American Red Cross

American Red Cross — Foundation, Eligibility, Emergency Communication

Who the ARC Serves

ARC Free 24/7/365

The American Red Cross offers unwavering commitment, free of charge, 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, to members of the U.S. Armed Forces, veterans, and their families.

Eligible Service Members

ARC Eligible Members

ARC services include:

RegAF
National Guard
Reservists
Reserve Officer Training Corps
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
U.S. Coast Guard
U.S. Public Health Service

What ARC Support Provides

ARC Support Functions

Red Cross support enhances morale and contributes to increased operational capability by:

Linking military families during an emergency
Connecting families with local community resources
Providing resiliency training
Supporting wounded warriors and military hospitals
Non-Federal entity program, service, or award

Contact Information

ARC US Toll-Free

The Red Cross toll-free number for service members and families in the United States is:

- 1-800-733-2767

Overseas Contact

ARC Overseas Contact

Military members and family members overseas may call:

Base or installation operators
The American Red Cross office at the overseas location

Information for Expedient Service

Expedient Service Info

For the American Red Cross to provide expedient service, provide as much of the following information available as possible:

Full name
Rank/rating
Branch of service
Social security number or date of birth
Military address
Information about the deployed unit and home base unit (for deployed service members only)

ARC Website

https://www.redcross.org/

Emergency Communication Services

Emergency Communication

When a military family experiences a crisis, the American Red Cross is there to assist by providing emergency communications.

Message Standards

Verified Messages

The Red Cross relays urgent messages containing:

Accurate
Factual
Complete
Verified descriptions of the emergency

Where Messages Reach

Message Reach

To service members stationed anywhere in the world, including:

Ships at sea
Embassies
Remote locations

Decision Support

Decision Support for Cmdrs

Red Cross-verified information assists commanders in making decisions regarding emergency leave.

American Red Cross — Financial Assistance, Coping, Reconnection, Veterans Claims, Info Referral

Financial Assistance

ARC Partnership Agreements

The American Red Cross works under partnership agreements with:

Air Force Aid Society
Army Emergency Relief
Coast Guard Mutual Assistance
Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society

…to provide quality, reliable financial assistance to eligible applicants.

Types of Financial Assistance

Financial Assistance Types

Types of assistance include financial assistance for:

Emergency travel
Burial of a loved one
Assistance to avoid privation or hardship

Coping with Deployments

Psychological First Aid Course

The psychological first aid course was designed specifically for:

Spouses
Parents
Siblings
Significant others of service members

What Course Provides

Psych First Aid Function

This Red Cross service provides useful information on how to strengthen the ability to successfully respond to challenges that military family members may encounter throughout the deployment cycle.

Course Reciprocal Function

The course also explains how to provide psychological first aid to others experiencing stressful feelings or events.

Reconnection Workshops

Reconnection Workshops Definition

The reconnection workshops are designed for reintegration support for working through:

Anger
Communicating clearly
Exploring stress and trauma
Relating to children
Identifying depression

Workshop Focus

Reconnection Workshop Focus

The workshops focus on individuals and small groups to help family members reconnect and help service members reintegrate successfully.

Workshop Leadership

Workshop Leaders

Led by licensed, specifically trained Red Cross mental health workers, each session addresses a topic military family have found relevant to the reunion adjustment.

Veterans Claims for Benefits

Veterans Claims Assistance

The American Red Cross provides assistance and information in:

Preparing
Developing
Obtaining sufficient evidence

…to support applicants' claims for veterans' benefits.

Appeals Assistance

Veterans Appeals Assistance

ARC also assists claimants who seek to appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

Information and Referral Services

Confidential Services

The American Red Cross offers confidential services to all military personnel and their families.

Services Available

Info Referral Services

Available services:

Counseling
Guidance
Information
Referrals
Other social services

How Available

Info Referral Network

Available through the worldwide network of:

Chapters
Offices on military installations

Reserve/Guard Importance

Reserve/Guard Counseling Importance

As more and more National Guard and Reserve units are called to full-time duty status, counseling has become increasingly important to prepare the civilian-based military members and their families for the period of activation.