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DoD Instruction 1342.19 Excerpts
1. PURPOSE
This Instruction under reference (a) establishes policy, assigns responsibilities and
prescribes procedures on the care of family members of DoD and emergency-essential
(E-E) civilian personnel who are single parents; dual-military couples with dependents;
or members or E-E civilian personnel who otherwise bear sole responsibility for the
care of children under the age of 19; or other personnel with family members who are
unable to care for themselves in the absence of the member or E-E employee.
2. APPLICABILITY AND SCOPE
This Instruction applies to:
2.1. The Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Military Departments, the
National Guard, the Reserve components, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and
the Joint Staff, the Unified and Specified Commands, the Defense Agencies and the
DoD Field Activities (hereafter referred to collectively as "the DoD Components").
The term "Military Services," as used herein, refers to the Army, the Navy, the Air
Force, the Marine Corps, and the Coast Guard when it is operating as a Military
Service in the Navy.
2.2. All military personnel serving on active duty and in the Ready Reserve.
While the Department of Defense does not have authority to direct E-E civilian and
contractor personnel to prepare a family care plan, the Department of Defense strongly
encourages civilian and contractor personnel in E-E positions (references (b) and (c)),
to establish family care plans consistent with this Instruction. E-E and contractor
personnel should also avail themselves and their caregivers of the information, support,
and resources provided by family centers and social service organizations within legal
constraints.
4. POLICY
It is DoD policy that:
4.1. The member is responsible for the care of family members during
deployments and temporary duty, as at all other times. Members with responsibility
for family members covered in subsections 4.6. or 4.9., below, are required to have a
family care plan. Failure to produce a family care plan within the period stipulated in
subsection 4.8., may result in disciplinary action and or administrative separation in
accordance with DoD Directives 1332.14 and 1332.30 (references (d) and (e)). In the
case of Reserve members, the Military Department may recommend discharge or
transfer to an inactive or retired status if the Reserve member is eligible in accordance
with DoD Directive 1200.7 (reference (f)).
4.3. Family care plans shall include provisions for short-term absences (for
example, temporary duty for schooling or training, or, in the case of Reserve
component members, active duty for training), and long-term absences (for example,
operational deployment, mobilization and for Reserve component members, activation
of Reserve component personnel for an operational mission or in a period of national
emergency or mobilization) and designate a caregiver for the affected members of the
Service member's family. The Military Departments will ensure Service members
who meet the definition of a dual-military couple with dependents or single parent
designate a person whom they wish in the event of their death or incapacity to assume
temporary custody of their child until a legal guardian is appointed by a court of
competent jurisdiction. This designation shall be recorded in the member's official
military personnel record and is not a substitute for a will or other legal document.
Members and E-E civilian personnel are strongly encouraged to have valid wills (in the
event of their deaths during deployment) that designate guardians for permanent care
of their family members.
4.4. The commander or supervisor has the primary responsibility to ensure that
members who meet the criteria in subsections 4.6. or 4.9., below, have an up-to-date
family care plan. The member's commander, the commander's designated
representative, or the member's immediate supervisor shall discuss the importance of a
comprehensive family care plan with the member and inform the member that he or
she may be subject to disciplinary action and or separated from Service for failure to
have a care plan. The commander, commander's representative, or supervisor shall
recommend that the member seek assistance from Service organizations and other
resources (paragraphs 4.4.1. and 4.4.2., below) to assist in the preparation of the family
care plan as outlined in subparagraphs 4.4.1. and 4.4.2., below. The Military
Departments will establish by regulations the officials who have primary responsibility
to ensure Ready Reservists have an up-to-date family care plan. The regulations will
also specify the officials responsible for ensuring that Ready Reservists are adequately
informed of the importance of a family care plan and resources to assist in preparation
of the family care plan.
4.4.1. These resources include installation family centers, legal assistance
offices, child care centers, and other offices that retain lists of certified child care
providers. This also includes private sector community organizations that maintain
lists of licensed caregivers in the community.
4.4.2. The Military Departments shall ensure that National Guard and
Reserve component members have family support resources available within a
reasonable proximity of the National Guard and Reserve unit. National Guard
members may be referred to the family program coordinator located within each State
for assistance. Reserve members may be referred to the appropriate family program
coordinator for assistance as designated by the Reserve component. However, the
family program coordinator designated by the Reserve component should consider
physical proximity of the member's unit or domicile. The purpose of the member
seeking assistance is to increase the awareness of the implications of long-term or
sudden deployments and to ensure the member establishes a family care plan that is
realistic and workable.
4.5. Family centers play a key role in assisting members responsible for
development of a family care plan. While commanders are responsible for ensuring
that their members have an acceptable family care plan, the family centers upon
request of unit commanders or members shall provide information and assistance in the
development of a family care plan. Commanders, consistent with DoD Directive
4001.1 (reference (g)), shall ensure that family centers and family program
coordinators have information (for example, brochures, handouts, classes) that cover
all aspects of deployments. If needed, family centers shall provide individual
counseling to those members requiring assistance in the development of their family
care plan. Information provided by the family center shall cover subjects and problem
areas faced by families when a member deploys (for example, separation anxiety,
coping skills, parenting tips, stress management, schooling, financial arrangements,
and location of key documents). The Services will establish procedures to ensure
members and families who do not have ready access to installation family centers are
provided an outreach program. While family centers have a role in support of
commanders and members in developing a family care plan, responsibility for family
care plans shall not be delegated to a family center.
4.6. A family care plan is required of all single member parents with custody of
children and military couples with dependents. A family care plan is required if
family circumstances or other personal status of a member changes such that the
member becomes solely responsible for the logistical (housing, food, clothing,
transportation), medical, or financial support of another person. Such family
circumstances include, but are not limited to:
4.6.1. Birth of a child.
4.6.2. Adoption.
4.6.3. Loss of a spouse through death, separation, or divorce when that
results in the member's assuming the responsibilities in subsection 4.6., above, or 4.9.,
below.
4.6.4. Enlistment (or being commissioned) in the military (active duty or
Reserve component) by a spouse when the member and spouse become a dual-military
couple with dependents.
4.6.5. Assumption of sole care for an elderly or disabled family member.
4.6.7. Absence of a spouse through career or job commitments or other
personal reasons that result in the member assuming the responsibilities in subsection
4.6., above.
4.7. The active duty military member must notify his or her commander,
supervisor, or the commander's designated representative immediately but no later than
30 days of the occurrence of change in family circumstances or personal status.
Ready Reservists have 60 days to notify the authority designated under Military
Department regulations of the occurrence of a change in circumstance or personal
status.
4.8. The active duty member shall submit the final family care plan (the minimum
actions required in a family care plan are outlined in subsection 6.5., below) through
his or her chain of command within 60 days of the discussion with the commander,
supervisor, or the commander's designated representative under subsection 4.4.,
above. The Military Departments shall implement guidance for members of the
Reserve component. Implementing guidance shall require the member to submit the
final family care plan within 90 days of notification by the agency or activity
designated by the Military Department. Failure to produce the required family care
plan at this time can result in involuntary separation from Service by reason of
parenthood in accordance with DoD Directive 1332.14 (reference (d)) or DoD
Directive 1332.30 (reference (e)). Failure to produce the required family care plan in
the case of the Reserve member can result in processing for discharge or transfer to an
inactive or retired status. If mitigating circumstances are involved, tbe commander or
supervisor concerned may grant the member an additional 30 days to submit an
acceptable family care plan. Further extensions are not authorized.
4.9. Family care plans are required of members who are solely responsible for the
care of a spouse, elderly, or other adult family member with disabilities who is
dependent upon the member for financial, medical, or logistical support (housing,
food, clothing, transportation). This includes a family member with limited command
of English, or the inability to drive or to gain access to basic life-sustaining facilities
(for example, food, medical care). Secretaries of the Military Departments and
installation commanders may exercise personal judgment in implementing this
subsection based upon consideration of geographic location or mission. For example,
members who, with their families, are assigned to an isolated location and or whose
family members have limited language and/or communication skills in a foreign
country may be required to have a family care plan at the discretion of the Secretary of
the Military Department or the commander concerned.
4.10. All members and commanders shall consider provisions for contingencies.
The member shall discuss with the commander, supervisor, or the commander's
designated representative an alternate caregiver for family members if the primary
caregiver becomes unable to perform this function. This discussion should cover the
member's plans for arrangement of logistical, financial, medical and legal
documentation necessary to ensure continuity of care and support for family
members. Logistical arrangements are further outlined in subsection 4.11., below.
4.11. Family care plans shall include provisions for logistical movement of the
family or caregiver. Logistical arrangements shall include, but are not limited to,
arrangements to relocate, if necessary, the caregiver or family to a new location,
financial, medical and legal support necessary to ensure continuity of care and support
of family members during the movement. Logistical arrangements must provide for
financial support necessary to transport the family or caregiver to a designated
location. Consideration of a non-military escort for family members requiring
assistance such as infants, children, elderly and disabled adults should be outlined
when personal family considerations dictate.
4.12. Family care plans shall include arrangements for the financial well-being of
family members covered by the family care plan during short- and long-term
separations. Arrangements for financial care should include power(s) of attorney,
allotments, or other appropriate means to ensure the self-sufficiency and financial
security of family members. Military Department guidance will ensure members are
aware that assistance with financial arrangements and planning can be obtained at
family centers, legal assistance offices and Service relief organizations.
4.13. Military mothers of newborns shall receive a 4-month deferment from duty
away from the home station for the period immediately following the birth of a child.
This provision is to assist the member in developing family care plans and to establish
a pattern of child care. Single members or one member of a military couple who
adopt shall receive a 4-month deferment from the date the child is placed in the home
as part of the formal adoption process. Similarly, Reserve component members
receive a 4-month deferment from involuntary recall to active duty. This 4-month
deferment policy is further explained in DoD Directive 1315.7 (reference h).
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