Program supports families with exceptional family member

Terri Batschelet

Commanding General’s Spouse

I want to welcome everyone in our USAREC family to “Family Corner,” a recurring section in the Recruiter Journal that will give me the opportunity to make sure our families are aware of all the services available to them.

I know everyone is familiar with the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) since all Soldiers Army wide with an EFM are required to enroll.

The program works with other military and civilian agencies to help families with providing comprehensive and coordinated community support, housing, educational, medical and personnel services to exceptional family members.

Currently, 1,213 Soldiers within USAREC are enrolled in the  EFMP. But did you know there is an additional arm to the program to assist recruiting families?

 In an effort to help assist commands with geo-dispersed populations, in 2010 IMCOM established the EFMP Systems Navigator - a community support component of the EFMP that connects families with special needs to the systems of care they need, both on and off the installation.

The Army recognizes the importance of expanding the EFMP SN support to geo-dispersed commands, so IMCOM approved two EFMP system navigators just for USAREC, to take care of the needs of the EFMs within our geo-dispersed command. The USAREC EFMP system navigators provide the following services: 

·    Assist with identifying your EFM and family strengths and needs

·    Help identify and prioritize your EFM and family goals

·    Develop a family service plan to reach your goals

·    Make referrals to required services

·    Provide information about disabilities or medical conditions of concern

·    Find transportation to appointments related to the family service plan

·    Identify support groups and social activities.

·    Strengthen your ability to advocate for your EFM

·    Referral to a military school liaison officer to assist with educational needs

Dwight Wiggins - EFMP systems navigator

For further information or services, please contact your brigade EFMP systems navigator. Dwight Wiggins can help you if you fall under 1^st Brigade, 2^nd Brigade and MRB. He can be reached at 502-626-1080 or

email edward.d.wiggins4.ctr@mail.mil    

Emily Hay - EFMP systems navigator

Emily Hay is the systems navigator for 3^rd Brigade, 5^th Brigade and 6^th Brigade. Her contact information is 502-626-2015 or

email emily.g.hay2.ctr@mail.mil

As USAREC's Family Readiness Group (FRG) advisor, I also encourage you to stay in touch with your battalion Soldier Family Assistance SFA and FRG leaders, as they are your best sources for information. 


The Family Resource Guide also contains a wealth of information. 

http://www.usarec.army.mil/downloads/hq/HRD/SFA/USAREC_FamilyResourceGuideOct2013.pdf

All battalion SFAPMs except MRB may be reached by calling 1-800-790-0963.

When prompted, you need to know what brigade your Soldier belongs to. i.e #1

for 1st Recruiting Brigade and so on. After choosing the brigade it will

prompt you to choose your battalion.

If you cannot reach the battalion SFAPM by using the 1-800 # you may call

the Brigade SFAPM at:

1st BDE: (301) 677-4568

2nd BDE: (256) 450-9532

3rd BDE: (502) 626-1049

5th BDE: (210) 221-2956

6th BDE: (702) 639-2010

MRB BDE: (502) 626-3236

For MRB battalions you may call:

1st MRB: (301) 677-6695

2nd MRB: (256) 450-9670

3rd MRB: (502)626-0788

5th MRB: (210)295-0813

6th MRB: (702) 898-9842