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Service to the Armed forces, Keeping Pace with the Changing MilitaryThe American Red Cross links members of the U.S. Armed Forces with their families during a crisis. Twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year, the Red Cross quickly sends emergency communications to deployed service members on behalf of their family. Military members can have peace of mind knowing that when they are on a mission, in training or stationed far from home-and leaving cell phones and emails behind-they are still connected to home. While providing service to 1.4 million active duty military personnel and their families, the Red Cross also reaches out to more than 1.2 million members of the National Guard and Reserves and their families living in nearly every community in America.
Red Cross workers in hundreds of chapters and on military installations briefed 974,573 departing service members and their families regarding available support services, and explained how the Red Cross may assist them during the deployment. Both active duty and community-based military can count on the Red Cross to provide emergency communications that link them with their families back home, access to financial assistance in partnership with the military aid societies, information and referral and assistance to veterans. Red Cross personnel form a global network in 700 U.S. chapters, military installations worldwide and in forward deployed locations in Kuwait, Afghanistan and Iraq. Emergency Communications ServicesWhen a military family experiences a crisis, the American Red Cross is there to help. Twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year, the Red Cross relays urgent messages containing accurate, factual, complete and verified descriptions of the emergency to service members stationed anywhere in the world, including on ships at sea and at embassies and remote locations. Red Cross emergency communications services keep military personnel in touch with their families following the death or serious illness of an immediate family member, the birth of a service member's child or grandchild or when a family faces other emergencies. Where ever their military service takes them, he or she knows that the Red Cross will deliver notification in times of an emergency at home. Even if the service member receives an e-mail or phone call from home, Red Cross-verified information assists commanding officers with making a decision regarding emergency leave. Without this verification, the service member may not be able to come home during a family crisis. How to Contact the Red Cross for Assistance Call (877) 272-7337 (toll-free) if you are an Active duty service member stationed in the United States, or a family member residing with them. Contact your local Red Cross chapter, which is listed in local telephone directory and at Your Local Red Cross, if you are: o Family members of active duty service members who do not reside in the service members' household, o Family members of Department of Defense Civilians assigned overseas o Members of the National Guard and Reserves, o Recruiters, MEPS military personnel o Veterans and o Civilians ,.
Call overseas base or installation operators or the Red Cross office at your location if you are: o Active-duty service members and family members residing with them or o Department of Defense civilians stationed overseas and family members residing with them. .
When calling the Red Cross, please provide as much of the following information about the service member as is known:
You Can HelpThe American Red Cross is not a government agency. We rely on the assistance of caring supporters to deliver our critical services. Your support enables the American Red Cross to provide services to members of the armed forces and their families and veterans. If you would like to make a financial donation to Services to the Armed Forces, you may do so by calling 1-800-RED CROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions may be sent to the American Red Cross, Services to the Armed Forces, P.O. Box 91820, Washington, DC 20090. Internet users may make a secure online contribution by visiting DONATE LINK.With thousands of volunteers serving in Red Cross chapters and on military installations our support doesn’t stop when service members return home. Our volunteers can be found in military and veterans hospitals throughout the country, working with patients, providing administrative assistance, working in pharmacies and physical rehabilitation centers, and providing hospitality and special event services. The Red Cross has expanded our work in military hospitals throughout the country to support the newly established Warrior Transition Units. These units help wounded service members as they return from battle with injuries that often require many surgeries, lengthy recovery periods and rehabilitation. In addition to volunteer time, we provided more than $100,000 in materials such as sweat suits, toiletry items and shoes, to help wounded veterans as they transition back home and cope with dramatically changed lives. Red Cross services also include transportation from medical facilities to home or base lodging, pet therapy programs or coordination of events to raise morale or welcome troops home. During fiscal year 2008 the Red Cross handled over 630,000 emergency communications services for military families worldwide. Financial assistance exceeding $5.8 million was provided to more than 5,000 uniformed service members, their families and veterans in partnership with the Military Aid Societies. Red Cross offices are listed on Your Local Red Cross. Local telephone books also list Red Cross chapters, and base or installation operations have listings for on-base Red Cross offices. Contact your local Red Cross today.
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