Family Readiness Helpful Links

2d Marine Aircraft Wing Family Readiness Officer (252) 466-2492

Are you in the Mass Communication Tool?
Has your service member given your contact information to their Family Readiness Officer (FRO)?
The Mass Communication Tool is a web-based communication system used to support FRO's who provide organizational communication for their command using multiple means and methods.

FROs can communicate electronically and simultaneously from a single location, or multiple locations, to a pre-selected audience of service members and their designated contacts.

Communications are sent electronically and are received via email, phone or text messages.

Marine Corps Community Services

1. MCCS Beaufort, SC
2. MCCS Cherry Point, NC
3. MCCS New River, NC

Emergency Leave Procedures
Unfortunately, there may be instances where an unexpected emergency in the family of a deployed Marine or Sailor requires their return home. Emergency leave may be authorized ONLY in the following situations:

1. When a member of the service member's IMMEDIATE family dies. Immediate family includes: father, mother, brother, sister, spouse, spouse's parents, children or someone who actually reared the Marine or Sailor (in loco parentis). Immediate family DOES NOT include aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews, nieces, close family friends, or grandparents unless they actually reared the Marine or Sailor (in loco parentis).
2. When a member of the service member's immediate family suffers a serious illness or accident resulting in a serious family problem which requires the service member's presence at home. If such events occur during a deployment, family members must contact the Red Cross Office nearest to the area of the emergency or death. Report all of the details to that office's military representative and request that verification of the emergency or death be forwarded to:

Onslow County Chapter
American Red Cross
12 Ruth Street
Jacksonville, NC 28540-4828
(910) 347-3581
Onslow Chapter Website

The Red Cross will send the verification to this address. Ensure the Red Cross has the Marine or Sailor's FULL NAME, RANK, COMMAND, and SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER.

Remember: The Command must receive Red Cross verification of the emergency or death in order to grant emergency leave.

Amercian Red Cross Website

Navy Marine Corps Relief Society
The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) offers a variety of services to Marines and Sailors, both active duty and retired, and their families. Among the services offered are:

1. Financial assistance based on need (may take the form of an interest-free loan or grant).
2. Visiting Nurse Program.
3. Well Baby Clinic.
4. Children's waiting rooms at medical facilities.
5. Budget counseling.
6. Thrift shops.

Thrift shops. The NMCRS can only process a family member's request for financial assistance if the service member has a completed and signed permission card on file with the local NMCRS office. If no card has been signed prior to deployment, a General Power of Attorney can be used. To prevent possible delays, it is advisable to sign and submit the permission card prior to deployment just in case an emergency arises.

Local offices of the NMCRS can be reached at:

NMCRS MCAS New River
Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society
Marine Corps Air Station
Bldg AS232, PO Box 4327
Jacksonville, NC 28540-0327
Hours: M-F 0800-1600
Phone:(910) 449-6846
DSN: 752-6846
Fax: (910) 449-6300

Additional Services: Visiting Nurse

Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society Website

American Red Cross
The American Red Cross offers compassionate services in five other areas: community services that help the needy; support and comfort for military members and their families; the collection, processing and distribution of lifesaving blood and blood products; educational programs that promote health and safety; and international relief and development programs.

Amercian Red Cross Website

Chaplains
Navy Chaplains are available to provide assistance to service members and their families, and can help with:

• Religious instruction
• Premarital counseling
• Marriage/Family counseling
• Crisis intervention
• Stress management
• Drug and alcohol counseling
• Spiritual direction
• Values clarification
• Someone to talk to in times of need

Military One Source
Military OneSource, which supplements existing installation services, provides free help and information, by phone with a professionally trained consultant or online, on a wide range of issues that affect you and your family -- from budgeting and investing to relationships and deployment. It's available whenever you are -- 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Whether you're single or married, a parent or not a parent, Military OneSource can help with the issues that are important to you. For service members and families who live far from military installations, Military OneSource is especially useful. No problem is too big -- or too small. If we don't know the answer, we'll find it.

Military OneSource also provides free counseling services (up to 12 sessions per person, per issue), face-to-face in the local community, by telephone, and online.

Military One Source Website

L.I.N.K.S

L.I.N.K.S. is a volunteer, team-mentoring program, designed by Marine Corps spouses. The program offers an orientation to the Marine Corps lifestyle, helping spouses, Marines, children and teens, and parents/extended family members understand and adapt to the unique challenges military life often presents. While the curriculum targets those who are new to the Marine Corps community, the information is very beneficial at all levels of Marine Corps experience.

The program works through a partnership of volunteer spouses, Marine Corps Family Team Building (MCFTB) staff, Marine Corps Career Retention Specialists and Chaplains. The discussion group leaders are experienced military spouses who facilitate the learning process by using a mentoring style of presentation. The climate is informal, with a nurturing structure and format. Participants receive real life tips, information on Marine Corps culture, and available resources to enable them to help themselves.

L.I.N.K.S. is currently presented through volunteer teams on each Marine Corps Installation and through MARFORRES/New Orleans. No cost childcare is provided to participants. Additionally, the teams at Marine Corps Recruit Depots Parris Island and San Diego introduce L.I.N.K.S. to families of new Marines.

L.I.N.K.S. provides information on:
• Marine Corps history, tradition and language
• Benefits and services
• Financial awareness
• Dealing with separation and deployments
• Tips on moving
• Effective communication

L.I.N.K.S. provides a positive environment for Marines and their families to learn to manage the demands of the Marine Corps lifestyle, and to work together as a team in balancing family needs while meeting Marine Corps expectations.

All Marines, spouses, children, teens, and parents of Marines are eligible to participate in L.I.N.K.S. Additionally, other Service members and spouses serving with Marines, and Marine Corps civilian employees and spouses are eligible.

Marine Corps Community Services L.I.N.K.S.

Marine Corps Family Team Building
MCFTB provides educational resources and services to foster personal growth and enhance the readiness of Marine Corps families. MCFTB is comprised of the following:

• Family Readiness Program Training
• Readiness and Deployment Support Training
• Lifestyle Insights, Networking, Knowledge and Skills (L.I.N.K.S.)
• LifeSkills Training

These programs are supported at all major installations by Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS) through a MCFTB office staffed with a MCFTB Director and trainers for the Family Readiness, Readiness and Deployment Support, L.I.N.K.S. and LifeSkills programs.

Marine Corps Community Services Family Team Building

New River Community Services Family Team Building

Chamber of Commerce
Local Chambers of Commerce provide a wide range of information on area businesses and merchants. They maintain several agencies that help consumers solve complaints against local businesses and provide information on consumer/merchant relations. The Chambers of Commerce can also provide North Carolina maps, travel tips and advisories, and information on local points of interest.

Regional Chamber of Commerce can be reached at:
Jacksonville: 910-347-3141

Return to top

Department of Social Services
The North Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS) fields offices in each of the state's counties. DSS provides assistance in the areas of family and children's services, foster care, adoption, food stamps, child support, paternity claims, and the administration of the WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) Program. Additionally, DSS is an excellent source of information for referrals to other support agencies.

Local DSS offices can be reached at:

Location/Telephone
Main Building: 1915 Onslow Drive Extension
Services Division: 1255 Hargett Street
PEERS Family Development Center: 151 Chaney Avenue
PO Box 1379, Jacksonville, NC 28541
(910) 455-4145
FAX: (910) 455-2901
Emergency Phone: (910) 455-3113
Hours of Operation: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday

USO
The mission of the USO of North Carolina is to serve and support America's military and their families. The USO of North Carolina works continuously to enrich the lives of America's military in the Carolinas, as well as fund vital programs and services for these warriors and their families. Congress has chartered the USO as a non-profit charitable corporation. It is not, however, a part of the United States Government, even though it has been endorsed by the President of the United States and the Department of Defense. Each President has been the Honorary Chairman of the USO since its inception.

USO

Pay and Entitlements
One of the biggest problems Marines, Sailors, and their families run into are pay-related. Understanding the military pay system is key to avoiding such problems. You can visit the DoD's Military Compensation web site for help in understanding the military pay system and seeing current pay rates.

In addition to their Basic Pay, Marines and Sailors receive certain entitlements and benefits they do not normally receive, and other entitlements may change because of their deployed status. An overview of these entitlements and fluctuations are below:

1. Family Separation Allowance (FSA): FSA is payable to members with dependents who deploy outside the permanent duty station for 30 consecutive days or longer. The amount payable is $100 per month. Members who are legally separated and do not have custody of the children are not entitled to FSA.


2. Commuted Rations/Basic Allowance for Subsistence (COMRATS/BAS): COMRATS for enlisted Marines are deducted at the rate of $6 per day (around $180 per month) for all periods of deployment or field duty. This is because they have meals provided to them. Officer's BAS are likewise deducted for field exercises, but while deployed aboard ship, they will not lose their BAS because they are required to pay the Wardroom (officer mess hall) for all meals.


3. Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH): Under normal conditions, BAH will not be affected by deployments or field duty except where a member is receiving BAH Own Right (single members living out in town) and no longer incurs housing expenses during the deployment.


4. Hostile Fire Pay/Imminent Danger Pay (HFP/IDP): HFP/IDP areas are designed by the DoD. These areas change periodically, so an area designated as HFP/IDP inclusive last month may not be a month later. The amount payable is $150 per month, and if a service member is in the designated area for at least one day, they are credited for the entire month.


5. Combat Zone Tax Exclusion (CZTE): CZTE is an entitlement authorized for certain geographical areas designated by the DoD. It simply means that the member does not pay Federal Tax for that month (the member still pays Social Security, Medicare, and State Taxes if applicable). Like HFP/IDP, CZTE benefits are made by month so long as a member is in a designated area for at least one day.


6. Flight Deck Duty Pay: Members assigned to work on the flight deck (by written orders) will receive Flight Deck Duty pay. This type of pay is considered a 'hazardous duty' pay and cannot be combined with any other 'hazardous duty' pay (such as Flying Duty for Non-Crewmembers).


7. Career Sea Pay (CSP): CSP is extended to all Marines and Sailors for every day they are deployed on ship. The amounts vary depending on rank and total sea time. All members regardless of rank will accumulate Career Sea time and Career Sea Pay.

One of the biggest difficulties families have are the double use of funds. For example, a Marine writes a check or withdraws money from the family checking account while deployed and are unable to let their spouse now right away. The spouse then uses these funds which have already been accounted for. Unfortunately, this is a common occurrence, and can force the family to incur significant late or penalty fees.

There are several ways to avoid this problem. One is to open two checking accounts. That way, one account will be for exclusive use by the deployed Marine or Sailor and the other for use by the family.

Also, there is the Split Pay option. Split Pay is where a set amount is diverted to an account on ship where the Marine has direct access to it and avoids tapping into funds their family has already set aside or obligated.

Financial counseling is available through base or station Family Services Centers.

OPSEC for Families
Operational Security consists of measures taken to ensure that sensitive information is not compromised. Families often have access to information that is not for public knowledge. A simple statement made in passing can jeopardize the conduct of operations and the safety of those involved.

The following is information which should not be made available for public consumption (this includes but is not limited to posting the information on a website, discussing the information in online chat rooms, placing the information on publicly accessible message services, discussing the information with the media, etc.)

• Specific deployment locations
• Specific numbers of troops
• Times and dates of a units departure
• Location of a Marines family during deployment
• Scheduled return dates
• In transit locations of units while they move to and/or from a deployment
• Future operations
• Postponed or cancelled operations
• Specific numbers of equipment and critical supplies
• Force protection measures at military encampments
• Descriptions of overseas bases
• Vulnerability of weapons systems / armor
• IED defeat efforts
• Comment on daily military activities / operations
• Unit morale

Combat Operational Stress Control
Combat Operational Stress Control (COSC) encompasses all policies and programs to prevent, identify, and holistically treat mental injuries caused by combat or other operations. COSC Program objectives promote maintaining a ready, resilient force and providing for its long-term health and well-being.

The primary goals of COSC are to maintain a ready fighting force, and to protect and restore the health of Marines and their family members. Comprehensive, detailed information on the Marine Corps COSC Program can be found at Manpower

Return to top

G.I.Bill

Military HOMEFRONT
Military HOMEFRONT is the Department of Defense website for official Military Community and Family Policy program information, policy and guidance designed to help troops and their families, leaders, and service providers. Whether you live the military lifestyle or support those who do, you'll find what you need!

Military HOMEFRONT

New River Marine Corps Community Services Family Services Prevention & Intervention
The Counseling Centers mission is to provide mental health services to the active duty and retired member and their families. Factors affecting interpersonal violence, child abuse and neglect are addressed through the implementation of the Marine Corps Family Advocacy Program, which include safety, accountability and changing the environment that fosters family violence Marines, Sailors and their families are supported in examining general counseling issues including, Individual /Personal Problems, Marital/Family Problems, Step Family issues, Parenting/Single Parenting, Separation/Divorce, Anger/Emotional Management, Child Behavior Problems, Stress Management, Sexual Abuse, challenges of Adolescence, Pre/Post Deployment Issues and Combat Operational Stress.

MCAS New River Prevention & Intervention

Media
Because of the ongoing Long War, the media has focused attention on the military like never before. With their Marines and Sailors away, family members may become the focus of new reporters during our upcoming deployment. The media is increasingly attracted to the story of those left behind and how they are coping with life on the home front.

Families should keep in mind the following guidelines for dealing with reporters. These are basic, common sense rules to ensure your right to privacy is not violated. Families are encouraged to call their local Public Affairs Office for advice.

When Dealing with Media, Remember the Following:
1. Command information is not for release. Information you are given by the MEU such as the phone numbers or addresses of other families are never to be given out. These are for personal planning purposes only.


2. You decide whether or not to be interviewed by the media. They can sometimes be persistent or intimidating, but cannot force you to be interviewed, and you have no obligation to speak with them. You can also stop an interview at any time.


3. If you do agree to be interviewed, it is not recommended you conduct the interview in or near your home. Maintain your privacy as much as possible.


4. Discuss only those matter for which you have direct responsibility or personal knowledge. Never discuss rumors, and avoid the temptation to exaggerate or speculate.


5. Don't lie to mislead a reporter. If you don't know an answer, aren't sure, or can't comment for security reasons, say so. Avoid the phrase 'no comment.' Just say 'I don't know.'


6. Be concerned for operational security. Don't discuss specific operational capabilities or future plans of the unit. Information you receive via the Key Volunteer Network is for the benefit of the families only, and shouldn't be discussed with reporters.


7. When asked a question, don't answer right away. Take a minute to sit back and think your answers through.


8. Journalists may come across as caring and friendly, but remember, they are trying to do a job, and that job entails getting information from you. Nothing is ever 'off the record.'


9. For advice, call Cherry Point Public Affairs at 252-466-4241

• Directory
• New River Links

Tricare
If a uniformed service medical facility cannot provide the inpatient care needed, that facility will provide the patient a statement of non-availability that allows them to receive care on a cost-sharing basis at a civilian medical facility. To ensure TRICARE coverage, family members should contact the their respective Naval Hospital's TRICARE Primary Care Manager (PCM) PRIOR to using TRICARE.

For additional information regarding TRICARE, call 800-931-9501.

TRICARE

Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune.
100 Brewster Blvd
Camp Lejeune, NC 28547-0100
910-450-4300 (Quarter Deck)

To Make an Appt: (910) 450-HELP (4357) option 1
Branch Medical Clinics
Camp Geiger: (910) 449-0545
Camp Johnson: (910) 450-0723
MCAS New River: (910) 449-6500 ext 289
Hadnot Point (MCB)
Courthouse Bay (Caron Clinic): (910) 450-7338
Primary Care Clinics
Henderson Family Medicine: (910) 455-1457
Hospital Family Medicine: (910) 450-4698
Hospital Pediatrics: (910) 450-4500
MCAS New River Family Med: (910) 449-5527

Health care provider for military member

Dental care provider for military members

Pharmacies

Veterans Affairs

Veterans Affairs

Wounded Warriors

Wounded Warrior Battalion - East

Wounded Warriors Family Support
Their mission is to provide support to the families of those who have been wounded, injured or killed during combat operations. The families of casualties suffer in many ways: some financially, some psychologically. Wounded Warriors Family Support mitigates their trauma by allowing them to find peace and solace as a family once more in family-friendly resorts that we provide free of charge. The resort condominiums that we own in Orlando, Florida and Galveston, Texas are quiet havens where war torn families can reunite and become stronger.

Wounded Warrior Family Support

Visiting Nurse
The Navy Marine Corps Relief Society has a Visiting Nurse Program comprised of paid Registered Nurses at the Camp Lejeune field site. The main function of the Visiting Nurse is to provide health education and information about health-related resources.

The Visiting Nurse is available to make hospital or home visits to eligible clients in the interest of improving their quality of life by promoting understanding of information about the individual's health issues. Visits are frequently made to new mothers and infants, to patients recovering from surgery, and to patients with chronic health problems. The Visiting Nurse will see patients of any age.

Referrals to the Visiting Nurse may be made by military or civilian doctors, nurses, or social workers, or the patient may contact the Visiting Nurse directly by calling the local Society office.

Child Development Centers
Bldg 4629/4298(adjacent to Commissary) 466-3105 / 3782

New River School Liaison Officer
Courtney Buzzard
School Liaison Officer
AS-232 Curtis Rd.
MCAS New River
Jacksonville, NC 28540
(910) 449-4702 / 5343

There are many options for choosing a school in North Carolina. Choices range from traditional public schools, secular private schools, religious private schools, charter schools, home schooling options and distance learning. A wealth of information about North Carolina Public Schools can be found by visiting their website.

Eastern Carolina has many private school options. Please note that this list is not exhausted, it may only be a partial listing and this office does not support or encourage parents to utilize a particular school. The School Liaison Officer may also have school brochures at the Community Plans and Liaison Office, located in building #4817, the Station Headquarters Building.

Charter Schools are publicly funded schools that are established by the districts governing body. Many have specific program strengths and criteria for admissions. Home

Virtual Instruction is also offered through North Carolina Public Schools Distance Learning Program. The Distance Learning Systems provide teachers and students access to courses and various resources. They deliver programming using a broadcast by way of UNC-TV, video teleconferencing, and via the Internet. The Online Public High School just celebrated their first year of service in June 2008.

Home Schooling is another option parents can choose. The School Liaison Officer located in the Community Plans and Liaison Office, building #4817, the Station Headquarters Building can help you with resources.

For county specific information on the area public school systems please visit the following websites:

Camp Lejeune Schools
Onslow County Schools
Jones County Schools
Pender Country Schools
Carteret Country Schools

AMCC
Housing on MCAS New River and Camp Lejeune is managed by Atlantic Marine Corps Communities LLC.

MotoMail
Family and friends of deployed Marines in Afghanistan & Iraq can NOW send a letter to be downloaded, printed, and ready for delivery, usually within 24 hours. THE SERVICE IS FREE, PRIVATE and SECURE.

MotoMail