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| National Military Family Association |
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The National Military Family Association (NMFA) began with the grassroots efforts of a small group of wives and widows gathered around a kitchen table in 1969. This group of women believing that they could make a difference formed the Military Wives Association. Through their efforts and those of others, the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) was created. In 1984, our name was changed to National Military Family Association to reflect our involvement in a broad scope of family issues. Today, we are still military family members working to make a difference!
Throughout our 35 year history, our accomplishments have been a reflection of our concern for issues that affect the families we serve. Together with The Military Coalition (TMC) of which we were a founding member, we have achieved many successes to include: enhancements to retired pay and the SBP; expansion of the Women's, Infants, and Children (WIC) program overseas; improved benefits for survivors of active duty deaths; increased construction funding for qualify of life facilities; TRICARE for Life (TFL) for Medicare-eligible unformed services beneficiaries; and increased military pay and housing allowances.
Many organizations represent military personnel, active duty, National Guard, Reserves, retirees, and survivors, but the National Military Family Association is the only one whose sole focus is the family.
To find out more about the National Military Family Association go to www.nmfa.org.
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Related Links:
Deployment Center
Spouse and Family Benefits Center
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More and more parents of deployed single servicemembers are becoming involved as participants and volunteers in family support groups. How do they find out about the groups? How can you get involved if you are a parent? The process begins with your son or daughter. Have your servicemember pass your name and contact information on to the coordinator for the unit family support group or chain (see below for the different Service designations). This may at least get you on a group mailing list or e-mail list for updates about the unit.
It’s important to remember that unit support services are staffed by volunteers. The group’s ability to maintain contact with extended family members or significant others varies from unit to unit depending on the number of volunteers and time involved. Some units are lucky enough to have a parent volunteer who organizes the extended family/significant other information chain. You might also check your local community and see if they offer support groups through social service agencies, churches, or veterans organizations.
Here’s some information that can help you navigate through the different military services.
Army
Army Community Service (ACS), located at each Army installation, has a staff member focused on family readiness, the Family Readiness Coordinator. For more information check the Army Well-Being Liaison Office (WBLO) website or search for the installation of your soldier. Each site has information about family readiness at that specific installation. You can also contact the Army Well Being Liaison Office at (800)833-6622 if you are unable to access the web.
Navy
Each ship has an ombudsman, a family member volunteer who serves as a critical communication link between the Commanding Officer and family members. They undergo extensive training so that they may be an effective representative of the command and an advocate for family members. Information about Navy family programs can be found here.
You can also call the Navy Fleet and Family Support office information line at (800)372-5463 if you are unable to access the web.
Air Force
The Air Force offers a great resource at Air Force Crossroads. Visit their site for deployment support information.
Marine Corps
The Key Volunteer network is an official Marine Corps program whose goal is to provide information and referral services to spouses of Marines and sailors within a specific Marine unit. However, under the structure of the Key Volunteer Network, families of single Marines are not assigned a Key Volunteer. Many units do have information sources available to the parents, however either as web pages or toll-free information lines. Visit their site to find out about specific installations.
Visit the Single Marine Program (SMP) for helpful info, and for information about Marines with units based at MCB Camp Pendleton you can call (866)676-0662 or for units based at Camp Lejeune you can call (800)451-6227 if you cannot access the web.
Coast Guard
The Coast Guard also subscribes to the Ombudsman model. Their family support program is called Work/Life. In providing work-life programs and services the Coast Guard strives to get the RIGHT information to the RIGHT people at the RIGHT time. Visit the website for information about Coast Guard programs. This site has an excellent article with many informative links on “Dealing with Crisis.” If you are unable to access the web, you can call your local work-life office by dialing (800)872-4957 and listening for the prompt for the nearest work life office.
Guard and Reserve
Because Guard and Reserve families are often not located near a military installation it may be harder to find information. Contact with your family member’s unit is the first course of action you should take. The guardfamily.org website has a scroll down list of family assistance centers by state on the home page of the website. The family assistance centers offer information and referral to all National Guard and Reserve family members. Here are some additional good sources of information:
Source: NMFA
© 2005 National Military Family Association. All rights reserved.
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