U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Kasey Peacock

This blog post by James Rodriguez, deputy assistant secretary of defense for Warrior Care Policy, was originally posted on DoDLive.

Last week, I had the opportunity to tour one of the three Military OneSource call center sites. Hopefully, you’ve heard of Military OneSource — a Department of Defense-funded one-stop shop for comprehensive information on every aspect of military life for service members and their families. The no-cost program consists of a 24/7 call center, confidential help, health and wellness coaching, specialty consultations, and a very robust website.

What really struck me was the depth and breadth of the remarkable resources available. I heard multiple examples of extraordinary questions, requests and support. One that struck me was about a new military spouse who found out she was pregnant just before her husband deployed. She decided to move back home to be closer to her support network.

On her drive home, her car was broken into and she lost everything including her cash, credit cards and ID. She was stuck, alone, and in the middle of nowhere.

She made two calls — the first was to the police and the second was to Military OneSource.

Why? Because she had been told in a pre-deployment brief that Military OneSource would be there if she ever needed it.

Within 20 minutes of her call, her Military OneSource consultant had determined her location and identified the nearest family support center where staff arranged for no-cost overnight lodging and for her to get a new military ID card. The consultant also helped her contact American Red Cross to get a message to her deployed husband’s rear detachment command, cancel her credit cards (and get new ones sent to her parent’s home), and find a branch of her bank so that she could get cash to continue her journey home.

All it took was a phone call.

So why is this resource important to you, our wounded warriors and caregivers? Because Military OneSource is there for you, too. Not just while you’re on active duty, but for life. (The general military population can access Military OneSource support until 180 days post-deployment.)

Here are my top takeaways for our military community:

• One of Military OneSource’s specialty consultations is for wounded warriors and their caregivers. These consultants provide a safety net through personal and detailed phone conversations, instead of automated responses or website link. The dedicated staff works collaboratively with service wounded warrior programs, TRICARE and Department of Veterans Affairs to create an action plan within 96 hours of the initial call. This doesn’t mean the issue is resolved in that time, rather the service member or caregiver has a road map to having their issue resolved and they have a specific point of contact to guide them through the process. It’s worth noting that this special consultation enjoys a 95 to 98 percent success rate year-to-year in solving issues for warriors and caregivers.
• If you’re struggling to keep track of your appointments, doctors, medications and contact information, download the “Keeping It All Together” handbook. We hear from many families that it really helps them document and organize important information during the service member’s treatment and recovery. You can also request a hard copy of the handbook by calling Military OneSource at 800-342-9647.
• I believe that health and wellness is life changing. It has been for me and my family. I’ve seen its effects in the resilience and determination of service members recovering from injuries; competing in Warrior Games, Paralympics or getting ready to climb Mount McKinley; or just walking down a driveway for the first time after being injured.
  
  If you’re struggling with your personal wellness, Military OneSource’s health and wellness coaches are there for you. They’ll help you with weight management, fitness and nutrition, health condition management, stress management and life transitions. They’ll help you create an action plan to achieve your goals, eliminate roadblocks or barriers that stand in your way, and be with you on every step to success.

Office of Warrior Care Policy proactively supports our nation’s wounded, ill and injured service members in their recovery, reintegration or transition to civilian life. Programs like Military OneSource are also part of that Family Readiness System of support — the network and collaboration of programs, services, people and agencies that promotes readiness and quality of life. My call to action to you is to use these resources.

Whether you’re in the U.S. or overseas, contacting Military OneSource is easy. Call 800-342-9647, visit militaryonesource.mil, or connect with the program via Facebook and Twitter.

To learn more about Warrior Care policy, visit our website or like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.