Services to the Armed Forces

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Support our U.S. troops

American Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces can be traced back to the Civil War when Clara Barton tended wounded soldiers on the battlefield. Today the Red Cross continues its service supporting 1.4 million active duty personnel and their immediate family members. The Red Cross also reaches out to the more than 1.2 million members of the National Guard/Reserves and their immediate family members who reside in nearly every community in America. In support of military families, the Red Cross:

• Handles emergency communication services. The Red Cross is a lifeline to members of the U.S. Armed Forces, sending communications all over the world on behalf of family members facing emergencies or other important events. The Red Cross provides this service quickly through a network of chapters, communication centers and staff members serving on military installations and major deployment sites worldwide. This network links military personnel any place in the world including ships at sea, embassies and isolated military units with their loved ones. The information in the message assists the command to make an informed decision regarding emergency leave.
  
• Reaches out to members of the National Guard/Reserves. Today’s military families—active duty, National Guard, or Reserve—are spread across the United States and throughout the world. Many live far from military installations and the support services they offer—but few are far from a Red Cross chapter. With expertise in helping families during emergencies, the Red Cross is uniquely positioned to address the unmet needs of today’s military service members and their families. Through the “Get to Know Us” Program offered at Military Entrance and Processing Stations and chapters, service members learn that they or their family can call the Red Cross day or night for help.
  
• Provides social services, which, in partnership with the military aid societies, include facilitating access to financial assistance for food, temporary housing, emergency travel and medical care. The Red Cross also provides compassionate counseling and family support. In addition, when needed, we can assist in representation at the Board of Veterans Appeals.
  
• Deploys staff members overseas along with service members to handle emergency communication messages. Red Cross volunteers and employees offer respite from harsh conditions and bring a little bit of home to the troops by operating a 24-hour canteen service with coffee, cold drinks, snacks, games, videos and books. Red Cross teams also visit patients in clinics and hospitals.
  
• Conducts family support groups at participating Red Cross chapters and offices on military installations. Here family members can be with others who are also learning to cope with separation and about community resources that can help them. • Place registered volunteers to assist in 145 VA medical facilities across the nation.