Resources

There are a variety of non-medical, confidential, counseling services available at no cost to service members and their families.  The active force, National Guard and Reserve Components, and their families are eligible for the services discussed below.

Military OneSource

Military OneSource (MOS)   This site provides information and resources to help balance work and family life. Consultants are available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week by phone, online, or via email offering personalized support to any service or family member. Military OneSource can connect individuals with a trained, state-licensed mental health professional in the community, telephonically, or online for confidential/private counseling.

The counseling is not designed to address long-term counseling needs, such as child and spouse abuse, suicidal ideation, and mental illness. People in need of long-term treatment are referred to a military medical treatment facility and/or TRICARE for services. Military OneSource offers twelve free in-person counseling sessions per person, per issue that are short-term, problem focused, and address a variety of issues, such as improving relationships at home and at work, marital issues, grief and loss issues (normal reactions that would benefit from short-term support), adjusting to a change in situation (such as a return from deployment or permanent change of duty station), and other issues that are non-medical in nature. Military OneSource counselors are licensed, credentialed, and experienced. They also understand the military culture and its unique challenges.

For those unable to attend face-to-face counseling, Military OneSource arranges telephone and online consultations. While referrals to non-medical, face-to-face counseling sessions continue for those stationed in United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the new expanded service provides a telephonic or online consultation option for those who are unable to attend face-to-face counseling sessions due to their overseas location or other circumstances.

To contact Military OneSource by phone, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, call Stateside at 1-800-342-9647. The Military OneSource website lists specific dialing information for other countries.

Military and Family Life Counselors (MFLC's)

MFLCs are Masters or PhD level, licensed, and credentialed clinical providers that offer intervention and support to military members and their families. Like Military OneSource, they provide up to twelve sessions of non-medical, short-term counseling per person, per issue for every day issues, such as anger management, stress, parenting, communication, family relationships, deployment, and other military-related topics.  The goal of the program is to support operational readiness and family readiness.  Situations requiring mental health treatment are referred to behavioral health agencies that treat these conditions.

MFLCs can be accessed through installation locations such as the Army Community Services (ACS), Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS), Navy Fleet and Family Support Centers (FFSC), and the Airman and Family Readiness Centers (A&FRC). MFLCs will also provide support at National Guard and Reserve Component drill weekends, mobilizations, and family events.

Veterans Assistance (VA) Centers

Veterans Assistance (VA) Centers  VA Centers are community based and part of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The goal of the VA Center program is to provide a broad range of counseling, outreach, and referral services to eligible veterans in order to help them make a satisfying post-war readjustment to civilian life. VA Centers also provide bereavement counseling services to surviving parents, spouses, children and siblings of service members who die of any cause while on active duty, to include federally activated Reserve and National Guard personnel.

National Guard and Reserve members can access both medical and non-medical counseling as well as grief counseling through local VA Centers.  Deactivated military members are eligible for counseling through VA Centers if they have returned from a hostile area within the past two years.  For more information regarding eligibility requirements and available counseling programs and services, please see the Department of Veterans Affairs website.  The website also provides a number of different articles related to combat stress.

Prevention Education and Counseling Support on Installations

All branches of Service offer a number of choices for prevention education and counseling support. Installations may offer different programs to support various issues, such as life skills, stress and anger management, conflict resolution, parenting and relationships, and communication. The installation family support program will have an updated schedule of classes, dates, and times.

Counseling Support through Chaplains

Military chaplains play a critical role in providing counseling support to service members and their families. Many chaplains conduct marriage workshops and retreats for military couples and offer other forms of assistance when needed. They are also knowledgeable about other support and counseling resources available through the installation.

• Links to Branch Support Services
• Links to Additional Resources