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Armed Forces Emergency Services

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In case of a military emergency, contact our office at 501-329-3571. For after hours assistance call pager 501-450-1035.

 

2003 edition of Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependants

 

Military Members and their Families  

Services available through Red Cross

 

"Help Our Troops Call Home"
The Red Cross has partnered with the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) to offer Americans a way to support our troops serving in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

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"Gifts from the Homefront"

The program allows service members to purchase convenience items as well as necessities at PX and BX facilities around the world.

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Operation Dear Abby
Provides a private and secure online resource that will allow people to send a sailor, marine, soldier, airman, or coast guardsman a holiday greeting or message of support.

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Operation Hero Miles is another way the public can support deployed service members that are coming home on R&R leave.  Anyone who has unused frequent flyer miles on Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air, Delta Airlines or Southwest can donate their miles to assist service members.

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The U.S. Small Business Administration has established the Military Reserveist Economic Injury Disaster Loan (MREIDL) Program.  This program provides funds to eligible small businesses to meet its ordinary and necessary operation expenses when problems occur due to an essential employee being called up to active duty.

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The Fallen Patriot Fund of the Mark Cuban Foundation was established to assist families of U.S. military personnel who where killed or seriously injured during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

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Nextel will help inform the public about the vital services the Red Cross provides to military families to help them stay connected. Nextel urges the public to bring in their old wireless phones (regardless of manufacturer, make or model) to be retired, recycled and turned into funds for the Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Services. Consumers may also make cash donations directly to Armed Forces Emergency Services (AFES) at the registers at any of its 500 plus retail stores nationwide. Visit www.nextel.com to find the store nearest you.

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www.lifelines.usmc.mil

www.militaryonesource.com

National Guard Family Program Online Community

www.Millitary.com

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And Remember......Support Families at Home
Support our military families at home, help ease the strain of long separation.

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Around the clock and around the globe,
During times of personal crisis,
We keep the American people
In touch with their family members Serving in the United States Military.

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May 8-15, 2002. Camp Doha, Kuwait. Marilyn Smith leads the American Red Cross AFES staff in Kuwait. They monitor incoming emergency messages for soldiers from their families in the U.S. 24 hours a day. Smith and her two-person staff oversee messages for thousands of U.S. service members and other U.S. citizens serving throughout the Middle East. When the situation is dire, one of the three must track down and deliver the message to the soldier, and then provide the verification necessary to allow emergency leave. Often the process of finding the soldier who may be training in a remote desert location is the most difficult. Your local Red Cross provides emergency-related communications to members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families. Trained caseworkers are available 24-hours per day for around-the-world emergency communications between the men and women of our armed forces and their families during times of personal crisis. Communications may consist of:

                            A birth announcement

                                    Serious illness of an immediate family member

                                                                     The death of a family memberMay 8-15, 2002. In the middle of the Kuwaiti desert, 10 miles from the Iraqui border, U.S. service members train at a desolate kabal, the Arabic word for fortress. Red Cross workers from Camp Doha visit the tent cities once a week, bringing soap and shampoo, razors, toothbrushes, toothpaste, hard candy (chocolate doesnıt survive in the 100-degree heat) and, most popular, newspapers, magazines and games. Here, Red Cross worker Ward Miller chats with soldiers as they look through the dayıs treats.

Many times, the family member that is on active duty may need to come home to attend to family business due to the event. Caseworkers gather the necessary information and communicate the message through appropriate channels to the member of the armed forces. Emergency communications are provided free of charge. Please call your local chapter for emergencies.