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'Military One Source' Solves Service Member, Family Member Problems

Navy Newsstand

Story Number: NNS040706-19
Release Date: 7/7/2004 2:08:00 AM

By Rudi Williams, American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Defense Department (DoD) has established a "one stop" place to go whenever service members or family members need assistance with any kind of problem.

It's called "Military One Source," and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, according to John M. Molino, deputy undersecretary of defense for military community and family policy.

"Military One Source is a revolutionary augmentation to the family services we currently have on military installations around the world," Molino explained during an interview with the Pentagon Channel and American Forces Press Service.

Each service had its own One Source program, and now DoD is bringing them together and calling it Military One Source, Molino noted.

He noted that it's intended to complement assistance offered to military families by the services. Molino said Military One Source "leverages technology, and enables DoD to provide assistance to families and service members via the Internet or a toll-free telephone number."

The services include everything from common, everyday difficulties that might face a family to life's most complicated situations, he noted.

"It's a remarkable way to...step forward into a new generation of providing services," he said. "It's a place where no matter when that situation occurs, the military family member or service member could make a phone call, or go on the Internet and begin to get some help."

The military services provide a lot of family services on installations, but Molino pointed out that about two-thirds of military families live off base. "The people who are off the installation tend to be the most junior folks," he added.

"They may not have the financial resources to have two cars, or to get themselves back and forth to the installations to get those services," Molino continued. "So what One Source does is provide the opportunity to make that phone call and let us bring the services, literally, figuratively and electronically, to your home."

When someone calls Military One Source for help, the person answering the phone has at least a master's degree in social work or some kind of counseling service, Molino noted.

"That person is trained specifically to deal with military issues - issues that complicate military life," he said. "So they're very sensitive to what you ask."

Military One Source runs the gamut of situations: from needing a plumber in the middle of the night to fix a broken pipe, to needing veterinary service for a sick dog. It also handles things like helping families new to an area find childcare, or information about the school system, summer jobs - whatever is needed.

"One Source can get all that information and provide it to you in a most efficient manner, whether it be electronically or getting back to you on the telephone," Molino said.

He pointed out when service members are deployed, they can put their minds at ease knowing that if their family needs help, it's only a phone call away.

"We can do things instantly, any time of the day or night," he continued. "If there's a language problem, One Source is able to provide services in more than 100 languages, usually in less than a minute's delay."

Military Once Source also is available to National Guardsmen and Reservists being called to active duty for Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

"We found that it works as well for guardsmen and Reservists, especially because they tend not to be close to military installations," Molino said.

The toll-free numbers for Military One Source are:

From the United States: (800) 342-9647 International toll free: (800) 3429-6477 International collect: (484) 530-5747