If you or a loved one is in the armed services

[dsmith]

and have dealt with bringing a service member home for a family emergency, can you please pm me for some advice/reassurance?

[TXMomof4]

Call the Red Cross - they'll go through the command to get to your loved one and get them the message.

[TXMomof4]

How to Contact the Red Cross for Assistance

Call (877) 272-7337 (toll-free within the continental United States) if you are:

An Active Duty service member stationed in the United States or overseas, or a family member residing with them,

• A family member of an active duty service member who does not reside in the service member’s household,
  
• A Department of Defense Civilian assigned overseas and family members residing with them,
  
• A member of the National Guard or Reserves,
  
• A recruiter, MEPS military personnel,
  
• A Veteran
  

When calling the Red Cross, please provide as much of the following information about the service member as is known:

• Full name
  
• Rank/rating
  
• Branch of service (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard or DoD Civilian or contractor)
  
• Social Security Account number
  
• Date of Birth
  
• Military address
  
• For deployed service members only: Information about the deployed unit and home base unit
  

[Mrs Mungo]

Just to clarify, Red Cross notification isn't necessary for emergency leave, but some commanders want that verification (especially of the have reason to doubt the soldier). http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=40741

 

It is a commander's program, and it will depend upon a soldier's job, the optempo, etc.

[Tammyla]

:grouphug:

[HSMWB]

In addition to the Red Cross - I would also let the FRG/Family person know what is going on as well. Even though it is not an 'official' channel, depending on the relationship between the FRG and the command it could be an even faster

 

(((Hugs))) for whatever is going going on

[In The Great White North]

The last time we did this, the Red Cross had to be contacted by the dr, not the family member.

 

And it can take a day (or two if they are remote enough) and another day (or two or three) to actually get them home, so don't let the dr/Red Cross wait til the last minute.

 

It helps to give the dr/Red Cross the commander's name. phone number, unit, and email. It needs to be the unit commander that signs leave paperwork.

 

All of my commanders wanted/required Red Cross notification.