Armed Forces Emergency Services (AFES)

Men and women serving in the Armed Forces depend on Red Cross Volunteer Case Workers to provide emergency communications with family members. Under our Congressional Charter, this service is provided 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

What constitutes an emergency?

• Serious illness or injury of a family member.
• Death of a family member.
• Birth of a child.

Only immediate family members qualify according to military regulations. "Immediate family member" is defined as a spouse, parent, child, brother or sister, loco parentis parent, or an only living relative.

When you call you will have to provide the following information:

• Service Member's Full Name
• Rank/Rating
• Branch of Service
• Social Security Number
• Birth date
• Military Address

The Red Cross is required to verify all information before sending it to the military so you will also have to provide:

• The name and phone number of the doctor or hospital who can be contacted to verify an illness, injury, or birth.
• The name and phone number of a doctor, hospital, or funeral home who can be contacted to verify a death.

The Red Cross verification is sent to the serviceman's Commanding Officer. If the serviceman requests an emergency leave the CO uses this information in deciding whether or not to grant the leave.

During office hours call 638-5619. Office hours are 8AM to 5PM monday, tuesday, thursday, and friday. 8AM to 12Noon wednesday.

After hours call the Oconee County AFES pager. The number is 885-6664. Leave your phone number and a Red Cross Volunteer caseworker will call you back. Call the pager number after 5PM monday, tuesday, thursday, and friday. After 12Noon on wednesday. On saturday, sunday and legal holidays.