Today's American Red Cross is keeping pace with the changing military. Featuring the latest in computer and telecommunications technology, the American Red Cross Emergency Service Center delivers around-the-clock emergency communication services to active duty military personnel, and to their families.
While serving 1.4 million active duty personnel, the Red Cross Get To Know Us Before You Need Us campaign reaches out to an additional 1.5 million members of the National Guard and the Reserves living in almost every neighborhood in America.
American Red Cross Emergency Services are available to all members of the armed services, and to their families. Both active duty and community-based military can count on the Red Cross to provide emergency communications, emergency financial assistance, counseling, veterans assistance and aid in the field where Red Cross workers are deployed to serve with America's military.
HOW THE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED
Volunteers and paid staff of the American Red Cross form a vast and unique network of service that provides help 24 hours a day for the Armed Forces. With the use of modern technology, staff at our Armed Forces Emergency Service centers can efficently provide time-sensitive services. This includes service at military installations and military hospitals, both in the United States and overseas. Services are also provided at over 1,200 Red Cross chapters in communities across the nation. We rely on thousands of trained Red Cross volunteers to play a major role throughout our network by providing assistance to military familes.
WHAT THE SERVICES ARE
Emergency Communications Services
 
American Red Cross communication services keep military personnel in touch with their families ollowing the death or serious illness of a family member, the birth of a child or in other family emergencies. The Red Cross sends messages quickly, anywhere in the world, including ships at sea, embassies and isolated military units. In 1999 the American Red Cross provided emergency communication services to more than 475,000 military personnel and their families.
Emergency Financial Assistance
The Red Cross may provide access to financial assistance, either as an interest-free loan or as a grant, for travel expenses when a personal or family crisis arises which requires the presence of the service member or his or her family. Access to financial assistance may also be provided when there s a demonstrated need for funds for emergency travel, burial assistance or urgent health and welfare needs such as food and shelter. In 1999 the American Red Cross, in partnership with the military aid societies, helped 12,781 military families obtain more than $9.3 million in assistance.
Counseling
Military life comes with its own set of challenges. The American Red Cross offers confidential services to active duty, National Guard and Reserve personnel, and to members of their families. Counseling, guidance, information, referrals and other social services are available through our worldwide network of offices, located on military installations and in civilian communities.
Services for Veterans
The American Red Cross provides assistance and information to veterans about the Department of Veterans Affairs. Red Cross workers assist veterans in the preparation, development and effort to obtain evidence to support a claim for financial benefits through the Board of Veterans Appeals.
Reserve, National Guard and Other Community-Based Military Personnel
Members of the U. S. Armed Forces don't have to be actively deployed to benefit from American Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Services. The Red Cross provides services to more than 1.5 million members of the Reserves and National Guard when they are living in their local communities and when they are mobilized. American Red Cross services are also available to members of the Reserve Officers Training Corps, Recruiters, U.S. Coast Guard, Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, retirees and to their families.
When calling the Red Cross to send an emergency message to a family member, please have the following information ready:
Service Member's Full Name
Rank/Rating
Branch of Service
Social Security Number
Military Address Where Deployed
Home Base Unit
Call (740) 452-2731 M-F 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
All other times call our toll-free after hours number 1-800-696-3873
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