Frequently Asked Questions 1. I haven't heard from my son/daughter/husband/wife/etc. in awhile and am concerned -- how do I get in contact with them? Answer: It is highly unlikely that you will be able to contact your Soldier directly while military operations are ongoing. However, rest assured that once things have quieted down, and if the mission allows it and facilities are available, Soldiers will be given the opportunity to contact their loved ones. 2. I have a family emergency and need to get in contact with my son/daughter/husband/wife/etc -- how do I get in contact with them? Answer: The Rear Detachment is the single best official connection to your Soldier's unit while it is deployed. If you don't know how to contact your Soldier's Rear Detachment, you can contact the American Red Cross at http://www.redcross.org. 3. I have some family-related issues (non-emergency) I don't know how to handle - where can I go for help? Answer: Go to the Army Family Liaison Office web site at http://www.aflo.org or to the Army Community Service web site at http://www.goacs.org and you should be able to find the information/contacts you need. Addtionally, The U.S. Army Community and Family Support Center, in conjunction with the Army Family Liaison Office, has established a toll-free Family Assistance hotline (800) 833-6622. The Army Family Assistance Hotline is for use only by family members of Soldiers on active duty and those in the Army National Guard and the Army Reserve called to active duty. The mission of the hotline is to provide Army families caring support in the form of accurate information, useful resources, and helpful referrals related to family issues. The hotline will not be able to answer questions about casualties or Soldiers wounded or missing in action, or any operational matters. For more information on the Hotline read the Army Press Release. 4. I want to enlist in the Army - who do I contact? Answer: Go to http://www.goarmy.com. At this Army recruiting web site you can obtain your local recruiting station's address and telephone number, send the recruiters an e-mail, or engage in an on-line chat with a recruiter. 5. I want to send a message of support to our troops - where do I send it? Can I send goodies/books/etc? Answer: DoD officials ask citizens
not to flood the military mail system with letters, cards, and gifts.
Due to security concerns and transportation constraints, the Defense Department
can't accept items mailed to "Any Servicemember". However, there
are numerous other ways in which you can show your support for our troops.
The following are websites for several organizations sponsoring programs
for members of the Armed Forces overseas. While it would be inappropriate
for DoD to endorse any specifically, Service members do value and appreciate
such expressions of support: 6. I see above how I can support the troops. Is there anything I should not do? Answer: Yes there are things you should not do. There are many well meaning Web sites, TV stations, and charity groups that are promoting donations to overseas Servicemembers. While well intentioned, you should not use them and you should discourage others from using them. These unsolicited letters of support or care packages to Servicemembers raise a force protection issue, since anonymous donors are different from legitimate family members and friends. DoD has cancelled mail programs which encouraged the American public in general to mail to Any Servicemember (versus a specific deployed person). These new programs attempt to do the same thing by gathering names of Servicemembers to send mail. While legitimate mail from family members and loved ones is always encouraged, these donor programs, which collect and pass out Servicemembers' names and addresses, is discouraged. 7. Is there anything I should know about addressing mail to a Soldier? Answer: To ensure that mail gets
through from families and loved ones, the following information is given
on addressing. Recommended address: NOTES: If your question doesn't fit into any of
the above categories, go to http://www.dtic.mil/armylink/faq/
which contains a more extensive listing of Frequently Asked Questions. |