SERVICE TO THE ARMED FORCES (SAF)
The American Red Cross provides round-the-clock emergency communications
between family members and service members. The Red Cross verifies
information in order for the military to grant emergency leave when needed.
In cases where there are financial needs, assistance is provided in the form of
grants or loans for the service member or family members. SAF is
available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. A caseworker is always on duty to
respond to a military case. Additionally, the Red Cross provides
counseling, if needed, for the service person or family. SAF is a
congressionally-chartered and mandated service of the Red Cross.
If you or your family has an emergency, and need to contact a service person
anywhere in the world, call (, 24-hours a day, or contact
your local chapter. You do not have to call the Red Cross chapter
where the service member lives. Call your local office and we will take
care of the rest.
When calling the Red Cross, it is helpful to have as much of the following
information as possible: Service member’s:
- Full Name
- Rank/Rating
- Branch of Service
- Social Security Number
- Military Address
- Information about the deployed unit and the home base unit (for
deployed service members only)
- Also, be ready to provide information about the emergency: doctor,
hospital, funeral home, etc.
Emergency Communications Services
American Red Cross communication services keep
military personnel in touch with their families
following the death or serious illness of a family
member or other important events, such as the birth of a
child. The Red Cross quickly sends these communications
on behalf of the family to members of the U.S. Armed
Forces serving anywhere in the world, including ships at
sea, embassies and isolated military units. The
information or verification in a message assists the
service member's commanding officer with making a
decision regarding emergency leave.
How to Contact the Red Cross to Send an Emergency
Message
- Active duty service members stationed in the
United States and their immediate family members may
call the Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Service
Centers for help 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, 365
days a year. The toll-free telephone number is
available through base or installation operators and
from local on-base Red Cross offices.
- 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, which is listed in local telephone
books and at
http://www.redcross.org/where/where.html.
- Overseas personnel stationed on military
installations should call base or installation
operators or the on-base Red Cross offices.
- At overseas deployment sites, contact the
American Red Cross deployed staff.
When calling the Red Cross to send an emergency
message to a family member, it is helpful to have the
following information:
Service member’s:
- Full Name
- Rank/Rating
- Branch of Service
- Social Security Number
- Military Address
- Information about the deployed unit and the home
base unit (for deployed service members only)
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Armed
Forces Emergency Services
