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  • T Minus 25

Urgent Message? The Red Cross Has You Covered

While your Trainee is in Basic Training, communication is extremely limited—but in a true emergency, the American Red Cross can deliver urgent messages quickly and directly. Serious illness or death in the immediate family, the birth of a child, or a catastrophic event at home are examples of situations that qualify. If that moment comes, connect with a Red Cross Emergency Specialist and get your message to your Soldier when it matters most.

While your Recruit is fully immersed in Basic Training or Boot Camp, their mission is clear: focus on training. That means very limited access to their phones or outside communication. But life doesn’t pause—and the military understands that.

In the case of an emergency, you have a powerful ally ready to help: The American Red Cross. They are the official channel for getting urgent messages to your Recruit when it truly matters.

What qualifies as an emergency? Here are a few examples:

  • A serious illness or death in the immediate family
  • The birth of your Recruit’s child
  • A catastrophic event affecting their home or family

These are just examples—but they highlight the level of urgency required for Red Cross intervention.

What You’ll Need to Provide:

When reaching out to the Red Cross, be ready to share the following details to help them quickly deliver your message:

  • Full Name and Rank of your Recruit
  • Date of Birth
  • Social Security Number
  • Branch of Service (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, or Coast Guard)
  • Military Address (Unit and Base Name)
  • Name and contact info for the family member experiencing the emergency
  • Where the emergency can be verified (hospital, doctor’s office, funeral home, etc.)

Contacting the Red Cross:

Call 1-877-272-7337 to speak with a Red Cross Emergency Specialist
Or visit: redcross.org/emergency-communication

When every second counts, the Red Cross is there to make sure your Recruit gets the message—fast.

Hopefully you will never have to utilize this service, but the more prepared you are the better you will be. I will be back next week with another update for you.

Hooah!

SGM Kris Broadus, U.S. Army (Retired)