R 161443Z MAR 12

ALCOAST 128/12
COMDTNOTE 1754
SUBJ: OPERATION PURPLE SUMMER CAMPS
1. OPERATION PURPLE, A PROGRAM OF THE NATIONAL MILITARY FAMILY
ASSOCIATION (NMFA), OFFERS A FREE WEEK OF SUMMER FUN FOR MILITARY
KIDS WITH PARENTS WHO HAVE BEEN, ARE CURRENTLY, OR WILL BE DEPLOYED.
THE GOAL OF THE OPERATION PURPLE CAMP PROGRAM IS TO GIVE MILITARY
CHILDREN TOOLS TO HELP DEAL WITH THE STRESSES THAT CAN RESULT FROM A
PARENTS DEPLOYMENT. OPERATION PURPLE CAMPS ARE OPEN TO MILITARY
CHILDREN OF ALL RANKS AND SERVICES, FROM BOTH ACTIVE AND RESERVE
COMPONENTS. THE CAMPS GIVE PRIORITY TO CHILDREN WHOSE PARENTS ARE IN
A DEPLOYMENT PHASE BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 2011 AND DECEMBER 2012.
2. DUE TO BUDGET CONSTRAINTS, NFMA WAS FORCED TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF
CAMP LOCATIONS FOR THE 2012 SEASON. BECAUSE OF THE EXTREMELY LIMITED
NUMBER OF SPOTS FOR THE 2012 CAMP SEASON, THEY HIGHLY ENCOURAGE
FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN WHO HAVE NEVER ATTENDED OPERATION PURPLE CAMP
TO APPLY. IF YOUR CHILD HAS PREVIOUSLY ATTENDED OPERATION PURPLE CAMP
ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION, IT IS LIKELY THAT HE OR SHE WILL NOT BE
ACCEPTED TO CAMP THIS YEAR. IF YOU KNOW A FAMILY WITH CHILDREN WHO
HAVE NEVER ATTENDED OPERATION PURPLE CAMP, ENCOURAGE THEM TO APPLY SO
AS MANY DESERVING MILITARY CHILDREN AS POSSIBLE CAN BENEFIT FROM THIS
EXPERIENCE.
3. TRADITIONAL CAMP APPLICATIONS WILL BE AVAILABLE STARTING 19 MARCH
2012. DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT ALL OPERATION PURPLE CAMPS,
INCLUDING LOCATIONS AND DATES, CAN BE FOUND BY GOING TO THE NMFA
WEBSITE AT WWW.MILITARYFAMILY.ORG, AND CLICKING ON THE "OPERATION
PURPLE CAMPS" ICON.
4. COMMANDING OFFICERS AND OFFICERS-IN-CHARGE ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED
TO ENSURE THE WIDEST DISTRIBUTION POSSIBLE TO CG MEMBERS AND THEIR
FAMILIES.
5. QUESTIONS REGARDING THE OPERATION PURPLE PROGRAM MAY BE DIRECTED
TO OPC(AT)MILITARYFAMILY.ORG.
6. RADM MAURA K. DOLLYMORE, DIRECTOR OF HEALTH, SAFETY AND WORK-LIFE,
SENDS.
7. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.