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ASSISTANCE FOR SERVICE MEMBERS & THEIR FAMILIES

During the past three years, thousands of Minnesota active duty, Reserve, and National Guard personnel have been deployed across the country and around the world. Many have been separated from their homes, families, and jobs for extended and often indefinite periods of time. Their families and employers share the hardships of those separations. Yet, our Minnesota service members answer the call to duty bravely and willingly---proud to serve. We, as a grateful nation, must never forget their sacrifices, both in peacetime and in war.

This page offers helpful links for service members and their families, along with suggestions for how we can express appreciation for our military's contributions in patriotically defending our nation.

Defend America - Support Our Troops is the official Defense Department web page which lists organizations that sponsor programs for members of the armed forces overseas.

The Army Family Page provides links to resources that help soldiers and families to be self-reliant while deployed or at home, including:

  • Family Assistance
  • Emergency Relief
  • Army Family Action Plan
  • Army Family Liaison Office
  • Retirement Services
  • Youth Services
  • Guard/Reserve Readiness

The Fleet and Family Support Center offers support to sailors and families, including:

  • Crisis Response
  • Deployment Readiness
  • Employment
  • Contingency Plans for Managing Sudden Separations, Crisis Reaction in Children

Marine Corps Community Services Page provides support to Marines and their families, including:

  • Family Readiness
  • Personal Services
  • Children and Youth
  • Support - Finance, Human Resources

Air Force Family Support Operations provides links to a variety of resources, including:

  • Family Readiness
  • Transition & Relocation Assistance
  • Career Focus
  • Personal Finance Management

National Guard Family Program Online Community contains information regarding resources for members of the Minnesota National Guard and their families, including:

  • Community Resources
  • Medical
  • Education
  • Financial & Legal
  • Youth
  • Deployment Information

Family Readiness Page provides links to members of the Reserves and their families to better prepare them for short and long deployments, including:

  • Readiness Tool kit
  • Benefits Information - including Health and Dental
  • Legal Services
  • Emergency Services

The USO Website gives information on how to support our troops during the holiday season.

Information on the Central Command Rest & Recuperation (R&R) Leave Program, along with information on retroactive reimbursement, can be found at this link.

There are numerous other ways in which we can show our support for Minnesotans serving our country overseas. While my office does not endorse any specific group or organization, here are several options:

Donate unused frequent flyer miles to our troops stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan by giving to Operation Hero Miles