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AFES Keeps Military Families in Touch
Courtney Prebich, Special to RedCross.org
Wednesday, January 29, 2003 — Roxanne Forbes' husband was stationed in Bahrain when his father underwent major surgery back home in the United States. Half a world away, he remained up-to-date on his father's condition thanks to updates from American Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Services (AFES) volunteers.
"The Red Cross connected him with what was going on here at home," said Forbes, who retired after 20 years in the U.S. Navy and is now an AFES volunteer caseworker for the American Red Cross of the National Capital Area in Washington, DC. "You're very grateful you are getting the word on things."
Jan Chayt and Roxanne Forbes perform AFES casework at the Red Cross service center at Fort Belvoir.
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As the United States prepares for possible war with Iraq, many Red Cross chapters are busy preparing local service members and their families for deployment, providing them with information on how to contact the Red Cross should a family emergency arise while the service member is away.
"Get to Know Us Before You Need Us" is a Red Cross presentation designed to introduce military families to the American Red Cross and its services. The 30-minute briefings are held on base in conjunction with larger military briefings for families prior to deployment of a loved one.
"We want to ensure that families and service members have information and contact numbers in case they need the Red Cross," said Debbie Vanderbeek, manager of the South Fairfax/Fort Belvoir Red Cross Service Center.
The process starts with a phone call, usually from a family member or another Red Cross chapter. Armed with a checklist of questions, AFES caseworkers first interview the caller in order to provide a complete report to the service member.
This step can be a challenge if the caller relays vague information, said Jan Chayt, a volunteer Red Cross CPR and first aid instructor for 20 years before becoming an AFES caseworker upon retiring from the military last August.
"They'll call and say, 'I'd like my husband to know his father is in the hospital,'" she said. "And I have to ask, 'What hospital?'"
"Sometimes it's a puzzle," said Chayt, who relies on the same skills she used in her career as a U.S. Army criminal investigator. "It's just a matter of picking up the pieces and finding where they go."
AFES caseworkers then verify all messages by contacting hospitals, funeral homes or law enforcement agencies before sending the information to the service member's commander, who passes along the news in person. This fast, reliable information helps service members and their commanders make decisions regarding emergency leave.
The Red Cross also collaborates with military aid societies in providing access to financial assistance during a family crisis, such as emergency travel expenses, burial costs or urgent health,welfare or social needs.
Chayt recalled one woman who became worried when she hadn't heard from her son in several months. After some investigation, Chayt discovered that the serviceman had moved, and in the process forgot to inform his mother.
The woman called Chayt a few days later to report that not only did she speak with her son, but he sent her flowers to apologize for not calling sooner.
"I feel as though I'm doing a service to the families," said Forbes. "Most of them say that they really appreciate what we have done in getting the word to them."
All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. The Red Cross also supplies nearly half of the nation's lifesaving blood. This, too, is made possible by generous voluntary donations. You can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need. You can make a secure online credit card donation or call 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767) or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Or you may send your donation to your local Red Cross or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013. To donate blood, please call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543), or contact your local Red Cross to find out about upcoming blood drives.
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