Information courtesy of the American Red Cross Stuttgart Station
American Red Cross communication services keep military personnel in touch with their families following the death or serious illness of a family member or other important events, such as the birth of a child. The Red Cross quickly sends these communications on behalf of the family to members of the U.S. Armed Forces serving anywhere in the world. The information or verification in a message assists the service member’s commanding officer with making a decision regarding emergency leave.
When working with the Red Cross to send an emergency message to a family member, it is helpful to the have the following information about the service member:
- Full name
- Rank/Rating
- Branch of service
- Social Security Number
- Date of birth
- Military address
- For deployed members, information about the unit or home base unit
- Verification source, like the hospital or funeral home
- Local point of contact
- Name, relationship, and date of birth
Additionally, the American Red Cross now offers a self-service option for active duty service members and their families. Clients can access the system by logging on to http://www.redcross.org/find-help/military-families from a computer or mobile devise and selecting “Emergency Communication Services.” After filling out the form with the required information, the submission goes directly to the Emergency Communication Center for verification and delivery.
The American Red Cross Emergency Communication Services allows the Red Cross at Stuttgart to continue be the communication link between service members and their families in times of emergencies. In the Stuttgart community the messages are initiated or received daily.