DA Form 7419-3: Army Family Action Plan (AFAP) Guide – The Army Family Action Plan (AFAP) stands as one of the U.S. Army’s most effective grassroots programs. It empowers Soldiers, Families, Survivors, Retirees, Department of the Army Civilians, and other community members to identify and resolve quality-of-life (QOL) issues that impact readiness, retention, and well-being.
DA Form 7419-3 serves as the official accreditation and documentation tool tied to the AFAP program within Army Community Service (ACS) centers. It helps track and support the program’s implementation and effectiveness.
What Is the Army Family Action Plan (AFAP)?
Established in 1983 following Army Chief of Staff GEN John A. Wickham’s white paper The Army Family, AFAP recognizes that strong family support directly enhances Soldier focus and mission success. The program provides a structured, three-tier grassroots process for identifying, prioritizing, and elevating issues that local commands cannot resolve alone.
Key features include:
- Grassroots input — Issues come from town halls, focus groups, command channels, and online submissions.
- Prioritization and elevation — About 90% of issues resolve locally; the rest advance to higher commands or Headquarters, Department of the Army (HQDA).
- Senior leader review — The Vice Chief of Staff of the Army (VCSA) chairs semi-annual General Officer Steering Committee (GOSC) meetings to review progress and make decisions.
Purpose and Role of DA Form 7419-3
DA Form 7419-3 (Army Family Action Plan (AFAP) Program) is part of the ACS accreditation suite (alongside forms like DA Form 7419, 7419-1, etc.). It documents program management, compliance, and effectiveness for AFAP operations at installations and centers.
Download the official DA Form 7419-3 here:
https://armypubs.army.mil/pub/eforms/DR_a/pdf/DA%20FORM%207419-3.pdf
Individuals or AFAP coordinators use the form to record issues, suggestions, and recommendations. It supports tracking from submission through resolution and helps ensure the program meets Army standards.
How to Submit an AFAP Issue? (No Form Always Required)
You don’t always need to start with DA Form 7419-3 to raise a concern. Submit issues year-round through:
- Issue Management System (IMS): Online portal at https://ims.armyfamilywebportal.com/ (guest or registered access).
- Local ACS offices or AFAP program managers.
- Installation forums, town halls, or command teams.
Submission deadlines: HQDA collects new issues by mid-March annually for the full cycle. Issues fall into categories such as Soldier Support, Family Support, Military Health Care, Retiree/Survivor Support, Civilian Support, and more.
Process after submission:
- Local command reviews and attempts resolution.
- Unresolved issues elevate with commander endorsement.
- HQDA validates, staffs, and prioritizes.
- GOSC reviews and assigns actions.
- Feedback returns to the submitter.
Proven Impact: Real Changes from AFAP Issues
Since 1983, AFAP has driven hundreds of improvements, including:
- Transferability of Montgomery GI Bill benefits to dependents.
- Expanded paternity leave and military spouse employment preferences.
- TRICARE provider availability and TBI rehabilitation programs.
- Pet relocation expense reimbursements.
- License reciprocity for military spouses.
- ID card access and benefits for survivors.
Over 800 issues have reached DA level, resulting in more than 500 policy, legislative, and program enhancements that strengthen the Total Army.
Who Can Participate?
- Active Duty, Reserve, and National Guard Soldiers
- Family members
- Retirees and Survivors
- Department of the Army Civilians
- Tenants and community partners
AFAP gives every member of the Army community a direct line to senior leaders.
How to Get Involved Today?
- Visit your local Army Community Service (ACS) center.
- Submit an issue online via the IMS portal.
- Attend or request an AFAP forum at your installation.
- Volunteer for prioritization groups or Virtual Soldier & Family Readiness activities.
Official Resources:
- Army Resilience AFAP page: armyresilience.army.mil/AFAP
- USAR AFAP: usar.army.mil/ARFP/AFAP
Why AFAP Matters for Army Readiness?
In a changing world with evolving family needs, AFAP ensures the Army listens to its people. By addressing QOL issues proactively, the program supports recruitment, retention, and the holistic well-being essential for a ready force.
Whether you face housing, healthcare, education, deployment support, or other challenges, your input through AFAP can drive meaningful change.
Have a quality-of-life concern? Submit it today through your ACS or the IMS. Your voice helps shape the future of the Army Family.