With the American Red Cross,                   
you're never out of touch.

Members of the U.S. Armed Forces don't have to be deployed or even on active duty to benefit from a relationship with the American Red Cross. You're an integral part of the military family. And you-or your family-may need us someday. As a community-based military man or woman, you and your family can receive the same valuable Red Cross emergency services as full-time active duty military personnel. We offer emergency communications and other services when you need them most. With the American Red Cross, you're never out of touch. Please, get to know us before you need us by contacting your local American Red Cross chapter or the Red Cross office on your military installation.

International Tracing Services

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 sends messages quickly, anywhere in the world, including ships at sea, embassies and to isolated military units. The information or verification in a message assists the service member's commanding officer in making a decision regarding emergency leave.

Contacting the Red Cross to Send an Emergency Message

Active duty service members stationed in the United States and their immediate family members can call the Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Service Centers for help seven days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  Call 570-742-9551

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, please have ready the following information which will speed the process of sending your message:

• Service Member's Full Name
• Branch of Service
• Social Security Number
• Military Address
• Information about the deployed unit and the home base unit
(for deployed service members only)

Emergency Financial Assistance
The Red Cross works with the military aid societies (Army Emergency Relief, Navy Marine Corps Relief Society, Air Force Aid Society and the Coast Guard Mutual Assistance). This partnership helps to provide financial assistance for emergency travel which requires the presence of the service member or his or her family, burial of a loved one, or with assistance that cannot wait until the next business day (food, temporary lodging, urgent medical needs, or the minimum amount required to avoid eviction, utility shut off, etc.). Active duty service members stationed in the United States and their immediate family members can call the Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Service Centers for help seven 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.
Members of the National Guard and Reserves and retirees may access assistance through their local Red Cross chapter. Red Cross chapters are listed in local telephone books and on the American Red Cross Web site at http://www.redcross.org/where/where.html.
On overseas military installations, military personnel may access assistance through their local on-base Red Cross office.
In overseas deployment areas, contact the American Red Cross staff who are working directly with America's military to provide Red Cross services.