Services to the Armed Forces

Emergency Help Now

The American Red Cross provides worldwide 24-hour communications services that keep military personnel and their families in touch during an emergency or other important event. Using the latest technology, the Red Cross delivers urgent messages, and we also provide help in coordinating hardship leave, accessing financial assistance, information referral, and counseling.

Your Red Cross Continues a 125-Year Tradition Serving Those Who Serve

For more than a century, the American Red Cross has provided services to members of the United States military and their families—a tradition started by the organization's founder Clara Barton during the Civil War.

Barton recognized the need to provide care and assistance to soldiers amid the confusion of war, bringing them food, clothing and other supplies. Reading to soldiers and writing to their families to inform them of their loved one’s status, Barton was nicknamed “Angel of the Battlefield.” Several years later, in 1881, she founded the American Red Cross, which honors and serves our armed forces and their loved ones in times of war and peace.

Today, at military installations across the country and throughout the world, Red Cross workers remain dedicated to providing core programs and services to the military community while local Red Cross chapters service the needs of military family members.

Service to the Armed Forces

You’re never out of touch.

Around the clock.

Around the world.

24 Hour Local Service Center

Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces 757-440-1111

24 Hour Nationwide Service Center

Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces 877-272-7337

Emergency Communications

It’s a fact of military life: military families are frequently separated. When a death, serious illness, birth of a child or another critical event makes communication with a family member in the Armed Forces urgent, the Red Cross can help get an emergency message to them. Through the Red Cross network, verified information is communicated to service members and military authorities in an expedient and confidential manner. A Red Cross message also helps military authorities with information they need to make emergency leave decisions.

Information Needed to Send Red Cross Messages

In order to initiate a Red Cross message, the caller should have as much of the following information as possible:

Service member’s name, rank/rate, social security number, and military command (to include APO/FPO if applicable).

Nature of emergency.

Name of individual who is sick, etc. Relationship of that individual to service member.

Name of hospital, funeral home, etc. where the situation can be verified. Telephone number for verification source if available.

If outside the local vicinity, name and phone number of a point of contact in the area where the emergency has occurred.

Other Services for the Armed Forces

Counseling

Limited personal and family counseling is available and appropriate referrals are provided for crisis situations.

Disaster Relief & Preparedness Education

Disaster relief assistance is available to include help when a residential fire occurs. A variety of disaster education materials and classes are available to better prepare for emergencies that may occur in our coastal area.

Financial Aid

Whenever an emergency arises that requires the presence of a service member or family member, the Red Cross may provide access to an interest free loan or grant for travel expenses. These funds are made available by the military aid societies. Based on need, funds may be authorized for other emergencies as well. Referrals to specialized sources of help are also available.

Humanitarian Reassignment or Hardship Discharge

When hardship within the immediate family cannot be alleviated by emergency leave, the Red Cross can help to counsel the family or service member on procedures and documentation needed for either reassignment closer to home or a hardship discharge. Final decisions on those matters are made by military authorities.

Contacting the Red Cross

Active duty service members stationed in the United States and their immediate family members can call our Armed Forces Emergency Service Centers for help seven days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Our toll-free telephone number: 1-877-272-7337.

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. See reverse side for a full listing of contacts for Red Cross chapters in our area. Red Cross chapters are also listed in local phonebooks and on the Red Cross Web site at www.redcross.org

Overseas personnel stationed on military installations should call base or installation operators for the on-base Red Cross offices. At overseas deployment sites, contact the American Red Cross deployed staff.