AF Form 357. Family Care Certification

AF 357 is a Family Care Certification form used by the United States Air Force (USAF). The purpose of this form is to verify and authorize military personnel who are requesting to provide family care services for dependents, such as children or elderly parents.

This form consists of several parts, including personal information about the military member, information about the dependent(s) requiring care, and details about the proposed caregiver. Some important fields include the type of care needed, the duration of care, the caregiver's qualifications, and the military member's contact information.

The parties involved in completing this form are the military member seeking family care certification and their proposed caregiver. It is important to consider that the caregiver must meet certain qualifications and pass a background check before being authorized to provide care.

When filling out the AF 357 form, data such as the military member's name, rank, and duty station, as well as information about the dependent(s) and proposed caregiver, will be required. Additionally, supporting documents, such as proof of the caregiver's qualifications and background check results, may need to be attached.

Application examples of this form may include military members who are deploying or attending training and require someone to care for their dependents during their absence.

Strengths of this form include ensuring that qualified and trustworthy individuals are providing care for military dependents, while weaknesses may include potential delays in authorization due to background checks and qualification verification.

There do not appear to be any direct opportunities or threats related to the form itself, but there may be implications for military readiness if adequate family care options are not available.

Alternative forms that may be used instead of AF 357 include state-specific family care provider application forms, but these may not satisfy requirements specific to the USAF.

Completing the AF 357 form can affect the future of both the military member and their dependents by providing peace of mind that qualified caregivers are available when needed.

Once completed, the form is typically submitted through the military member's chain of command and stored in their personnel record.