PCS Move

EFMP — Exceptional Family Member Program

DoDI 1315.19

Mandatory DoD program to ensure assignments support your family's medical and educational needs.

Self-screen — does your family qualify for EFMP enrollment?

Check any that apply to any family member (spouse, child, qualifying parent in your household). One criterion typically triggers enrollment review. Final determination is by the EFMP medical coordinator at your MTF.

No criteria selected — EFMP enrollment likely not required. Re-screen any time a family member's diagnosis or care needs change.

What EFMP is

The Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) is a mandatory DoD program governed by DoDI 1315.19 that does two things:

  1. Identifies and enrolls family members (spouse, child, or qualifying parent) with special medical, educational, or behavioral health needs.
  2. Coordinates assignments so the active-duty sponsor's next PCS lands at a location with adequate medical / educational resources to support the family member.

EFMP is not a benefits-restriction program. Enrollment doesn't affect pay, promotion eligibility, or CONUS assignments. The main practical effect: OCONUS PCSes require advance medical screening to confirm the gaining location can support your family.

The 3 parts of EFMP

1. Medical EFMP (MEDCOM / your MTF). The clinical side:

  • EFMP medical coordinator at your MTF screens family
  • Determines categorization (1 through 6, roughly)
  • Updates record at annual recertification or condition change
  • Issues DD Form 2792 (medical summary) and DD Form 2792-1 (educational summary) for assignment screening

2. Personnel EFMP (HRC / AFPC / CMC / etc.). The assignment side:

  • Personnel command reviews EFMP enrollment record at any PCS
  • For OCONUS PCS: confirms target installation has adequate medical/educational resources
  • May restrict to specific bases, modify assignment, or require family to remain CONUS while sponsor PCSes OCONUS unaccompanied

3. EFMP-Family Support (EFMP-FS) — installation Family Center. The support side:

  • Information and referral for special-needs services
  • Respite care (in-home care for the EFM so caregivers can rest)
  • Support groups for parents and siblings of EFM children
  • School liaison to help navigate IEP/504 transitions across PCS
  • Connection to outside resources (Autism Speaks, Easter Seals, state special-needs programs)

Service-specific implementations

  • Army: AR 608-75. EFMP coordinator at MEDDAC; Army Community Service (ACS) runs EFMP-FS.
  • Navy / Marine Corps: OPNAVINST 1754.2 / MCO 1754.4. Fleet & Family Support Center (FFSC) runs EFMP-FS.
  • Air Force / Space Force: AFI 36-2110. Special Needs Coordinator (SNC) at MTF; A&FRC runs Special Needs Identification and Assignment Coordination (SNIAC).
  • Coast Guard: Commandant Instruction M1741.1. Special Needs Program at Work-Life Office.

Curriculum and forms are largely standardized across services, but program names differ. The MEDCOM-equivalent processes the medical record (DD Forms 2792 / 2792-1) the same way across services.

When enrollment is required (and when it isn't)

Required when ANY family member has:

  • A condition requiring specialty medical care beyond what a PCM provides
  • An Individual Education Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan at school
  • A mental/behavioral health diagnosis requiring ongoing medication or therapy
  • Use of durable medical equipment
  • A developmental disability diagnosed before age 18
  • Any condition that would limit assignment to certain locations

NOT required (typically) for:

  • Routine well-child check-ups with no chronic findings
  • Occasional asthma without specialist or daily medication
  • Glasses/contacts only
  • Allergies without epi-pen or specialist
  • Short-term mental health treatment (one course of counseling, no medication)

When in doubt, ask the EFMP medical coordinator. They have authority to determine whether enrollment is needed, and over-enrolling families "just in case" is not standard practice.

Common myths debunked

  • "EFMP will hurt my career." False. DoDI 1315.19 explicitly prohibits adverse personnel actions based on EFMP enrollment. Boards do not see EFMP status. Promotions and assignments to fill operational needs continue.
  • "I can opt out of EFMP." False. Per regulation, enrollment is mandatory when criteria are met. Failure to disclose a known qualifying condition can result in administrative action (Article 92 in extreme cases, or counseling/LOR).
  • "EFMP will keep me CONUS forever." False. Many EFMP families PCS OCONUS successfully. The system matches you to OCONUS locations with appropriate resources; you may not get every OCONUS choice but you can get approved assignments.
  • "EFMP enrollment cancels my OCONUS assignment." Partially false. If you receive an OCONUS assignment before completing EFMP screening, the assignment is pulled for review — the new assignment may be modified, but you're not penalized for the prior issue.
  • "EFMP is only for kids with autism." False. EFMP covers any chronic condition. Spouses with cancer, MS, lupus, etc. trigger enrollment. Parents you have legal responsibility for (rare but possible) can also trigger.

EFMP + PCS — the assignment screening process

  1. Receive assignment notice (or RFO). If OCONUS, immediately notify your EFMP coordinator. CONUS assignments don't require screening but EFMP record still travels with you.
  2. EFMP coordinator reviews target location. They check the EFMP Master Installation List (EMIL) for medical/educational adequacy. Some installations are "EFMP-restricted" for certain categories.
  3. Outcome possibilities:
    • Assignment approved as-is (most common)
    • Assignment modified to an alternate OCONUS location with better resources
    • Concurrent travel for family is delayed (sponsor goes alone, family follows later)
    • Assignment cancelled / changed to CONUS
    • Family stays at current location (sponsor unaccompanied tour)
  4. Appeals: You can request reconsideration. Provide additional medical documentation or evidence that the target location does have resources. The decision is made by the personnel command, not the medical side.

Timeline: Start EFMP enrollment AT LEAST 6 months before any anticipated OCONUS PCS. Late starts force rushed screenings that can delay or cancel assignments.

Practical EFMP advantages

  • Priority access at the MTF for specialty appointments — most facilities have an EFMP priority queue
  • Respite care in-home or center-based, hours vary by installation (typically 20-40 hr/month)
  • School liaison helps transfer IEP/504 across PCSes, addresses gaps in transition
  • Childcare priority at base CDC for EFMP children (waitlist preference)
  • State Medicaid waivers — EFMP-FS can help apply (varies by state; military pay is excluded from Medicaid income in many states)
  • SBP for incapacitated child — adult disabled child can be SBP beneficiary indefinitely (10 USC § 1448(b)(1))
  • Hire Heroes USA and other transition orgs offer EFMP-aware civilian transition support

FAQ

EFMP — frequently asked questions

What is the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP)?
EFMP is a mandatory DoD program under DoDI 1315.19 that (1) identifies family members with special medical, educational, or behavioral needs, and (2) coordinates assignments so the active-duty sponsor PCSes to locations with adequate medical and educational resources for the family. Each service implements parallel regulations: Army AR 608-75, Navy/MC OPNAVINST 1754.2, AF/SF AFI 36-2110, USCG CIM M1741.1.
Is EFMP enrollment optional?
No — enrollment is mandatory when a family member meets the criteria per DoDI 1315.19. The sponsor cannot decline. Failure to disclose a known qualifying condition can result in administrative action (counseling, LOR, in extreme cases Article 92). Most enforcement is via assignment-screening discovery, not active investigation.
Does EFMP enrollment hurt my career?
No. DoDI 1315.19 explicitly prohibits adverse personnel actions based on EFMP enrollment. Promotion boards do not see EFMP status. The practical effect is OCONUS assignment review — your CONUS assignments and overall career trajectory are not affected.
What conditions trigger EFMP enrollment?
Any chronic condition requiring specialty care beyond a PCM, an IEP or 504 Plan, mental/behavioral health with ongoing treatment, durable medical equipment, developmental disability diagnosed before age 18, daily medication for a chronic condition, or special feeding/dietary management. The EFMP medical coordinator at your MTF makes the final determination.
Will EFMP cancel my OCONUS PCS?
Not usually. Most EFMP families PCS OCONUS successfully — the system matches you to locations with adequate resources. Possible outcomes: assignment approved as-is, modified to an alternate OCONUS location, family follow-on delayed, or (rarely) sponsor goes unaccompanied. Start EFMP enrollment 6+ months before any anticipated OCONUS move.
What practical benefits does EFMP enrollment provide?
Priority access at MTF for specialty appointments, respite care (20-40 hr/month), school liaison for IEP/504 transitions across PCS, childcare priority at base CDC, and SBP for incapacitated adult child (10 USC § 1448(b)(1)). Family Support Center connects you to state Medicaid waivers and outside organizations.
When does enrollment recertify?
Annually, OR when condition changes (new diagnosis, new specialty involvement, change of medication regimen, IEP review). Bring updated medical documentation to the EFMP coordinator. PCSes trigger automatic record transfer.
Are deceased / retired sponsors still in EFMP?
EFMP follows the active-duty sponsor. Upon retirement, EFMP coordination ends, but family medical records transfer to your retirement TRICARE. If a family member with adult disabilities was enrolled, document for SBP purposes — qualified disabled adult children remain SBP beneficiaries indefinitely.

Keep going

Next steps

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Base Guides

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Survivor Benefit

SBP for disabled child remains indefinitely

AI Assistant

Ask EFMP-related questions

DoDI 1315.19 · AR 608-75 · OPNAVINST 1754.2 · MCO 1754.4 · AFI 36-2110 · CIM M1741.1

Results are estimates. Always verify with your finance office.