Assignment Coordination
The Exceptional Family Member Program is a mandatory enrollment program (MCO P1754.4A) for all active duty personnel. The primary objective of the EFMP is to ensure that Marine sponsors are assigned to locations where services exist to support their Exceptional Family Member (EFM). This is especially critical in overseas assignments where the provisions of services may be limited. Assigning Marine sponsors to locations that can support the needs of their family member ensures that the sponsor's performance of duty is not inordinately affected by the demands of caring for their Exceptional Family Member. This allows the sponsor to concentrate on performing his/her duties and contributes to the operational readiness of Marine Units. Successful execution of the EFMP improves the quality of life for Marine Corps families with special needs.
EFMP Enrollment Criteria
It is DoD policy that family members who meet the following criteria will be enrolled in the EFMP:
- Potentially life threatening conditions and/or chronic medical/physical conditions requiring intensive follow-up support (such as high risk newborns; patients with a diagnosis of cancer within the last 5 years; sickle cell disease; insulin dependent diabetes) or sub-specialty care.
- Chronic mental health diagnosis (such as bi-polar, conduct, major affective, thought or personality disorders), inpatient mental health service within the last 5 years, mental health services required at the present time, including patients under the care of their primary care manager (PCM).
- A diagnosis of asthma or other respiratory related diagnosis with wheezing which meets one of the following criteria:
- Routine use of inhaled anti-inflammatory agents and/or bronchodilators.
- History of emergency room use or clinic visits for acute asthma exacerbations.
- History of one or more hospitalizations within the past 5 years.
- History of one or more intensive care unit admissions.
- A diagnosis of attention deficit disorder/attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD) that meet one of the following criteria:
- A co-morbid psychological diagnosis.
- Requires multiple medications, psycho-pharmaceuticals (other than stimulants) or does not respond to normal doses of medication.
- Requires management and treatment by a mental health provider(s) (e.g. Psychiatrist, Psychologist, Social Worker).
- Require subspecialty consultants other than family practice more than twice a year on a chronic basis.
- Requires modifications of the educational curriculum or the use of behavioral management staff.
- Requires adaptive equipment.
- Requires Assistive technology devices or services.
- Requires wheelchair accessible/housing modifications.
- Has or requires an Individualized Education Program (IEP).
- Has or requires an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP).
If you have a family member, or if you think you or one of your Marines may meet the above enrollment criteria please call your installation EFMP Manager for more information about the program or to schedule an appointment.
Definition of an Exceptional Family Member
An Exceptional Family Member is an authorized DEERS eligible family member residing with the sponsor, who possesses a physical, intellectual or emotional handicap and who requires special medical or educational services.
Enrolling in the EFMP
- Ensure your family member is enrolled in DEERS.
- Contact your EFMP Manager at Marine Corps Community Services who will assist you in obtaining medical and educational evaluations, and provide the necessary forms for you, your medical provider, and, if necessary, your child's school official to complete.
- After the evaluations and enrollment forms are completed please call and arrange an appointment with your EFMP Manager who will then ensure the documentation is complete, sign the forms and forward the application to the HQ EFMP.
If you are currently assigned to a remote location and/or have no EFMP Office located within a reasonable distance or are you are assigned to an Air Force base please visit the below links to download the EFMP Medical and Education summaries DD2792 & DD2792-1:
DD2792 Exceptional Family Member Medical and Educational Summary
DD2792-1 Exceptional Family Member Special Education/Early Intervention
Assignment Coordination Process
The EFMP ensures that a sponsor will be assigned to a location where appropriate services exist to support the special needs of the family. Marines always have the option of accepting assignments where services do not exist while the EFM is supported in another location.
EFMP Categories
HQ EFMP screens your enrollment package, approves the enrollment and updates the EFMP registry with the category determination. An enrollment notification letter is then sent to by email. If you have enrolled or updated, and more than 5 weeks have passed and you haven't received a notification letter then please notify your installation EFMP Program Manager and he/she will investigate the status of your enrollment package. Categories 1 - 4 are assigned for administrative purposes as required by MCO 1754.4A. The individual needs of your exceptional family member are considered for all EFMP determinations.
CATEGORY 1: Needs do not generally limit assignments.
CATEGORY 2: Pinpoint assignments INCONUS or OCONUS
CATEGORY 3: No overseas assignment for your family member is authorized unless appropriate medical and/or educational services are available. This does not mean EFM sponsors cannot receive an unaccompanied assignment overseas.
CATEGORY 4: Major medical areas INCONUS only. However, this does not mean EFM sponsors cannot receive unaccompanied assignments overseas. (Category 4 families are given priority-housing assignment, which defined, is the first available house that meets the needs of the category 4 Exceptional Family Member).
CATEGORY P: Exceptional Family Members who have submitted their application and are awaiting a category to be assigned. (This information is entered into the EFMP registry at the local level and is changed by the EFMP Manager at Headquarters when the category is assigned.)
CATEGORY E: Enrollment is complete.
EFMP Update
Your EFMP Enrollment should be updated every 2 years or as the special medical or special educational needs of the Exceptional Family Member's condition change. We recommend that you review your copy of the enrollment forms periodically. If the long-term conditions improve, worsen, or services are no longer required please have your family member"s physician update the enrollment forms (see forms below). Please review any changes with the physician before signing to ensure concurrence.
Marine Corps Medical Officer
The Medical Officer of the Marine Corps advises the Commandant and Headquarters staff agencies on all matters about medical services and serves as the functional expert in working with the appropriate Headquarters staff agencies to determine requirements for, and makes recommendations about, medical support to the Marine Corps. The Medical Officer, U.S. Marine Corps also initiates action through proper Headquarters staff agencies to obtain medical personnel and material to meet the Marine Corps' needs and assists staff agencies in formulating landing force and field medical doctrines, procedures, and programs. When assignment coordination arbitration is required the Marine Corps Medical Officer makes the final determination in the suitability of an assignment for a Marine enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program.