Free, confidential assistance for service members and their families.
Every day, the American Red Cross helps hundreds of active-duty military members and their families through our Hero Care Network, a 24/7 support system for families as they face crises of all kinds.
The Red Cross plays an important role in the emergency leave process. We are the only organization congressionally chartered to verify an emergency for military commands. When a military family experiences an emergency, they can call the Red Cross to verify the emergency and notify military commands with an emergency communication message--an essential first step if leave is to be granted.
When days, hours and minutes matter, the Red Cross is able to help make a trusted connection.
The Red Cross is a local-first organization with the backing of a national network of volunteers and staff located in every state across the country. Our "Get to Know Us Before You Need Us" program ensures every new U.S. military enlistee receives a Red Cross briefing where essential family information is preemptively collected, and they are educated on how they can use the Hero Care Network during emergencies and major life events, like the birth of a child.
See firsthand the impact of these briefings at the Illinois region’s MEPS, below:
Notify a service member of emergencies at home wherever they are in the world, quickly and securely. The Red Cross relays urgent messages containing factual and verified information of the event to service members stationed anywhere in the world, including ships at sea or unknown locations.
Access Military Aid Society assistance during emergencies with the Red Cross. Hero Care caseworkers can help process eligible service members, military retirees and their family members requests for financial assistance in the event of an emergency through their respective aid society.
Need help and not sure where to begin? Call the Hero Care Center and connect with a compassionate specialist who can support you by helping to identify your needs and working within our vast network of local, state and federal partners to connect with the resources to help you most.
Over 700 calls received daily
77% of cases completed in six hours or less
Over 350 employees and 18,000 dedicated volunteers supporting you
Stationed OCONUS? You can call the Hero Care Center for free using wi-fi from any smartphone, computer or tablet.
Call toll free at +1 877-272-7337 to speak to a compassionate specialist.
Call the Hero Care Center using wi-fi free on any a computer, smartphone, or tablet.
Sean Day started working in the American Red Cross Hero Care Center at Fort Sill after retiring from the U.S. Army. He knows the important role the Hero Care Center plays in supporting military families after he received an emergency communication message while stationed in Germany. His commander let him go home to be with his family. “Every case that we’re able to help somebody, it always makes me feel good,” he said.
She was pleased to learn how the Hero Care Center supports military families, especially as someone whose spouse has deployed overseas. “It’s very rewarding because at the end of the day, you’ve done something good. You’re helping somebody. So, that’s my favorite part,” Haley said. “And I love who I work with. We’ve got a great team.” Haley says she wants military families to know that the Hero Care Center is there for them, 24 hours a day.
Carmen Hernández helps military families in times of emergency as a volunteer Hero Care caseworker with the American Red Cross Puerto Rico Chapter (Cruz Roja Americana Capítulo de Puerto Rico). For her, this volunteer work with Service to the Armed Forces is personal as she once received a Red Cross emergency communication message while stationed in Germany.
“Toda esta experiencia… me ha dado la oportunidad de entender a los familiares en las llamadas y tener la empatía para ayudar a otros.” (Translation: “All this experience… has given me the opportunity to understand family members on calls and have the empathy to help others.”)
Ciana Naputi comes from a military family and works in the American Red Cross Hero Care Center at Fort Sill, helping verify emergencies so that service members may get permission to return home during difficult times. “My family’s had to use it for my grandparents back in Guam. My dad’s had to use it for my mom, who passed away over 10 years ago,” Ciana said. “You probably haven’t seen your service member in, like, four or five years. So, to have them home at that time of need, I know that’s a great feeling.”
Do you have strong listening skills and the ability to work with culturally diverse populations? You can help support military families during emergency situations by becoming a Hero Care Network volunteer.
Notify a service member of an emergency at home, even when their location is unknown or they’re on a ship at sea. The Red Cross is the only organization trusted by the U.S. military to verify personal emergencies on behalf of military families and notify their military commands.
The Red Cross may be able to help families access military aid society assistance during an emergency. Hero Care caseworkers can help process eligible service members, military retirees and their family members’ requests for financial assistance in the event of an emergency. Click here to review eligibility.
The Red Cross proudly offers comprehensive and tailored support to the entire military community overseas.
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Want to support military and veteran families in your community? Sign up to become a Red Cross volunteer. Visit the link below, enter your zip code, and type “SAF” in the search bar.