Service to the Armed Forces

 

Active Duty Military Personnel

Members of the U. S. Armed Forces don't have to be actively deployed to benefit from American Red Cross support. The Red Cross provides services to 1.4 million active duty military members and their families. Our services are available to all branches of the military. The American Red Cross wants members of the military to get to know us before you need us. All too often, service members don't know about available Red Cross services until they are mobilized. Knowing in advance that communication links, access to financial assistance and counseling will be available in an emergency brings peace of mind to the military members and to the families from whom they are separated. Similarly, knowing that Red Cross services are available to service members and their families provides a safety net in times of need.

Red Cross services include:

• Emergency communication

• Access to emergency financial assistance

• Counseling

• Veterans services

• Information and referral provided by Armed Forces Emergency Services.

How to access Red Cross services

• Active duty service members stationed in the United States and family members residing in the service member's household (example: service member's spouse) should contact Armed Forces Emergency Service Centers for information and assistance 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The toll-free telephone number may be obtained from military installation operators, from local on-base Red Cross offices and from the local Red Cross chapter.

• All family members who do not reside in the service member's household, regardless of where the service member is assigned — at a local military installation or another geographical location — should contact their local American Red Cross chapter for assistance. Red Cross chapters are listed in local telephone directories and online at www.redcross.org, under "Find Your Local Red Cross."

• Active duty service members on overseas military installations may access Red Cross reporting and communication assistance by contacting base/installation operators for the listing of the on-base Red Cross office or information on how to access Red Cross assistance if there is not a representative on the local installation.

• Families living overseas may access assistance through the local on-base Red Cross office or through the base/installation operator for information if there is not a Red Cross representative on the local installation.

• In overseas deployment areas, service members should contact the American Red Cross office responsible for their jurisdiction/installation.

Publications

Get to Know Us Before You Need Us: Serving Military Families Worldwide (ARC 2081, Rev. Dec. 1997) provides an explanation of American Red Cross services for active duty military members and their families. You may request the booklet from us.

U.S. Air Force U.S. Army U.S. Coast Guard U.S. Marine Corps U.S. Navy is a publication especially for military personnel returning home to their families after a lengthy deployment. The guide has suggestions for making the transition smoother for the entire family. You may request the booklet from us.