MILITARY FAMILIES
Armed Forces Emergency Services New England Center

24 Hour Phone Line: 1-888-737-4306

American Red Cross emergency communications 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, and aid in the field where Red Cross workers are deployed to serve with America's military.

Emergency Communications Services

American Red Cross communication services keep military personnel in touch with their families following the death or serious illness of an immediate 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.

Active duty service members stationed in the United States, and their immediate family members, can call the Armed Forces Emergency Service Center for help seven days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The toll-free telephone number is 1-888-737-4306.

The American Red Cross also provides 24-hour emergency communication services to military personnel overseas. Red Cross Armed Forces workers are also sent to areas of conflict when military personnel are deployed. 

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 / Stationed

Emergency Financial Assistance Through Military Aid Societies

The Red Cross can 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 is a demonstrated need for funds for emergency travel, burial assistance or urgent health and welfare needs such as food and shelter.

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. 

Counseling is becoming increasingly important as the number of members of the National Guard and Reserve swells. 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. American Red Cross counseling services are available to all military personnel. 

If a hardship exists within a service member's immediate family that cannot be resolved by emergency leave, the Red Cross can counsel the family or service member about requesting a humanitarian reassignment (closer to home) or a hardship discharge. The Red Cross helps the service member understand the procedures and documentation needed. Final decisions on these applications are made by military authorities. 

Reserve, National Guard and Other Community-Based Military Personnel

Members of the U. S. Armed Forces don't have to be 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 retirees and to their families. 


Get To Know Us Before You Need Us

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. The Get to Know Us Before You Need Us: Serving the Community-Based Military and Their Families pamphlet can be obtained from your local Red Cross by calling 1-888-737-4306.