COUNSELING

The Southern Nevada Chapter of the American Red Cross offers confidential services, including counseling, guidance, information, referrals and other social services, to all military personnel on active duty and their families. Military personnel includes members of the United States Armed Forces and civilian-based military entities such as the National Guard and the Reserves.

In the past, members of the National Guard and the Reserves have experienced difficulties accessing military-related social services. The access problem was due in part to the fact that these service persons were usually placed on duty for relatively short periods of time and then they returned to their communities which may have been far from military installations.

However, since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, numerous National Guard and Reserve units have been being called to full-time duty status for periods of up to two years. In light of these deployments, which involve lengthy separations from loved ones, the community-based military and their families need preparation and guidance before, during and after periods of activation.

In response to this great need, the American Red Cross is dedicated to making access as readily available to members of the civilian-based military as that provided to service persons with the United States Armed Forces.