Assisting Families of Marine Casualties

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The Casualty Assistance Calls Officer (CACO) is the primary point of contact for families concerning all Military benefits, entitlements or offers from benevolent organizations. When assigned, the CACO is provided a copy of the Guide to Benefits and Entitlements. The booklet contains information, application forms, and contact (telephone/web address) information.

Families are provided a copy of the Benefits and Entitlements Information for Survivors Pamphlet. This pamphlet, like the CACO Guide, provides the family a complete listing of available benefits and entitlements.

The most requested assistance is for travel to bedside of Marines who are seriously injured/ill. Current authorization/law provides round-trip transportation and per diem for two family members of the Marine. The law does not provide any assistance for family friends nor are we aware of any benevolent organizations that routinely provide this service.

Benefits and Entitlements provided by the military are restrictive, by-law in most cases, to specific family members. Offers from benevolent/philanthropic organizations on the other hand can serve a broader population depending upon the circumstances. Unfortunately, these organizations can change their requirements from case-to-case or are here today, gone tomorrow. Tracking or publicizing their offers is challenging. We must also be aware that publicizing can be viewed as an endorsement for the offer or organization.

The Marine Corps has taken the lead on a new DoD website that will provide detailed information on all available benefits, entitlements, and offers from benevolent or philanthropic organizations. Families will be able to search the listings of those benefits and approved offers that they may be eligible for and apply for them through the website. OSD/Service legal personnel will pre-approve all website postings.

Family Support Organizations

Marine Corps Community Support The MCCS at various Marine Corps installations provide a wide range of services for family members with valid ID cards. Services available include Disaster and Crisis Assistance, Individual and Family Counseling, Information and Referral, Relocation Assistance and Family Member Employment Assistance Program (FMEAP). Limited services may be provided to non-eligible family members, e.g., parents and siblings. For more information on services and programs available, contact MCCS at 800-336-4663 East of the Mississippi River (except for Wisconsin), or 800-253-1624 West of the Mississippi or visit the MCCS website at: http://www.usmc-mccs.org

Gold Star Wives
The Gold Star Wives of America, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to the needs, concerns and welfare of widows of deceased service members and is located in all 50 states. The members of Gold Star Wives (GSW) volunteer their services in the community, the military and veteran organizations. For more information contact: 888-751-6350 or on the web at: http://www.goldstarwives.org

Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation
The MC-LEF believes the nations most precious resource is its youth and their educational development is of primary importance in assisting them in becoming meaningful members of society. The Foundation is a non-profit corporation that encourages eligible and deserving children of Marines, former Marines and Federal law enforcement personnel to develop their spiritual, moral, intellectual and physical abilities. They support the efforts of qualified applicants through financial assistance for a college, vocational or technical education. For this purpose, the foundation purchases bonds that mature when the child reaches the age of 19. Questions may be directed to the Foundation at 877-606-1775. Additional information can be obtained by visiting the MCLEF website: http://www.mc-lef.org

Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS)
TAPS is a national non-profit, tax-exempt corporation that provides free services to those impacted by the loss of a Marine. These services include a peer support network, grief and trauma counseling referral, an annual military survivor seminar, a quarterly newsletter, and a caseworker assistance program. Services are available 24-hours a day with trained crisis professionals on call to help family members cope with the sudden loss of a loved one. Services are available for all “survivors” including spouses, significant others, parents, children, siblings, co-workers and friends. For additional information contact a TAPS representative at 800-959-TAPS (8277), or visit the TAPS website: http://www.taps.org

Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS)
The NMCRS is a private, non-profit charitable organization sponsored by the Department of the Navy and operates nearly 250 offices ashore and afloat on most Navy and Marine Corps installations. The Society provides financial assistance and counseling for survivors. Financial assistance is provided in the form of interest-free loans and/or grants to family members (children) who are pursuing post secondary undergraduate studies or vocational training. Visit the NMCRS website at: http://www.nmcrs.org

Fallen Patriot Fund
The Fallen Patriot Fund of the Mark Cuban Foundation provides financial resources to enhance the sustainability of the family unit who has suffered the loss or serious injury during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Contact them at: http://www.fallenpatriotfund.org

Fisher House Foundation
Provides funds and temporary housing and transportation for family members of hospitalized Service members. Contact: (301) 294-8560 or toll-free (888) 294-8560
http://www.fisherhouse.org

Operation Family Fund
Provides for the Families of those who have been killed or severely disabled during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom with funds for: immediate or long-term needs, educational trust accounts for preschool though college. Contact them via the web at: http://www.oeffamilyfund.org

First Command Education Foundation Scholarships
Scholarships are open to children of active, retired or deceased military personnel. An officer’s spouses’ club or a noncommissioned officers’ spouses’ club must nominate applicants. Awards for $3,000, $2000 or $1,000 are available one time only.

Scholarships for Military Children Program
Scholarship program created to recognize the contributions of military families and has awarded over 2.5 million dollars to military students. For Active duty, reserve/guard, or retired military personnel and survivors of deceased members who have a military dependent I.D. card may apply at http://www.militarwagneryscholar.org

Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation:
P.O. Box 3008, Princeton, NJ 08543-3008, Phone: (800) 292-7777, email: mcsf@marine-scholars.org http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn20...256E6F004A28BB

American Legion
The American Legion publishes a book with scholarship information. Information is available at: http://www.legion.org

Lifelong Learning Program
Additional resources for financial aid and colleges are available at all installations. For more information visit the Lifelong Learning web site http://www.usmc-mccs.org, and http://www.ed.gov/prog_info/SFA/FYE.

Spouse Tuition Aid Program (STAP) is available to spouses of active duty Navy and Marine Corps personnel in OCONUS locations pursuing full- or part-time enrollments in vocational certification, undergraduate or graduate programs.
- Maximum undergraduate award is $300 per term and $1500 per academic year.
- Maximum graduate award is $350 per term and $1750 per academic year.

VADM E.P. Travers Scholarship and Loan Programprovides financial assistance for spouses and unmarried dependent children of active duty members as well as unmarried dependent children of retired Navy or Marine Corps members.
- Awards are provided to full-time undergraduate students, both CONUS and OCONUS.
- Provides 1,000 grants of up to $2,000 each per academic year.
- Applicants are also evaluated for eligibility for interest-free student loans of up to $3,000.
- Loan repayment begins within 30 days of award and must be repaid in allotment within 24 months.