECIALIST REQUIRED, FREQUENCY OF
NEED, AVAILABILITY OF SERVICES, AND THE SEVERITY OF THE MEDICAL OR
EDUCATIONAL NEED.  EFM CATEGORIES ARE USED TO ENSURE SERVICES ARE
AVAILABLE TO MEET THE EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY MEMBER'S NEEDS AT EACH DUTY
STATION.  THE EFM CATEGORIES ARE:
    CATEGORY 1:  MONITORING PURPOSES.
    CATEGORY 2:  ASSIGNMENT LOCATION MUST BE PINPOINTED IN OR
                 OUTSIDE CONUS.
    CATEGORY 3:  NORMALLY NO OVERSEAS ASSIGNMENTS.
    CATEGORY 4:  MAJOR MEDICAL AREAS IN THE UNITED STATES.
    CATEGORY 5:  HOMESTEADING PROGRAM.
    CATEGORY 6:  TEMPORARY ENROLLMENT.
 
4.  PCS ORDERS FOR SAILORS WITH FAMILY MEMBERS IN THE EFM PROGRAM
ARE REVIEWED BEFORE THEY ARE RELEASED TO ENSURE SERVICES ARE
AVAILABLE AT THE GAINING COMMANDS.  ORDERS WILL BE HELD IN ABEYANCE
UNTIL THE EFM ENROLLMENT/UPDATE PROCESS IS COMPLETED.  SAILORS ARE
REQUIRED TO UPDATE EFM ENROLLMENT NINE MONTHS PRIOR TO PRD, OR EVERY
THREE YEARS, OR IF SPECIAL NEEDS CHANGE.  ONE EXCEPTION IS CATEGORY
SIX (TEMPORARY ENROLLMENT), WHICH MUST BE UPDATED WITHIN ONE YEAR OF
ASSIGNMENT.
 
5.  EFM MEMBERS AT AN OVERSEAS OR REMOTE CONUS LOCATION MAY DEVELOP
SPECIAL MEDICAL OR EDUCATIONAL NEEDS, WHICH EXCEED LOCALLY
AVAILABLE SERVICES.  WHEN THIS OCCURS, COMMANDING OFFICERS SHOULD
REQUEST, VIA MSG TO NAVY PERSONNEL COMMAND, EARLY RETURN OF THE
FAMILY MEMBER.
 
6.  COMMANDS SHOULD ENSURE ALL SERVICEMEMBERS ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE
EFM PROGRAM AND WHEN APPLICABLE, INITIATE ENROLLMENT.  IAW REF A,
COMMANDS ARE REQUIRED TO APPOINT A COMMAND POC AND PUBLISH THE NAME
FREQUENTLY IN THE PLAN OF THE DAY/WEEK.  COMMAND POC SHOULD
INCORPORATE EFM PROGRAM INFORMATION INTO WELCOME ABOARD PACKAGES AND
COMMAND INDOCTRINATION.  COMMAND GMT MUST EMPHASIZE WHY ENROLLMENT
IN THE EFM PROGRAM IS REQUIRED AND THAT IT DOES NOT IMPACT SEA-SHORE
ROTATION, NOR DOES IT LIMIT WORLDWIDE ASSIGNABILITY OF THE MEMBER.
 
7.  EFM COORDINATORS AT MEDICAL TREATMENT FACILITIES ARE REQUIRED TO
CONFIRM DEERS ENROLLMENT OF FAMILY MEMBERS PRIOR TO SUBMISSION OF
EFM APPLICATIONS AND INFORM SPONSORS WHEN AN UPDATE IS DUE.
 
8.  POC IS CDR C. H. BRAKHAGE, NAVPERSCOM (PERS-662F), AT
(901) 874-4391/DSN 882, OR E-MAIL:  P662F@PERSNET.NAVY.MIL.
 
9.  RELEASED BY VADM NORB RYAN, JR., N1.//
 
BT