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The American Red Cross is uniquely equipped to provide an exclusive worldwide communications and support network that serves as a lifeline between military service members and their families. For the American soldier and his or her family, the Red Cross is the connection to home, relaying urgent information - a family crisis, a death in the family, a financial emergency, or a joyous birth. The Red Cross is available to assist service members and their families 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
If you have a military emergency, call (805) 543-0696 ext. 15 Monday - Thursday, 9 am to 5 pm. Other hours call 1-800-951-5600.
Please have the following information ready when you call:
1) Service members name; First, Last and middle initial
2) Branch of service
3) Social Security Number
4) Rank
5) Date of birth
6) Complete military address
Be prepared! Ask your service member to provide this information before an emergency happens.
Emergency Communication:
The Red Cross keeps military personnel in touch with their families following the death or serious illness of a family member or the birth of a child or in response to other family emergencies. Red Cross emergency messages provide military personnel and their commanders with fast, reliable information to help them make decisions regarding emergency leave, deferment, compassionate reassignment, and dependency discharge.
Health and Welfare Inquiries
Regular communication between service members and their families is ordinarily no problem, but sometimes a long time with no word can become worrisome. The Red Cross can help. Through our worldwide communications network, we can communicate with the installation or ship wherever the service person is stationed. In addition, service members can request the same service related to families back home.
Information, Referral and Advocacy
A variety of health and supportive services are available from military and other sources. The Red Cross is available to help explain government benefits, identify resources and get the help needed.
Emergency Financial Assistance
When an emergency arises that requires the presence of the service member or his or her family, the Red Cross may provide access to financial assistance, either as an interest-free loan or as a grant for travel expenses. Financial assistance is provided to service members who have a demonstrated need for funds for such things as emergency travel, burial assistance, or urgent health and welfare needs such as food and shelter. These funds are made available by the military aid societies. Referrals to specialized sources of help are also available to service members and their families.
Counseling
The Red Cross offers counseling, information, referrals, and other social services to military families. Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Services workers are neutral personnel to whom military persons or family members can go for confidential problem solving.
Humanitarian Reassignment and Hardship Discharge
If a hardship exists within your immediate family that cannot be resolved by an emergency leave, the Red Cross can counsel the family or service member on how to request either a humanitarian reassignment closer to home or a hardship discharge. We'll help you understand the procedures and documentation needed. Final decisions on these applications are made by military authorities.
Volunteer
If you interested in volunteer opportunities for this program, call the chapter at (805) 543-0696 ext 17.
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