ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE ROUTINE R 241440Z JAN 03 ZYB MIN PSN 363105J18 FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// TO NAVADMIN UNCLAS NAVADMIN 020/03 MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/-/JAN// SUBJ/FLEET AND FAMILY QUALITY OF LIFE INITIATIVES-GOOD NEWS YOU CAN /USE-TWENTY SIX// RMKS/1. THIS NAVADMIN IS PART OF ONGOING EFFORTS TO SPREAD THE GOOD WORD ON NAVY QUALITY OF LIFE (QOL) INITIATIVES AND PROJECTS THAT SUPPORT OUR SAILORS AND THEIR FAMILIES. - AT NO COST NAVY SPOUSES CAN NOW PARTNER WITH A STAFFING AGENCY UNDER NAVY CONTRACT THAT WORKS TO PLACE SPOUSES IN AVAILABLE POSITIONS AT THEIR CURRENT LOCATION. THIS SERVICE IS MANAGED THROUGH THE SPOUSE EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE COUNSELOR AT FLEET AND FAMILY SUPPORT CENTERS. CAREERS BECOME PORTABLE WHEN MOVING FROM STATION TO STATION BECAUSE THERE IS AN AFFILIATED OFFICE NEAR VIRTUALLY EVERY NAVY LOCATION. BENEFITS, INCLUDING SICK AND VACATION TIME, AND 401K PLANS ARE TRANSFERRABLE TO THE NEW LOCATION. THIS NEW AND GROWING PROGRAM BECAME AVAILABLE 19 DECEMBER 2002, AT 47 CONUS FLEET AND FAMILY SUPPORT CENTERS. - THEATER IN A BOX (TIB) DELIVERS UNDER FIRE. TIB WAS DEVELOPED TO PROVIDE A PORTABLE MOVIE PROGRAM FOR USE IN LOCATIONS WHERE FEW OR NO RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS EXIST. MOST OF THESE TIBS WERE SENT TO VERY REMOTE LOCATIONS. FEEDBACK FROM FRONT-LINE USERS HAS BEEN VERY IMPRESSIVE: "FIRST, THE SYSTEM ITSELF IS GREAT SINCE IT IS MOBILE, SELF-CONTAINED AND RELATIVELY EASY TO USE." "THE SYSTEM WAS A GREAT HIT AND THEY SHOWED MOVIES AT NIGHT WHEN MOST OF THE PERSONNEL WERE AVAILABLE, AS WELL AS DURING THE DAY FOR THE NIGHT WORKERS." "THE TIB IS A GREAT WAY TO PROVIDE ENTERTAINMENT TO MARINES AND SAILORS IN THE FIELD." WITH 17 TIBS ALREADY IN USE AND ADDITIONAL REQUESTS COMING IN ON A REGULAR BASIS, IT SEEMS THAT THE WORD IS SPREADING ABOUT HOW THIS PORTABLE MOVIE PROGRAM IS ADDING VALUE TO THE QOL OF OUR FORWARD-DEPLOYED SAILORS AND MARINES. REMOTE OVERSEAS UNITS, NOT CURRENTLY PROVIDED MWR MOVIE SUPPORT, MAY REQUEST INFORMATION BY CONTACTING MR. RON ROSSMAN (NAVPERSCOM-650) AT COMMERCIAL 901-874-6536/DSN 882. - JOINT COMNAVCRUITCOM/NAVY MWR EVENT FOR DELAYED ENTRY PROGRAM (DEP) SAILORS IS A BIG SUCCESS. COMNAVCRUITCOM, NSA MID-SOUTH, AND NAVY MWR RECENTLY TEAMED UP TO CO-SPONSOR A PILOT PROGRAM TO INFORM APPROXIMATELY 400 DEP PARTICIPANTS AND THEIR FAMILIES ABOUT QOL SUPPORT IN THE NAVY. THE PURPOSE OF THIS AND FUTURE EVENTS IS TO SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT NAVY LIFE AND THE MANY OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO SAILORS AND THEIR FAMILIES. AN ASSOCIATED TRADE SHOW CONSISTED OF QOL DISPLAY BOOTHS, VIRTUAL DISPLAYS, FOOD AND BEVERAGE, MWR INFORMATIONAL MATERIAL, AND WALK-AWAY PROMOTIONAL ITEMS. THE EVENT ALSO INCLUDED TOURS OF THE BASE, INCORPORATING A WALK THROUGH OF THE ELLISON 'SINGLE SAILOR' RECREATION CENTER, FITNESS CENTER, NAVY EXCHANGE, AND BARRACKS. THIS EVENT WAS A TEST SITE KICKOFF PRIOR TO CONDUCTING SIMILAR EVENTS AT SIX OTHER SITES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. YOU MAY LIKELY SEE ONE IN YOUR AREA STARTING IN FEBRUARY 2003. - EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY MEMBER (EFM) PROGRAM. THE EFM PROGRAM IS THE SAILOR'S AND FLEET'S VEHICLE FOR MEETING THE NEEDS OF AN EFM AND THE NAVY MISSION. EFM PROGRAM WORKS TO HELP SAILORS MAINTAIN A COMPETITIVE CAREER PROGRESSION WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY ENSURING SPECIAL FAMILY NEEDS ARE MET. IF YOU HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, BE PROACTIVE IN REGISTERING THEM IN THE EFM PROGRAM AND KEEPING THEIR FILES CURRENT. EFM ENROLLMENT UPDATES ARE DUE ANYTIME THERE IS A CHANGE PRIOR TO THE THREE YEAR EXPIRATION DATE FOR CATEGORIES 1 THROUGH 5, AND WITHIN 6 TO 12 MONTHS FOR CATEGORY 6. IF YOU ARE WITHIN 12 MONTHS OF YOUR PRD AND HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER IN THE PROGRAM, ENSURE YOU HAVE AN UPDATED ENROLLMENT. THIS WILL ALLOW YOUR CAREER ADVOCATE, YOUR DETAILER, TO FIND DUTY STATIONS THAT WILL BEST SERVE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY MEMBER'S NEEDS. - YOUR FLEET AND FAMILY SUPPORT CENTER (FFSC) OFFERS CONFIDENTIAL, PROFESSIONAL, LICENSED COUNSELING TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS, AT NO CHARGE, FOR A HOST OF ISSUES WHICH ARE NOT COVERED UNDER MILITARY (TRICARE) OR CIVILIAN HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS. THE COUNSELING CATEGORY, CALLED "LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES," COVERS SUCH ISSUES AS PERSONAL LOSS, GRIEVING, AND FAMILY AND MARITAL PROBLEMS. THIS WOULD COST A MINIMUM OF $50 TO $75 PER HOUR IN TOWN. HOWEVER, THROUGH YOUR FFSC, THESE SERVICES ARE FREE. 2. COMMANDS ARE ENCOURAGED TO SHARE EXAMPLES OF INNOVATIVE QOL EFFORTS AND PROGRAMS FOR INCLUSION IN FUTURE NAVADMINS. 3. NAVPERSCOM POC IS LCDR ROBERT MURRAY AT (901) 874-4232/DSN 882 OR E-MAIL: P6SA@PERSNET.NAVY.MIL. 4. RELEASED BY VADM G. L. HOEWING, N1.// BT NNNN