3/9/2010
From Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs
WASHINGTON - The chief of Naval Personnel has released the first monthly Family Gram as part of Navy's commitment to enhance family readiness.
March's Family Gram focuses on medical benefits and provides Sailors and their families information on the range of medical support services available to them.
"Family readiness describes a Navy family who is prepared for mobilizations, deployments and prolonged separations through a network of support systems and communication channels that link the command, family and Navy," said Rear Adm. Dan Holloway, Navy's director of personnel, plans and policies division. "Together we are forming a resilient well-informed family, adaptable to the Navy operating environment and capable of navigating through and utilizing the many support services available.
In the podcast Holloway talks about family readiness. "It is important that as our men and women go forward in their duties realizing that their families back at home supporting them will be taken care of while they are deployed."
The Family Gram provides information on Tricare, the Department of Defense's worldwide health care program for active duty and Reserve Sailors and their families. Specifically, the message outlines Tricare coverage choices, explaining the differences and eligibility requirements among the prime, standard, extra and overseas program-prime options.
Coverage options range from no fee, no deductible and no co-payment care provided at military facilities, to fee-for-service options which allow increased flexibility in choosing a medical provider.
"The physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health and fitness of our people and their families is critical to maintaining an effective fighting force," said Navy Surgeon General Vice Adm. Adam M. Robinson Jr. "Whether we are treating a relatively minor injury, illness or treating a traumatic injury resulting from war, our patient and family centered philosophy and approach is not only our mission - it is our bottom line."
In addition, the Family Gram highlights the importance of enrolling and maintaining current information in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) to remain eligible for a variety of Navy benefits to include medical care.
It also provides resources for verifying and updating DEERS information to reflect changes in the sponsor's status on occasions such as marriage or divorce, birth of a child, or relocation.
"We are currently supporting our families with more than 30 family support programs ranging from child care, ombudsmen to physical fitness and youth outreach opportunities. I am excited about the renewed commitment to family readiness from senior leadership to the deckplates " it is a fully supported initiative to strengthen our overall program and provide valuable information to our Navy family," said Holloway.
To read the complete Family Gram, NAVADMIN 072/10, visit www.npc.navy.mil.
To listen to the podcast, visit
http://www.navy.mil/media/audio/cnp/CNP%20Family%20Readiness%20Podcast.MP3.
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