Support for Military
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Military Community Support Programs provides confidential counseling, information and resources that support service members and their families through a wide variety of quality of life issues that have an impact on force readiness. Services are available 24 hours a day in person, online and by telephone through Military OneSource and Military and Family Life Counseling.
Outreach Operations is responsible for communicating critical initiatives and program and policy information to service members, family members, leadership and key audiences. This is done through branded strategic outreach engagement activities and oversight of all MC&FP websites and applications, ePublications, and social media platforms that connect with the military community. OO also oversees technical direction for all of MC&FP’s digital properties.
Military OneSource provides comprehensive, confidential counseling support and information to service members and their families on every aspect of military life including deployment, finances, reunion, relationships, grief, spouse employment and education, parenting and child care. Specialty consultations are also offered on a wide range of issues.
Military and Family Life Counseling provides on-the-ground, confidential counseling and presentations to service members and immediate family members at no cost to them. Available in person both on and off installations, service members and their families can rely on military and family life counselors to rapidly respond when they need it most.
The Data Analysis, Research and Surveillance team is responsible for transforming program data into information to validate program effectiveness and to drive programmatic and policy decisions. The team’s work involves extensive collaboration with vendors, contractors and other organizational teams to ensure internal systems, quality assurance methods and research projects fully support Military Community Support Programs’ goals and objectives.
The Casualty Assistance, Mortuary Affairs and Military Funeral Honors Office provides policy oversight of programs pertaining to casualty notification, casualty assistance, mortuary affairs and military funeral honors to deceased, missing, ill or injured personnel.
The Casualty Assistance program assists eligible family members and beneficiaries of service members listed as deceased, duty status whereabouts unknown, excused absence whereabouts unknown, injured or missing. Assistance may include applying benefits and entitlements, obtaining copies of records, legal assistance, receipt of personal effects, relocation assistance and other services as needed.
Mortuary Affairs provides the recovery, care, preparation and disposition of remains and personal effects of deceased service members. Eligible family members of the deceased will also be provided with government-funded travel to attend the burial services for the service member.
This program provides military funeral honors ceremonies for service members who die on active duty, or for any veteran who was discharged or released from service by means of honorable or under honorable conditions, or general, discharge.
This program oversees personnel accountability for War Department-affiliated personnel and their families. Accountability begins upon the occurrence of a human-caused or natural disaster and requires all personnel affected by the event to check in at the first available opportunity.
The Federal and State Legislative Resource Office is comprised of Congressional and Legislative Affairs and the Defense-State Liaison Office. DSLO is the primary point of contact between the War Department and state and local governments on quality of life issues that benefit military service members and their families. DSLO works through regional liaisons to build and maintain relationships with state and local governments to educate and advocate for the needs of military-connected families.
The MWR and Resale Policy Program is designed to promote socialization, physical fitness, community connectedness, decompression and healthy choices through recreation, sports, fitness, travel, special events and other active-living activities. This office provides the guidance that enables the military services to deliver such programming for warfighters and their families.
Resale programs provide shopping opportunities for service members and their families through the War Department worldwide commissary and military exchange systems.
The Defense Department lodging program provides quality, affordable accommodations and hospitality services for service personnel and their families to support mission accomplishment and quality of life. The program operates more than 63,000 official travel rooms worldwide, providing 11 million accommodations annually at an average savings of $40 per night as compared to commercial rates.
Nonappropriated funds are generated by the members of the military community through their participation in programs and services operated by Morale, Welfare and Recreation activities and War Department resale organizations. Separate from funds appropriated by Congress, nonappropriated funds are used to defray the costs of running activities, resale programs and facilities.
The Office of Military Family Readiness Policy provides policy and oversight for the Military Family Readiness System, a network of agencies, programs, services and individuals who work to promote readiness and quality of life for the military community. The office oversees the Military Family Readiness policy, Office of Special Needs, Spouse Education and Career Opportunities program, Relocation Assistance Program, Deployment Readiness Program, adoption and foster care support, and MilLife Learning.
Military Family Readiness Policy supports the Military Family Readiness System to assist service members and their families in addressing the challenges of military life. The Military Family Readiness System promotes interagency collaborations, referrals, service delivery and links to informal and formal networks to support service members and their families in navigating the challenges of daily life. MFR programs provide support and resources to help service members and their families build their personal and military family readiness and enhance their well-being. MFR policy provides requirements for military family readiness programs provided through Military and Family Support Centers including relocation assistance, deployment assistance, spouse employment, personal and work life education, financial readiness, information and referral, and emergency family assistance.
The Relocation Assistance Program provides service members and their families information, education, services and referrals during permanent change of station moves. The program also includes the War Department online tools, MilitaryINSTALLATIONS and Plan My Move, with information and resources for military installations worldwide.
The Deployment Readiness Program provides services to service members and their families before, during and after deployment to promote a positive adjustment to deployment, family separation, family reunion and reintegration. The program also includes the War Department online tool, Plan My Deployment Checklists.
Adoption and foster care resources are available to service members and their families to assist them when considering adoption or foster care, throughout the process and throughout their military careers. Support includes policy such as adoption reimbursement policy, centralized resources located on the landing page, and information about foster- and adoption-related policy and support.
The Office of Special Needs provides support to military family members of all ages with medical and/or educational needs. OSN develops policy and provides oversight for the Exceptional Family Member Program and the provision of special education services offered through the government. OSN collaborates with the military services to ensure families have access to resources, services and support they need to thrive within the military community.
Part of the Office of Special Needs, EFMP ensures that military families with special needs receive direct services, assignment coordination and ongoing family support.
The Spouse Education and Career Opportunities, or SECO, program assists military spouses in achieving their educational and career goals. SECO also includes the My Career Advancement Account Scholarship, a workforce development program that provides tuition assistance to eligible military spouses, and other initiatives.
Part of the Spouse Education and Career Opportunities program, the Military Spouse Employment Partnership connects military spouses with employers who have committed to recruit, hire, promote and retain military spouses.
MilLife Learning is a web-based training site that offers resources to assist service members and their families, survivors and those who support them. The site, which is part of Military OneSource’s network of programs and resources, is designed to make learning easy and accessible anytime, from anywhere in the world where there is an internet connection.
Child & Youth Programs provides policy and budget support, conducts oversight and generates special initiatives addressing military-connected youth. This office supports military-connected children by providing programs designed to address the specific challenges of military life and help children to thrive, including child care.
The Military Community Advocacy Directorate develops policies, training, and resources to support military families and help prevent and address harmful behaviors early. The New Parent Support Program, Family Advocacy Program and Child and Youth Advocacy offer counseling and support to help service members and families manage stress, strengthen communication and build healthy relationships.
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