February 2011
When an emergency occurs and you need to get in touch with your military member quickly, it is possible no matter where they may be. While you can’t always pick up a phone and have instant access to him, it is always possible to get a message to him through the American Red Cross.
The Red Cross has been delivering messages to the military for many years. No matter how remote or inaccessible the information may appear to be, the Red Cross can help to facilitate the transfer of the information. When an emergency situation occurs that requires notification of the military member, a family member just needs to call the Red Cross with the appropriate information about the soldier. The Red Cross will then locate the soldier and deliver the message.
It is important to note that the Red Cross has no authority to authorize leave time or to allow the soldier to return home. This is strictly up to his command. The Red Cross simply verifies the information and then passes it along as necessary. For instance, if there has been a death in the family, the Red Cross will verify with the funeral home or other entities before informing the soldier.
If you need Red Cross assistance to deliver a message, you should call 877-272-7337. Be prepared to provide the following information:
- Full name
- Rank/rating
- Branch of service (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard)
- Social Security number or date of birth
- Military address
- Information about the deployed unit and home base unit (for deployed service members only)
The Red Cross will ensure that the message is verified and delivered to the service member in a timely manner. It is very important that you have as much information as possible when calling the Red Cross. The more information you can provide, the quicker they can locate your military member and deliver a verified message to him.
Even if you are able to contact your soldier yourself about an emergency, you may still need assistance from the Red Cross. The verification service is often relied on by the commanders of the unit in deciding whether the soldier should be granted leave to deal with the emergency situation. It is important that they are called as soon as you have the data so the process can be started. This service is always available to the military and their family members to deliver messages about emergencies, family crises or even the birth of a new family member.