Posted in News, 5/20/12
Red Cross Recognized For Program To Hire Military, Veterans
The American Red Cross is being recognized for its job recruiting, training and retention plans for members of the military and veterans by CivilianJobs.com, which connects America’s military with civilian careers.
The Red Cross was one of forty-five United States organizations or companies named the Most Valuable Employers (MVE) for Military in 2012 by CivilianJobs.com.
"We are thrilled to be recognized for our recruitment outreach efforts to the military and their families," said Melissa Hurst, Chief Human Resources. "We look forward to extending our efforts and thank everyone for being supportive of our military recruitment program."
The MVE winners were selected based on surveys in which employers outlined their recruiting, training and retention plans that best serve military service members and veterans.
“I have come to look forward to the month of May and the subsequent release of the employer names, representing both large and small businesses, which receive the Most Valuable Employers for Military honor,” said Sandra (Sandy) Morris, CEO, Bradley-Morris, Inc., parent company of CivilianJobs.com. “The number of companies that CivilianJobs.com recognizes today as MVEs has increased each year of the award. This trend, where more employers are focusing their resources on the hiring and retaining of military, is one to celebrate. I congratulate each of these companies on their recognition.”
CivilianJobs.com is a website where America's military can connect with civilian careers. The site offers job fairs, staffing services and a job board plus employer advertising in its military base newspaper, Civilian Job News.
Posted in News, 5/18/12
A Call to the Red Cross Brings Military Families Together Amid Crisis
When a military family experiences a crisis, the American Red Cross is there to assist by providing emergency communications 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. No matter where a military member and their family are stationed, they can be assured the Red Cross will deliver their notifications in times of crisis.
The Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) program ensures that service members, veterans and their families have around-the-clock access to timely and reliable comfort and support. Through a worldwide network of 58 SAF stations, the Red Cross provides more than 400,000 services every year. In addition, last year nearly 1.5 million people were briefed on Red Cross services through the “Get to Know Us” program.
As our nation marks Armed Forces Week, here are two stories shared by military families on how the Red Cross was there for them in a time of need.
Dave’s Story
“Many years ago, my oldest son was at a Navy school. His mother had a heart attack and was not expected to survive. I called the Navy Chaplin service to locate him and get word to him about his mother. I gave them the name of the facility he was at and was told there was no such facility and they couldn't help me.
“My next call was to the Red Cross. The lady told me ‘Don't you worry; we'll have your son in touch with you within 24 hours even if I have to get the Assistant Secretary of Defense out of bed.’ My son was home the next day.”
Karen’s Story
“I was in Panama with my two children when I was told that my brother had been killed in the states. I was in the Army and the military flew us to the first U.S. stop, which happened to be Andrews Air Force Base, Md. Then I could not use military planes to get close to St. Louis, Mo. because only the service member was able to catch military hop flights within the states. I was desperate to get to my family.
“I called the Red Cross who did not hesitate to help me … That is why I do not hesitate to help the Red Cross whenever I can. They are there if you need them. Thank you, Red Cross.”
How to Contact the Red Cross for Assistance
Call (877) 272-7337 (toll-free within the continental United States) if you are:
- An Active Duty service member stationed in the United States or overseas, or a family member residing with them,
- A family member of an active duty service member who does not reside in the service member’s household,
- A Department of Defense Civilian assigned overseas and family members residing with them,
- A member of the National Guard or Reserves,
- A recruiter, MEPS military personnel,
- A Veteran
Learn more about the Red Cross Services to the Armed Forces.
Posted in The Blog, 5/18/12
Weekly Worldwide Wrap-Up
This Weekly Worldwide Wrap-Up is courtesy of Scott Waggoner, from Cross Blog: Award-winning Red Cross news and views from Oregon and beyond
Welcome to the Weekly Worldwide Wrap-Up, in which we consolidate the international Red Cross and Red Crescent news into one list of bite-sized links for you. It’s a non-comprehensive sampling of the larger and/or more intriguing aspects of our global work…
PAKISTAN: Following the brutal murder of Khalil Rasjed Dale, a health program manager working for the ICRC, the organization is reviewing its presence and activities in Pakistan. The ICRC has put on hold its activities carried out from offices in Peshawar and Karachi, with the operations in Balochistan already frozen in the aftermath of the incident. In the coming weeks, the ICRC will announce a decision on its future presence and set-up in Pakistan.
SOUTH SUDAN: Since the beginning of the year, the ICRC has stepped up its efforts to respond to mounting humanitarian needs in South Sudan. Needs increased further in early April when hostilities erupted along the border with Sudan. The ICRC, in cooperation with the newly recognized South Sudan Red Cross, is striving to help people affected by armed violence in South Sudan by supporting health-care system, visiting detainees, promoting humanitarian law, and assisting approximately 20,000 newly displaced individuals.
NEPAL: When the armed conflict in Nepal ended in 2006, around 17,000 people were dead and 3,100 reported to the ICRC as missing. While the fates of many are now known, there are still more than 1,400 people on the ICRC’s list of missing persons that continue to be investigated. In the places where the ICRC works, it has been seeking for decades to forestall disappearances, restore family links when they have been broken, and ascertain the whereabouts of missing people.
BURKINA FASO: In a remote rural Burkina Faso community, the Burkinabe Red Cross Society has set up two women’s groups with community gardens where they grow vegetables that provide a lifeline for families struggling with severe hunger. Up to 23 million people across the Sahel region are facing severe hunger due to frequent droughts. The Burkinabe Red Cross Society has been focused on food security for eight years with support from the Spanish Red Cross, training communities how to grow vegetables outside of the usual crop production season.
GLOSSARY:
ICRC = International Committee of the Red Cross
IFRC = International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies