"GIFTS FROM THE HOMEFRONT!"
Support your troops and lift
their spirits by sending them a special "Gifts From the Homefront" certificate.
It's a great way to support our deployed American men and women in the
military!
Resources for Troops, Reservists and Their Families
(from
http://deploymentlink.osd.mil/deploy/family/family_support.shtml)
Army Community and Family
Support Center. The Army Community & Family Support Center serves as the
headquarters for Army MWR (Morale, Welfare & Recreation).
Army Family Action Plan. The AFAP program seeks input regarding
critical issues that affect the well being of soldiers, Army families,
retirees, and DA civilians. All components are included–active duty, Army
National Guard, and Army Reserves. AFAP issues are solicited directly from Army
constituents through annual conferences convened at installations, major Army
commands, and HQDA. The results from AFAP conferences are reported to leaders
who ensure the issues are worked toward resolution.
Army Family Liaison Office. The AFLO serves as the Ombudsman for all Army
soldiers, civilians and families of active Army, the Guard, Reserves and
Retirees.
Army Family
Team Building. Army Family Team Building is a volunteer-led organization
which provides training and knowledge to spouses and family members to support
the total Army effort. AFTB's mission is to educate and train all of America's
Army in knowledge, skills, and behaviors designed to prepare our Army families
to move successfully into the future.
Navy
Fleet and
Family Support Division. The Fleet and Family Support Division provides
support to Sailors, families and communities by providing policy guidance,
field support, resources, and information services to people in need, their
business partners, the Chain of Command and their field activities. They
accomplish this through planning, oversight, advocacy, and research.
LIFELines. The
LIFELines Service Network provides online resources in areas such as deployment
readiness, family support, transition assistance and MWR.
Morale, Welfare, and
Recreation Headquarters. The Navy MWR administers a varied program of
recreation, social and community support activities on U.S. Navy facilities
worldwide. Their mission is to provide quality support and recreational
services that contribute to the retention, readiness and mental, physical, and
emotional well-being of sailors and their families.
Navy Family Ombudsman Program. This site is dedicated to support the
volunteers who comprise the Naval professional Ombudsman team. This includes
Ombudsmen, Ombudsman Assembly members and Naval Services Family Line staff.
Navy
Services FamilyLine. Naval Services FamilyLine is a volunteer, non-profit
organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for every sea service
family. This is achieved by answering questions from spouses about the military
lifestyle, referring spouses to organizations which may be able to assist them,
publishing and distributing free booklets and brochures which contain very
helpful information, and developing successful educational programs for the sea
service spouse.
Ombudsman Journal. This is the official journal of the Navy Ombudsman
Program. The Ombudsman Program is a highly trained volunteer force who is able
to offer support and guidance to Command families and to act as an official
liaison between the Command and its families.
Surface
Spouses. The Navy Surface Spouses provide a comprehensive resource for
sailors and their families enabling them to access information about the Navy
communities in which they reside or to which they may be relocating.
Air Force
Air Force
Crossroads. Crossroads is the official community website of the U.S.
Airforce. This site provides information on numerous topics including Air Force
installations, family separation and readiness, medical and dental, and
relocation.
USAF Combat
Support and Community Services. Air Force Services exists to provide combat
support to commanders directly in support of the Air Force mission. They also
provide community service programs that enhance the quality of life for Air
Force members and their families. These programs indirectly support the mission
by improving morale, productivity, and retention. They offer a full range of
military and community support programs at most major Air Force installations.
Marines
Marine
Corps Family Readiness Conference. Recognizing the family as one of the
"pillars of readiness," the U.S. Marine Corps held a Family Readiness
Conference at Marine Corps Base Quantico July 11-13 in Virginia. Family
members, Marine Corps leadership and support organizations from all over the
world came together to discuss the challenges of today's military lifestyle.
The conference highlighted the unique programs offered to Marines and their
families, as well as provided a forum for people to share ideas and suggestions
for improving those programs. The initiatives and changes discussed will be
brought forward to the Commandant and Marine Corps Community Services
leadership for consideration and implementation.
Marine Corps Community
Services. MCCS exists to serve Marines and their families wherever they are
stationed. MCCS programs and services provide for basic life needs, such as
food and clothing; social and recreational needs; and even prevention and
intervention programs to combat societal ills that inhibit positive development
and growth.
Marine Corps Family Team Building. This service provides educational
resources, services and a roadmap to the Marine Corps lifestyle to foster the
personal growth and enhance the readiness of Marine Corps families.
Coast Guard
Coast Guard Ombudsman. The Coast Guard Ombudsman is a Coast Guard spouse
who serves as a member of the Command, and functions as a liaison between
families and the Commanding Officer.
National Guard
Army National Guard Family Readiness Program. The mission of this program
is to: help bond Guard families together and promote a sense of comradeship;
relay vital information from the Director and the Family Readiness Program in
order to lessen the feeling of isolation and convey the Director's concerns for
the well being of Guard families; aid Guard families in better understanding
the mission of the ARNG; keep Guard families informed about activities
sponsored by the Director and /or the Family Readiness Program; and provide an
avenue for Guard families to share some of the common rewards, or tensions and
frustrations of military life.
National
Guard Bureau Family Support. In the aftermath of the Cold War, members of
the Guard and Reserve are being called to active duty to an unprecedented
extent. In recent years we have repeatedly called reservists to duty
involuntarily for missions in Bosnia, Kosovo and Southwest Asia. Contingency
operations like these have placed enormous strains on our servicemembers and
their families. This site provides information on the steps the NGB is taking
to enhance family support and readiness.
National Guard Bureau Year of the Family. In 2000 the NGB celebrated
the year of the family. During this time the National Guard took steps to
address issues impacting the Air National Guard and Army National Guard Family
Readiness Program.
National Guard & Reserve Family Readiness Strategic Plan. Prepared by the
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs and the Office
of Family Policy (within the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for
Personnel Support, Families and Education) this plan seeks to ensure that
reservists and their families are prepared to cope with the strains associated
with long or repeated deployments and are adequately served by military family
care systems, networks and organizations.
The National Guard
Family Program Community. The National Guard Family Program helps military
personnel and their families prepare for deployment. This site offers useful
information on topics such as education, employment, benefits, financial and
legal issues.
Reserves
Guide to Reserve Family Member Benefits. This guide provides an overview of
military benefits and how to access them. It identifies eligibility
requirements associated with some entitlements and provides guidance for
obtaining assistance on specific questions and problems.
Army Reserve Family Program. This site provides information on family
program support offices, reserve family member benefits, family readiness
handbooks, and reserve family news.
Navy Reserve Ombudsman Online. The Reserve Ombudsman provide a volunteer
force who is able to offer support and guidance to families.
National Guard & Reserve Family Readiness Strategic Plan. Prepared by the
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs and the Office
of Family Policy (within the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for
Personnel Support, Families and Education) this plan seeks to ensure that
reservists and their families are prepared to cope with the strains associated
with long or repeated deployments and are adequately served by military family
care systems, networks and organizations.
Air Force Reserve Family Readiness. Families of deployed reservists will be
assisted and supported by the Family Readiness office. The types of deployment
assistance services the family can expect include: family support groups,
reunion information, and volunteer opportunities.
Marine Corps Reserve
Community Services. Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS) is the byproduct
of merging the Corps old Morale, Welfare, and Recreation and Human Resources
programs and tailoring them to better meet today's needs in personal and family
readiness. MCCS is designed around five essential, required capabilities:
Marine Corps Family Team Building, Personal Services, Semper Fit, Business
Operations, and General Support. Marine Forces Reserve, due to the Forces
unique challenges, will focus on the first three.
Coast
Guard Reserve Member, Family, and Employer Support. This page has been
designed to aid the Coast Guard Reservist, their families, and employers to
better understand the benefits and nature of reserve service.
Office of the
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs. This site is dedicated
to today's Reserve force. It provides information about the policies, programs,
and initiatives that OSD/Reserve Affairs manages for the National Guard and
Reserve Components of the United States Armed Forces. This includes family
support/readiness issues.
All Services
Deputy
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy.
This office is directly responsible for programs and policies which establish
and support community quality of life programs on military installations for
service members and their families worldwide. This office also serves as the
focal point for coordination of the broad range of Quality of Life issues
within the Department of Defense.
Military
Assistance Program. MAP is sponsored by the Deputy Assistant Secretary for
Military Community and Family Policy. This site offers information and tools
for military members and their families in family support areas such as
relocation, employment, and financial management. The site also provides a
database to locate your nearest family support center.
Military Children and Youth. This site, developed by the Military Family
Resource Center, provides information on military children and youth issues,
programs, and initiatives. It is designed to share information on military
efforts with the civilian community, as well as to facilitate efforts within
the military community.
Military
Community Programs. Family support is an integral part of the Department’s
strategy to maintain a ready force. Studies show family satisfaction with
military life is a major determiner of retention. Often, family support is the
lifeline for families in an unstable environment during deployments, frequent
moves, and long work hours. This site provides information on DoD’s programs
for family support.
Military Family Institute.
The primary mission of the Military Family Institute is to conduct
scientifically sound research focusing on military families. This research will
enable the Department of Defense to better understand, serve, and enhance the
lives of military families, and thus contribute to the strength of the Nation
by increasing readiness and retention in the Armed Forces.
Military Family
Resource Center. This site sponsored by the Department of Defense is a
resource for military program staff and policy makers,. MFRC offers a variety
of services that include: information dissemination, research synthesis, online
database and resource collection, and written informational products. These
services focus on the policy, research and programs pertaining to a wide array
of military family support programs and issues.
Military Teens on the
Move. This site features a chat room, bulletin board, and other resources
and information for military teens around the world to assist them with
relocating and other teen issues.
National Military Family
Association. The mission of NMFA is to serve the families of the seven
uniformed services through education, information, and advocacy. The
Association has been and is dedicated to identifying and resolving issues
affecting families of the Uniformed Services through research, education,
legislation, and public information.
Entitlements
Defense Finance
and Accounting Service. DFAS provides information on military entitlements,
as well as general information on pay rates, per diem, taxes, etc.
DoD Special Report – It’s Your Move. This special report provides
information on servicemember entitlements and responsibilities concerning
shipment of household goods, unaccompanied baggage, boats, pets, POV's, etc.
Operation Joint Guard. In addition to normal pay and allowances Active duty
and Reservists called to active duty in support of Operation Joint Guard in
Bosnia-Herzegovina have access to several entitlements.
Locator Services
Army World Wide
Locator. This service will provide military addresses of soldiers on active
duty in the U.S. Army. It will not provide information on Army National Guard,
Army Reservists, or soldiers who have separated or retired.
Navy
Directory Service. This service allows you to search for Navy personnel.
While the Navy cannot divulge home addresses, they will provide command
information.
Air
Force World Wide Locator. The Air Force Worldwide Locator handles requests
locating Air Force personnel (military and civilian) from the general public,
families, and official requests from Department of Defense or Air Force
Officials.
Marine Corps Locator. To locate active duty Marines contact the Marine
Corps World Wide Locator, Quantico, Virginia.
American Red Cross.
If you need to contact a military member for emergency purposes, please call
your local Red Cross chapter. You may find your local Red Cross chapter
telephone number by visiting the Red Cross website, clicking on "Your local Red
Cross" and entering your zip code.
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