Serving the Community-Based Military and Their Families

            The American Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Services (AFES) helps community-based military members and their families cope with separation and other special needs related to service in the armed forces.

We'll help you to:

Stay in touch with loved ones.

Our worldwide emergency communications network operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  We can help you send emergency messages regarding the death or serious illness of a family member, the birth of a child, or other family emergencies.

Get verification of emergency leave information.

We can provide you and your commander with fast, reliable information to help make decisions regarding emergency leaves, deferments, compassionate reassignments, and dependency discharges.

Secure emergency financial assistance.

We can collaborate with the military aid societies in providing financial assistance when an urgent personal or family crisis arises - that is, when you might need financial assistance for emergency travel, burial of a loved one, or urgent health and welfare needs such as food and shelter.

Obtain counseling, information, referrals, and other social needs.

In addition to having Red Cross workers available to you for confidential problem solving, as a community-based military member you are also entitled to a variety of health and supportive services from military and other sources.  The Red Cross can help you understand government benefits.

Receive veterans services to which you are entitled.

The Red Cross represents veterans and their families who seek compensation awards from the Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA). Red Cross volunteers also serve hospitalized veterans at VA medical centers.

With disaster assistance, health and safety and HIV/AIDS education, and volunteer opportunities.

The Red Cross provides assistance in times of disaster as well as offers you and your family health and safety training and volunteer opportunities.

Get to know us before you need us by contacting any of our nearly 1,300 offices in chapters or on military installations all over the world.

If you are in our community (Davie, Forsyth, Stokes and Yadkin Counties), please call 1-800-696-3873 and try to have this information posted conveniently in case of an emergency:

• 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)