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Hello MILIUS! It was awesome to talk to some of you at the pre-deployment brief and catch up. I had

quite a few I didnt know you were still here! so wanted to clear that up. Yes I am still here! I will be

here, helping and giving support to our two new Ombudsmen, Claudia Juarez and Kari Hunter, during

this transition period. I was planning on talking about the What is an Ombudsman? topic during the

brief however it was getting late and, truth be told, Im aware Im not the best public speaker. Most

likely best to write it out and present it to you in this format and spare you my speech! These few pages

are a general description of what an Ombudsman is and what we do for you but in reality, we do much

more. It truly is a multi-faceted role so if I left anything specific out please let me know or if you have

questions, please ask! We are here for you!

What is an Ombudsman?

Ombudsmen are volunteers appointed by the commanding officer to serve as an information link

between the command leadership and command families. Ombudsmen are trained to distribute

information, including official Department of the Navy and command information, command climate

issue and local quality of life improvement opportunities around the community. They also provide

resource referrals when needed and can be instrumental in resolving family issues before they require

extensive command attention. Command ombudsmen are part of the command support team (CST).

The roles and responsibilities of the command ombudsman include:

Serve as a liaison between command families and the command. Keep the command leadership informed regarding the morale, health and welfare of command

families.

Communicate regularly with the command and command families.

Contact families upon arrival to introduce themselves and explain how they can be of help to the

family.

Develop and distribute command-approved monthly newsletter.

Maintain an up-to-date list of resources and support organizations available to Navy families.

Serve as a source of emergency and crisis information.

Avoid conflict of interest.

Maintain confidentiality.

Coordinate services for command families during mobilization or geographic separation.It is the ultimate goal of the command ombudsman to empower family members to help themselves.

Ombudsmen responsibilities

DO NOT include:

Providing child care.

Transporting people.

Lending money.

Allowing people to stay with them in their home.

Confidential Information vs. Non-Confidential Information

Confidential information is sensitive information about a service member or family member. It is kept

within the commanding officers designated network and is for official use only. Command ombudsmen

are required to adhere to the strictest code of confidentiality to protect the privacy of individuals. Types

of confidential information ombudsmen may hear include:

Marital problems

Substance abuse issues

Financial difficulties

Parenting challenges

Work performance issues

Medical issues

Domestic issues


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Suicidal or homicidal behaviors

Family members may contact the command ombudsman to ask for information, guidance, and referrals,

or they may just want to discuss their concerns with a caring person. An ombudsman does not share

these private concerns with anyone including their spouse, other members of the command support

team, or assistance agencies without the approval of their commanding officer (CO) or the caller.

It is important to understand that not all communication with an ombudsman is confidential, and some

information is required to be disclosed to the proper authority. This information is called reportable.

Reportable information involves situations in which someones safety and well-being are at stake. All

Department of the Navy personnel, including ombudsmen (with the exception of chaplains and

attorneys who have privileged communication), are MANDATED reporters. Navy instruction requires

ombudsmen to report:

All suspected or known child abuse/neglect.

Alleged domestic abuse.

Suspected or potential homicides, violence, or life-endangering situations.

All suspected or potential suicidal risks.

Anything else specified by the CO

Ombudsman Training

Training is an important factor of a successful Ombudsman Program. Trained ombudsmen are betterable to enhance the readiness of Navy families. Ombudsmen are required to complete an initial 16.5

hours of basic training. The training consists of 9 modules that equip ombudsmen with the foundational

knowledge and skills necessary to properly execute their duties required by OPNAVINST 1750.1F.

The basic training ensures that families receive a standardized level of services throughout the Navy. On-

going training enables them to stay abreast of changes in programs and services, and to become familiar

with new programs and services available to service members and their families. All ombudsmen are

required to complete advanced training throughout the year.

In addition to basic and advanced training, ombudsmen are required to regularly attend bi-monthly

assemblies, which provide a forum for sharing and exchanging information, resources and best

practices.

Ombudsman Code of EthicsThe Code of Ethics is the essential foundation upon which an ombudsmans credibility is established and

maintained. Ombudsmen are committed to strict adherence to the code, which includes:

Maintaining confidentiality.

Supporting the commands mission.

Working within the chain of command as directed.

Maintaining the highest standards of professionalism.

Deployment

Deployment can be tough on everyone and the Ombudsman is there for you! We are there for you to

answer questions, provide resources, give information and feel free to solely vent to us if youre feeling

frustrated; just please bear in mind our reportables mentioned earlier. Rumors will also come into play

once deployment is here. For example, if you hear the ship might be coming home early, call the

Ombudsman. If you hear deployment may be extended, call the Ombudsman. If you havent heard from

your spouse in a couple days, call the Ombudsman because the ship may be in river city and well be

able to tell you! During river city, the Ombudsman still has open lines of communication with the CMC,

XO and CO so please rest assured our information is accurate. If you need to get in touch with your sailor

during river city, call the Ombudsman and we can make it happen.

I briefly talked about the MILIUS Careline during the pre-deployment brief and wanted to go over it

again in a little bit more detail. The Careline is a phone number a spouse or family member can call to

get current ship information. Its generally used during deployment and is utilized for homecoming


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information (pier number, time, sudden changes, etc). This worked well last deployment with the

families. It also helps the Ombudsman by not having many phone calls about pier time and information

on Homecoming day because its our Homecoming day as well. The MILIUS Careline number is (619)

338-1754.

History of the Navy Family Ombudsman Program

The Navy Family Ombudsman Program enables service members to be more focused and productive at

work because their families have a safety net. The Navys philosophy of developing healthy, self-reliant

families is epitomized through the Navy Family Ombudsman Program. The ombudsman concept

originated in Scandinavian countries, where they investigated citizens complaints against the

government or its functionaries. Today, the concept is widely used in the fields of government, business,

and healthcare.

On September 14, 1970, Adm. Elmo R. Zumwalt Jr., Chief of Naval Operations, established the Navy

Family Ombudsman Program when he issued Z-Gram 24. It emphasized the importance of Navy spouses

and established a procedure that gave spouses the opportunity to present complaints, viewpoints, and

suggestions to the commanding officer. In doing so, he acknowledged the vital role spouses play as

members of the Navy team and provided them with what he described as an official representative to

express their view to commanding officers and base commanders.How to contact the Ombudsman

There are three ways to get in touch with your Ombudsman; phone, email and the MILIUS Command

Families Facebook page. The Ombudsman phone number is (619) 417-9980. If you reach the voicemail,

please leave a message saying who you are, who your sailor is and details of how we can help you. We

will get in touch with you within 24 hours. This number is not to be used in a medical or life threatening

emergency! Please use 911 for those situations. The Ombudsman email [email protected].

I unfortunately will not be with you for your next deployment, however, I hope this sheds a little more

light on what your Ombudsman is and can do for you! If you have any questions please feel free to give

us a call or email!

Thank you,

Teresa Tillman
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]

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