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.

The American Red Cross wants members of the National Guard, Reserves and other community-based military personnel to Get to Know Us Before You Need Us. All too often, members of the Reserves and National Guard 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 and to the families from which they are separated. Similarly, knowing that Red Cross services are available to inactive service members and their family members provides a safety net in times of need.

Call (401) 831-7700 or TOLL FREE 1-800-842-1122 and ask for The Get to Know Us Before You Need Us: Serving the Community-Based Military and Their Families pamphlet (ARC 1129).

Red Cross services for inactive and active members of the Reserves and National Guard include:

- Emergency Communication

- Access to Emergency Financial Assistance 

- Counseling

- Veterans Services

- Information and Referral Provided by Armed Forces Emergency Services

For help during inactive duty, members of the National Guard and Reserves and their families should contact the American Red Cross of Rhode Island at (401) 831-7700

When on active duty, members of the Reserves and National Guard can get Red Cross help by contacting base/installation operators, local on-base Red Cross stations and Red Cross workers deployed with America's military in the field.

If the Reservist is away from home due to military duty and the family needs to get in touch with him or her during an emergency, consult the American Red Cross publication entitled "How To Utilize The American Red Cross During Family Emergencies While A National Guard Or Reserve Member Is Absent." DOWNLOAD NOW

EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION

Emergency Communications Services

American Red Cross communication services keep military personnel in touch with their families following the death or serious illness of a family member or other important events, such as the birth of a child. The Red Cross sends messages quickly, anywhere in the world, including ships at sea, embassies and to isolated military units. The information or verification in a message assists the service member's commanding officer in making a decision regarding emergency leave.

Contacting the Red Cross to Send an Emergency Message

- Active duty service members stationed in the United States and their immediate family members can call the Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Service Centers for help seven days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The toll-free telephone number is available through base or installation operators and from local on-base Red Cross offices.

- Other family members who do not reside in the service members' household, members of the National Guard and Reserves, retirees and civilians may access Red Cross services through their local Red Cross chapter. Contact the American Red Cross of Rhode Island at (401) 831-7700.

- Overseas personnel stationed on military installations should call base or installation operators or the on-base Red Cross offices.

At overseas deployment sites, contact the American Red Cross deployed staff.

When calling the Red Cross to send an emergency message to a family member, please have ready the following information which will speed the process of sending your message:

- Service Member's Full Name

- Rank/Rating

- Branch of Service

- Social Security Number

- Military Address

- Information about the deployed unit and the home base unit (for deployed service members only) 

EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

The Red Cross works with the military aid societies (Army Emergency Relief, Navy Marine Corps Relief Society, Air Force Aid Society and the Coast Guard Mutual Assistance). This partnership helps to provide financial assistance for emergency travel which requires the presence of the service member or his or her family, burial of a loved one, or with assistance that cannot wait until the next business day (food, temporary lodging, urgent medical needs, or the minimum amount required to avoid eviction, utility shut off, etc.).

In 2001, the American Red Cross, in partnership with the military aid societies, provided $3,252,496.80 in emergency financial aid to 3,786 service members, their families, retired military personnel and widows of retired military personnel.

In 2002, the Red Cross administered a new assistance program that National Guard and Reserve troops could tap when no other financial resources were available.

How to obtain emergency financial assistance:

- Active duty service members stationed in the United States and their immediate family members can call the Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Service Centers for help seven days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The toll-free telephone number is available through base or installation operators and from local on-base Red Cross offices.

- Members of the National Guard and Reserves and retirees may access assistance through their local Red Cross chapter. Contact the American Red Cross of Rhode Island at (401) 831-7700 or TOLL FREE 1-800-842-1122.

- On overseas military installations, military personnel may access assistance through their local on-base Red Cross office.

- In overseas deployment areas, contact the American Red Cross staff who are working directly with America's military to provide Red Cross services. 

COUNSELING

The American Red Cross offers confidential services to all military personnel and their families -- active duty, National Guard and Reserves. Counseling, guidance, information, referrals and other social services are available through our worldwide network of chapters and offices on military installations. Contact the American Red Cross of Rhode Island at (401) 831-7700 or TOLL FREE 1-800-842-1122 for more information.

As more and more National Guard and Reserve units are called to full time duty status, counseling is becoming increasingly important to prepare the Guardsman and Reservists and their family members for the period of activation. Because members of the National Guard and Reserve typically live in civilian neighborhoods, they and their families frequently have difficulty accessing much-needed, military-related social services.

SERVICES FOR VETERANS

For further information and assistance, veterans and their families should contact the American Red Cross of Rhode Island at (401) 831-7700 or TOLL FREE 1-800-842-1122.

Read more about Red Cross services to veterans in the American Red Cross publication entitled "America's Veterans Honored Daily by Red Cross Services." DOWNLOAD NOW