Military OneSource

Military OneSource is a 24-hour, 7-days-a-week comprehensive resource provided by the U.S. Department of Defense at no cost to active duty, Reserve and National Guard (regardless of activation status) military members and their families. Services are available through a private, 24-hour call center at 800-342-9647 as well as online at www.MilitaryOneSource.com. Military OneSource provides information ranging from everyday questions to deployment-related issues. Military OneSource also can arrange for in-person, pre-paid, private counseling sessions in local communities.

Mission

Military OneSource is chartered by the U.S. Department of Defense to provide round-the-clock assistance and resources to U.S. military personnel and families all across the globe. Services and resources are provided at no cost to active duty, Reserve and National Guard (regardless of activation status) military members and their families. It has inviolable regulations regarding confidentiality of information.

History

Since its inception, Military OneSource has expanded and adapted to the changing needs of troops and their families. The web site [1] is a primary interactive resource, with everything from webinars and podcasts to a vast library of books and other materials. In 2008, Military OneSource launched a popular new video-sharing community site expressly for military families: TroopTube. TroopTube is accessible through [2].

Organization

Military OneSource is an official program of the U.S. Department of Defense. It is administered through the office of Military Community & Family Policy [3] and by the Under Secretary for Personnel and Readiness, who is the principal staff assistant and advisor to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense for Total Force Management, Michael L. Dominguez. This Pentagon group focuses on readiness; National Guard and Reserve component affairs; health affairs; training; and personnel requirements and management, including equal opportunity, morale, welfare, recreation, and quality of life matters.

A Presidential appointee confirmed by the Senate, Dr. Lynda C. Davis [4] is the Secretary's senior policy advisor on recruitment, career development, pay and benefits for 1.4 million active duty military personnel, 1.3 million Guard and Reserve personnel and 680,000 DoD civilians and is responsible for overseeing the state of military readiness.

Services

Military OneSource is provided by the Department of Defense at no cost to active duty, Guard and Reserve and their families. Services are available through a private, 24-hour call center at 800-342-9647 as well as online at www.MilitaryOneSource.com [5].

Military OneSource provides help with parenting and child care, education, relocation, financial and legal concerns, everyday issues (finding services in a local community, consumer issues), emotional well-being, health and fitness, addiction and recovery, adult or child special needs, military life (pre/post deployment, reunion, etc.), work concerns, crisis support, elder care, TRICARE, and much more.

Highly qualified, master’s level and licensed counselors provide confidential support and practical assistance with issues such as family separations, stress, marital communications, crisis situations, parent-child communications, financial management and emotional support during deployments.

Customized research detailing community resources and appropriate military referrals are offered, along with language and document translation services.

The interactive Web site includes locators for education, child care, and elder care. Online, users can order free materials (including CDs, booklets, and DVDs), get referrals to military and community resources, use financial calculators, participate in online Webinars, subscribe to monthly newsletters, and join topical discussion boards. Additional resources include brief videos of consultants addressing common issues such as communicating as a couple, budgeting and managing anger.

Also, Military OneSource offers three kinds of short-term, nonmedical counseling services to active-duty, Guard, and Reserve members (regardless of activation status) and their families.

References

http://www.defenselink.mil/News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=52006
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=26170
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/jan/31/homefront-in-focus-tax-preparation-tips-for/

Links

http://www.MilitaryOneSource.com
http://www.defenselink.mil/prhome/mcfp.html