Armed Forces Emergency Services

American Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces can be traced back to the Civil War when Clara Barton tended wounded soldiers on the battlefield. Today the Red Cross continues its service supporting 1.4 million active duty personnel and their immediate family members.

• Emergency communication services. The Red Cross is a lifeline to members of the U.S. Armed Forces, sending communications all over the world on behalf of family members facing emergencies or other important events. The Red Cross provides this service quickly through a network of chapters, communication centers and staff members serving on military installations and major deployment sites worldwide. This network links military personnel any place in the world including ships at sea, embassies and isolated military units with their loved ones. The information in the message assists the command to make an informed decision regarding emergency leave.

The Iowa Great Lakes Chapter of the American Red Cross is here to serve the men and women in uniform and their families following the death or serious illness of a family member, the birth of a child and other family emergencies.

LET US HELP! WE’RE READY TO SERVE 24/7 365 Days a Year.
Rosemary Jurney, Armed Forces Emergency Services (AFES)

Rosemary is a local volunteer out of the Siouxland Chapter in Sioux City who provides essential service to those serving in the Military.  In addition to serving the Siouxland chapter, Rosemary is the Iowa Great Lakes Chapter caseworker as well and is that important link between those serving our country here and abroad and their family members waiting at home.

For Military Emergency Correspondence please call: 712-898-0446 or
1-800-340-4081 if you have an emergency and need to contact a family member
currently serving in the branch of the Armed Forces.

When calling the Red Cross to send an emergency message to a family member, it is helpful to have the following information:
Service Member's:
     Full Name
     Rank/Rating
     Branch of Service
     Social Security Number
     Military Address
     Information about the deployed unit and the home base unit

Iowa Great Lakes Chapter
American Red Cross
Gateway North
1900 North Grand Avenue – Suite D-3
P.O. Box 407
Spencer, Iowa 51301
(712) 262-1574
(888) 292-1574
Email: arcigl@smunet.net