Air Force Humanitarian Assignments

Air Force Humanitarian AssignmentsAir Force Humanitarian AssignmentsThe Air Force Humanitarian Assignments Program was established to assist members in resolving severe short-term problems involving a family member. The program allows distributionspolitikment 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 tiefpunkt of 5 years before the members or spouses 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 bedrngnis parental responsibilities does notlage 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 p roblems 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 mora 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 A ir Force members with a similar problem.The members 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 members 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 members 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 members presence is necessary. The assignment location under this provision will be based on the needs of the Air Force. The prfinal 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 doctors 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 members 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 members 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 exi stence 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 spouses 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 members 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 members 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 Forces Humanitarian Assignments Program, see. Air Force Instruction 36-2110, ASSIGNMENTS, Attachment 7 offers complete information about the Air Forces Humanitarian Assignments Program.