Getting Home When You Have a Family Emergency
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Military members and their families can rest assured knowing if a family emergency happens, help will be there. Emergency leave is available for military members should the need arise. Resources are available to help members return in the event of a true emergency.
What is considered an emergency?
Not many situations classify as emergencies. Unfortunately, the birth of a child is not an emergency. It may be an emergency if the life of the mother or newborn becomes endangered.
The emergency must involve a direct family member. Typically, this involves death, serious injury, or a significant medical emergency. Direct family members include the mother, father, sibling, spouse, or child.
Emergency leave may be granted for these situations if the member is on deployment. However, an emergency does not guarantee the member will return stateside if deployed OCONUS. If the member is at his or her duty station, they may receive sick leave.
What options are available?
If you have a family emergency, help is available. The American Red Cross will deliver notification of emergencies any time, day or night. These messages are delivered to military members stationed anywhere in the world.
By contacting the Red Cross, families can be confident their message will get through. This can also help verify the emergency and assist in the decision of whether the member should be given emergency leave.
Find out more about the Red Cross tool, Hero Care Network so that you can be prepared in the event of an emergency.
What is required
Emergency leave assistance from the Red Cross is available for:
- Active duty members of the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, and Navy
- Active member of the National Guard or Reserve of all branches
- A civilian employed by or under contract of the Department of Defense and stationed OCONUS
- A cadet or midshipman at a service academy or ROTC on training orders
- A Merchant Marine aboard a U.S. Naval Ship
In the event of an emergency, you can contact the Red Cross for help and they will send an emergent message. Be prepared when you call. Have the following information ready:
Service member’s:
- Full Name
- Rank/Rating
- Branch of service
- Social security number or date of birth
- Military unit address
- Information about the deployed unit and home base unit
- Name and information about the immediate family member having the emergency
- Type of emergency
- Where the emergency can be confirmed
When military members are away on deployment, family emergencies can happen. It can be difficult for them to be away, but certain circumstances may make them eligible to get home. The Red Cross is available to help support members and their families in times of emergency.
Armed Forces Bank
Offering military members full-service banking since 1907. Armed Forces Bank knows military members have different needs. They pride themselves on offering diverse banking solutions. If you’re stationed anywhere in the world, you need banking that’s convenient for you and your family. Banking that works when you need it.
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Brandy Hall, Nurse Writer, turned a passion for patient teaching into content writing. She teams up with podcasters and health care providers to improve health understanding. Now she explores the world through creativity and adventure as a mom and military spouse.
