af humanitarian assignment afi

Air Force Humanitarian Assignments

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Rod Powers was a retired Air Force First Sergeant with 22 years of active duty service.

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The Air Force Humanitarian Assignments Program was established to assist members in resolving severe short-term problems involving a family member. The program allows placement of the military member at the closest location to where the family member concerned resides to provide the family member maximum support, consistent with the manning needs of the Air Force.

For the purposes of this program, the term "family member" is limited to spouse, child, father, mother, father-in-law, mother-in-law, the person in loco parentis or other persons actually residing in the household who are dependent for over half of their financial support. Stepparents can qualify as a family member if they meet the basic criteria for in loco parentis.

In loco parentis refers to one who exercises parental rights, duties, and responsibilities. This condition must exist for a minimum of 5 years before the member's or spouse's 21st birthday, or before entry on active duty, whichever is earlier. Requests based on in loco parentis status must include affidavits from all parties (to include other family members, neighbors, or family friends) stating the details of the custody, control, care, and management of member or spouse. They must also have copies of any documents that may have been created at the time establishing in loco parentis status and relating to the custody, control, care, and management of member or spouse. NOTE: The mere presence of a person in the home for a number of years, during which time he or she exercised a degree of custodial but not parental responsibilities does not constitute in loco parentis. In order for the child to have been in the care and custody of one acting in place of the parent, the parent cannot have also been in the same home (unless the parent was mentally incompetent).

Emergency or ordinary leave should be used first as a means of easing family hardships or problems before applying for humanitarian reassignment.

The situation must be able to be resolved in a limited period of time (one year or less). All Air Force personnel must be able to respond to any contingency wherever and whenever called upon to do so. Permanent or prolonged deferment from reassignment cannot be considered. If a reassignment or temporary period of deferment is approved, the member must thereafter (following the deferment period) revert to worldwide assignable status. If the problem cannot be resolved within a year, humanitarian discharge consideration is more appropriate.

Eligibility Criteria

Members can apply for a humanitarian reassignment or deferment if they meet all of the following conditions:

• They have a documented and substantiated short-term problem involving a family member. (See see above for the definition of a family member for the purpose of the humanitarian reassignment program.)
• The problem is more severe than that usually encountered by other Air Force members with a similar problem.
• The member's presence is absolutely essential to alleviate the problem.
• The problem can be resolved within a reasonable period of time (normally 12 months).

Humanitarian Conditions Usually Warranting Approval

The approval authority will normally approve a humanitarian reassignment or deferment under these conditions if a vacancy exists at the new duty station if a PCS is involved ; however, this list is not all-inclusive.

• The recent death (within 6 months) of the member's spouse or child, including miscarriages of 20 weeks or more gestation time. Humanitarian reassignment is normally approved on the death of a child or stepchild under the age of 18 who is living in the member's home at the time of death. Reassignments made under this provision will be considered on a case-by-case basis in order for the member to receive extended family support or to relocate to the closest available base to the burial site. The overall consideration will be the needs of the Air Force; however, every effort will be made to ensure the member is provided an assignment as close to the area of support as possible, within their AFSC.
• The member has a serious financial problem not the result of overextension of personal military income (such as loss of primary home of residence where member or dependents currently reside or possessions through fire, theft, or natural disaster) and will suffer a substantial financial loss unless his or her presence or continued presence can be ensured. It must be shown the problem cannot be solved by leave, correspondence, power of attorney, or by any other person or means.
• The member is serving an unaccompanied OS tour, and his or her spouse abandons their dependents. It must be shown it is not possible for the dependents to join the member at the OS location when an accompanied tour is authorized and that the member's presence is necessary. The assignment location under this provision will be based on the needs of the Air Force.
• The terminal illness of a family member (see paragraph above for definition of family members for the purpose of humanitarian reassignment) when death is imminent within two years. A doctor's prognosis of terminal illness must be fully supported and substantiated by clinical data. In such cases, your presence is considered essential regardless of the availability of other relatives to assist.
• An authorized state or local agency places a child in the member's home, and deferment is necessary to comply with state or local laws to complete the final adoption.
• Reassignment or deferment is essential in establishing or operating an effective family advocacy program according to AFI 40-301,  Family Advocacy . Documentation from the base Family Advocacy Officer is required.
• Sexual abuse and assault of the member's dependent when it has been fully substantiated, and it has been determined by the appropriate medical authority that remaining in the area where the incident occurred would be detrimental to the health of the dependent.

Reasons Humanitarian Applications Are Disapproved

The approval authority will not approve applications for reassignment/deferment if the problem might exist for an indefinite period of time or the request is based on one of the following circumstances:

• A desire to provide emotional or domiciliary support to a parent or parent-in-law due to age, non-terminal or chronic illness, or recent death in the family.
• A terminal illness of a step-parent, unless they qualify as a family member (see above definition for the purpose of the humanitarian program.
• Problems associated with childcare arrangements.
• Psychoneurosis (such as various psychic or mental disorders characterized by special combinations of anxieties, compulsions, obsessions, phobias, and motor or sensory manifestations) resulting from family separation incident to military assignment.
• Normal pregnancy, possible miscarriage, breech birth, Cesarean section, or RH blood factor.
• The existence of a housing shortage or home ownership problems.
• A financial problem, to include bankruptcy, resulting from over-extension of military income.
• A financial or management problem related to off-duty employment, the spouse's employment, private business activities, or to settle an estate.
• Passport or visa problems involving newly acquired dependents in the overseas area.
• Threatened separation, a divorce action, or the desire to pursue child custody.
• The problem existed or was reasonably foreseeable at the time of latest entry on active duty without a break in service or prior to departure on PCS. A7.10.12. A consecutive PCS or deferment based on the continuation of the same circumstances.
• A request based on the medical condition of the Air Force member. (Contact the local patient affairs office for information about reassignment based on a military member's medical condition.)
• Requests for PCS deferment will not be considered for members who have not been selected for reassignment.

Assignment/TDY Restrictions

If the Humanitarian Assignment/Deferment is approved, the TDY (Temporary Duty) assignment authorities will not select members for involuntary TDY exceeding 30 calendar days while the deferment is active. If granted a reassignment, members will not be reassigned PCS (permanent change of station) for at least 12 months from date arrived station. A deferment will initially restrict members from PCS or involuntary TDY for a maximum of 12 months. The initial period of assignment restriction for humanitarian reasons may be extended at the member's request provided the total period does not exceed 18 months. If a terminal illness is involved, deferment may be extended up to 24 months. Requests for such extensions must substantiate that:

• Every possible effort has been made to overcome the problem.
• The condition warranting assignment restriction still exists.
• The problem can be resolved within the extended period of assignment restriction.

For complete information about the Air Force's Humanitarian Assignments Program, see. Air Force Instruction 36-2110, ASSIGNMENTS , Attachment 7 offers complete information about the Air Force's Humanitarian Assignments Program.

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AF Humanitarian Reassignment and Deferment Program

The Humanitarian Reassignment and Deferment Program, run by the Air Force Personnel Center (AFPC), assists active-duty Airmen in resolving severe, short-term problems involving a family member while Airmen continue to meet the needs of the Air Force. A reassignment or deferment is a one-time action to resolve a critical problem with a family member, normally 12 within months. The definition of 'family member' is limited to spouse, child, parents, or other persons actually residing in the household who are dependent on the Airman for more than half of their financial support. For more information, Airmen can chat with a personnel specialist live on myPers . Click on the Humanitarian/EFMP link under 'Assignment Programs' on the active-duty myPers Assignment landing page, hover the mouse cursor for 30 seconds and a chat window will appear.

For more Air Force news, visit the Military.com Air Force section . For more military family support resources, visit the Military.com Spouse and Family section .

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HUMANITARIAN/EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY MEMBER REASSIGNMENT/DEFERMENT PROGRAMS

The following information is provided to help you better understand the subject programs and what, if any, options are available if you desire consideration under either program.

HUMANITARIAN REASSIGNMENT/DEFERMENT PROGRAM : This program is designed to assist you in providing assistance to your extended family when short term problems arise that are not resolvable without your presence. Situations that warrant approval of a humanitarian request include those based on the terminal illness of an extended family member (siblings do not normally qualify), financial hardship not as a result of overextension or misuse of your military pay (i.e., loss of home/possessions through fire/theft/natural disaster), to complete adoptions, recent death of a spouse or child (member must apply within 6 months of death), sexual abuse/assault of a dependent, child abandonment, or to establish/operate an effective family advocacy program. Our tasking under this program is to place you at the closest location to the family member(s) in need. Retraining may be utilized to accomplish this.

EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY MEMBER REASSIGNMENT/DEFERMENT PROGRAM (EFMP) : This program is designed to ensure your dependents receive any special medical or educational care they require at your present and projected accompanied assignment locations. Enrollment in the program is mandatory, however, reassignment or deferment under the program is voluntary. Enrollment is accomplished by the EFMP office located in the medical treatment facility at your base of assignment. Once you are enrolled, the AFPC medical staff will load an Assignment Limitation Code Q into PDS. When you are selected for reassignment, this code generates a printout at base level notifying the local EFMP officer that the availability of services for the exceptional family member(s) needs to be coordinated prior to you proceeding on the assignment.

Regrettably, we do not have the resources to let you know whether services are available for your exceptional family member prior to your selection for assignment. In order for the system to work as it is designed, you are selected for assignment first, then services are coordinated at base-level (medical treatment facility to medical treatment facility) via processing of an AF Form 1466. If it is determined services for the exceptional family member are not available at the projected location, it is your responsibility to submit an application IAW AFI 36-2110, Atch 7, if you desire consideration under this program.

If you are enrolled in the EFMP and selected for reassignment to an overseas location, the following options apply:

a. If selected for a long tour regardless of volunteer status and dependent travel is denied based on nonavailability of special education services (or any medical service that impacts the child's ability to be educated, i.e., speech therapy, occupational therapy), you will be released and the assignment canceled. This is mandated by public law, not Air Force policy. However, if a pinpointed assignment is made available, and you were selected as the most eligible nonvolunteer, you will be required to proceed to the pinpointed assignment. (NOTE: A pinpointed assignment is an alternate location identified by the command surgeon as having available services. It is the resource manager’s decision whether or not manning supports diverting you to the alternate location.) If you have been selected as the most eligible nonvolunteer and the assignment is to a split-tour (remote) area, where the unaccompanied tour length is 15 months or less and dependent travel is denied, you are required to proceed unaccompanied.

b. If selected for a long tour as a volunteer and dependent travel is denied based on nonavailability of general medical services, you may request release from the assignment through the appropriate resource manager.

c. If selected for a long tour as the most eligible nonvolunteer and dependent travel is denied based on nonavailability of general medical services, you may volunteer for a short tour. If there are no current or projected short tour requirements available, you will be required to serve the unaccompanied tour length at the projected overseas location.

Under both programs, deferment is normally for a period of 12 months. You may apply for an extension if the problem continues to exist, however, extensions are normally only for a 6-month period, except in the case of terminal illness of a parent, in which case you may receive a 12-month extension (total deferment not to exceed 24 months).

When you are reassigned under the Humanitarian Program, you are deferred from reassignment and extended TDY (in excess of 30 days) for 12 months from date arrived station. Reassignment under the EFMP defers you from selection for PCS for 12 months, but does not provide for deferment from extended TDY. If you are reassigned under EFMP and require deferment from extended TDY, you must submit a separate application for such consideration. If approved, the Humanitarian/EFMP Assignments Branch will direct the requesting MPF to update DAC 44 for a specified period (not to exceed 12 months).

It's important to understand reassignment/deferment consideration under these programs is not automatic. The member must submit a formal application for consideration IAW AFI 36-2110, Atch 7. Additionally, these are not base of preference programs. Humanitarian reassignments are driven by the location of the reason for the request, while EFMP reassignments are driven by needs of the Air Force and availability of special services.

REASONS HUMANITARIAN APPLICATIONS ARE MOST OFTEN DISAPPROVED

The approval authority will not approve your application for reassignment or deferment if the problem might exist for an indefinite period or you base your request on one of the following circumstances:

·          Threatened separation, divorce action, or the desire to pursue child custody.

·          A single parent’s desire to make or facilitate either short or long-term child care arrangements.

·          Psycho neurosis (such as various psychic or mental disorders characterized by special combinations of anxieties, compulsions, obsessions, phobias, and motor or sensory manifestations) resulting from family separation incident to military assignment.

·          Climatic conditions or geographical areas adversely affecting a family member’s health, and the problem is of a recurring nature (for example, asthma, allergies). An exception to this is when continued presence in such an environment is clearly life threatening.

·          Normal pregnancy, possible miscarriage, breech birth, cesarean sections, or RH blood factor.

·          The existence of a housing shortage or home ownership problems.

·          A financial problem, to include bankruptcy, resulting from over extension of military income.

·          A financial or management problem related to off-duty employment, the spouse’s employment, private business activities, or settling estates.

·          Passport or visa problems involving newly acquired dependents in the overseas area.

·          A desire to provide emotional or domiciliary support to a parent or parent-in-law due to age, nonterminal or chronic illness, or recent death in the family.

·          The problem existed or was reasonably foreseeable at the time of latest entry on active duty or prior to departure on PCS. For airmen, reenlistment, without a break in service, is not the latest entry on active duty.

·          A consecutive PCS or deferment based on the continuation of the same circumstances.

·          A request based on the medical condition of the Air Force member.

·          To receive preferred medical treatment when adequate treatment is available at the current or projected PDS.

·          If you falsified or omitted information on an AF Form 1466. Unless your presence is essential, your dependents will return to the CONUS and you will complete the overseas tour length prescribed based on your status.

REASONS WHY EFMP APPLICATIONS ARE MOST OFTEN DISAPPROVED

·          The approval authority will not reassign or defer you for the following circumstances:

·          Reassignment from the CONUS to overseas for the sole purpose of establishing an EFMP.

·          Reassignment based on the availability of a free or lower cost program in an area other than where you are currently assigned (unless significant financial hardship is being incurred).

·          Your dependent is in an institution, unless institution officials certify your frequent and regular visits will benefit your dependent, or if admittance to or retention in the institution requires establishing, continuing, or renewing, state residency.

·          The disability is due to a short-term illness or injury, or when the prognosis for complete recovery is satisfactory without the benefit of reassignment or deferment.

·          Climatic conditions or geographical areas adversely affecting a family member’s health, and the problem recurs and the environment is clearly life threatening.

·          Reassignment in order to establish or continue an EFMP based on the availability of a preferred or optimal program in an area other than where currently assigned when adequate facilities or services can be, or are provided. Also, you can not have an EFMP deferment to pursue a preferred or optimal program.

·          If you caused or contributed to the commission of an AF Form 1466 violation, either by falsifying or omitting information. Unless your presence is essential, your dependents will return to the CONUS and you will complete the overseas tour length prescribed based on your status. 

GOVERNING DIRECTIVES: The following Department of Defense and Air Force directives and instructions apply to Humanitarian and EFMP assignments and deferments:

DODD 1010.13 DODD 1315.7 DODD 1342.12 DODD 1342.14 AFI 36-2110 AFI 36-3020 AFI 40-301

HUMANITARIAN/EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY MEMBER PROGRAM FAQ