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The
Wisconsin National Guard has established eight Family Assistance
Centers (FAC) throughout the state to
provide assistance to family members of deployed service members.
The
Family Assistance Centers focus on getting family members
information on entitlements and benefits
available to them and providing
referrals for assistance.
Family
Assistance Centers are established in times of contingency
call up, mobilization and
large-scale deployment to provide support
and assistance to Service members and their families. They
are intended to simplify the process of accessing needed services for families
of service members called to active duty for an extended
period of time. The primary mission of any FAC is to inform
and emotional support
families so Service member can perform their mission.
During
Desert Storm, approximately 600 Family Assistance Centers
were established throughout
the United States and in Europe. These
centers were critical in providing information, assistance
and referral to thousands of military family members. Coordinating services
through an FAC focuses the military's best response to large-scale
deployments,
mass casualty events and natural disasters.
Information
and assistance is provided for
eligible family members to obtain Identification cards
and enroll in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System. Health
benefits are a key concern for family members of a deployed service
member and assistance in coordinating TRICARE insurance claims
and issues with the nearest health benefits advisor, as well as information
on TRICARE and TRICARE Dental programs is provided.
The
Family Assistance Centers also provide legal assistance and support group information
and referrals to various military and civilian agencies.
Services
are available to all military members called to active duty
and their families. No
military personnel or family member will
be turned away from an FAC regardless of their branch. |