Forum a chance to influence how Air Force cares for its families

  • Published
  • By Rich Essary
  • 75th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah --  In keeping with the Air Force's long-standing tradition of taking care of its families, a call is being issued for participants in the 2011 Caring for People Forum to be held May 11 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Chapel Annex.

In the past, agency members attended the Air Force-level forum in Washington D.C. and made suggestions. This year your input is being sought at the installation level.

Julie Pinchak, Family Advocacy Outreach Manager and Recruitment Coordinator for the event, is looking for men, women, enlisted, officers, singles, married individuals with and without children, military, civilians, family members, retirees and teens.

Participants will be divided into groups to identify concerns about the quality of life experienced by Airmen and their families, issues that affect their personal and professional lives, support issues and any of the gaps therein.

The concept involves working at the installation level and providing information for the commanders on issues directly impacting Airmen and their families. The majority of the items typically will be solvable at the installation level. At the end of the forum, participants will vote on and forward 10 issues to the major command level where a similar review and prioritization process will be conducted. Thereupon 10 issues will be forwarded to Air Force Headquarters for the 2011 Air Force Caring for People Forum.

The working groups at Hill's forum will be divided as follows: Family Support; Health and Wellness; Reserve Support; Housing Support; Single Airmen Support; Spouse Communications; School Support; and Deployment Support.

People interested in making changes can complete a Participant Registration Form and return it to the Base Chapel by May 4. People may also turn the form into their first sergeant. The form will asks people to indicate in rank order, three of the working groups they would like to participate in. Organizers will do their best to place people in one of their selected working groups. People will be notified via e-mail which group they've been selected to participate in with additional details by May 6.

For questions or more information about the Caring for People Forum, please contact Julie Pinchak at (801) 564-5249. People with questions once they've completed and turned in the registration form can contact Chaplain (Maj.) Daniel Waterman or Chaplain (Capt.) Mark Nevius at (801) 777-2106.