Military Family Support Information

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.

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.