National Military Services
Our Nation's defenders answer the call to duty selflessly, without hesitation. But all too often, deployments can be incredible financial and emotional hardships for them and the families they leave behind.
VFW National Military Services unites three successful, longstanding programs: VFW Operation Uplink™, VFW Unmet Needs, and the VFW Military Assistance Program(MAP). These initiatives make an incredible difference for our troops and their families.
VFW National Military Services (NMS) promotes positive awareness of the VFW through community involvement, communication tools, and financial support to qualified military service members. With the variety of support offered, three separate programs were developed under the VFW National Military Services department. These programs are the Operation Uplink™, Military Assistance Program and Unmet Needs.
Though NMS, we offer support and assistance to the military community in so many ways. Whether it's helping service members weather long deployments or cope with rough financial times, we're the program that puts the military first. NMS provides assistance and guidance to VFW Posts and Ladies Auxiliaries in their efforts to support our military and their families. From providing free phone time and emergency financial assistance to farewell and welcome home ceremonies, the NMS department is there showing support for our troops day in and day out. We've been there. We understand. And "We're Here to Help."
The programs of the VFW National Military Services are funded solely by the generosity of our donors.
As the largest organization of combat veterans, VFW knows the importance of keeping military families in touch. That's why in 1996 VFW launched the VFW Operation Uplink program - the premiere calling program for deployed service members that provides free phone time to active-duty military personnel and hospitalized veterans. Operation Uplink initially provided calling cards to deployed and hospitalized troops, but on Mother's Day 2006, due to the growing popularity of the program and thanks to the generosity of corporate donors like Sport Clips and Harleysville Insurance, the program began hosting "Free Call Days."
The program is the only one of its kind, providing two designated days each month when deployed service members making phone calls from their Morale, Welfare & Recreation (MWR) center to the U.S., and Germany and Italy land lines, are greeted by a recording which states the call will be free, courtesy of Operation Uplink. VFW and Ladies Auxiliary members, as well as other caring citizens, generously support the program. Since it's start in 2006, Free Call Days have provided more than 5.5 million free connections for service members and their families. The VFW is proud of Operation Uplink because it provides an easy way for individuals and organizations to make an immediate difference in the lives of active-duty military personnel.
Click here if you or your corporation is interested in sponsoring a Free Call Day! Contact Linda Ferguson of VFW National Military Services at 816-968-1102 or lferguson@vfw.org with any questions.
OPERATION UPLINK RESOURCES
VFW Unmet Needs was created in 2004 through a corporate partnership to assist military service members and their families who run into unexpected financial difficulties as a result of deployment or other hardships directly related to military service. Unmet Needs assists with basic life needs such as: mortgage and rent, home and auto repairs, insurance, utilities, food and clothing. Unmet Needs helps meet unanticipated financial demands on our service members' families that can't be remedied through existing means and provides our service members with the security of knowing that their families have additional support here at home.
The financial assistance is in the form of up to $2,500 in grants that do not need to be repaid. All grants are paid directly to the "creditor" (such as the electric company), and not to the individual. Each case is reviewed individually and acceptance determined by a committee.
Eligible service members can download and complete a grant application.
UNMET NEEDS RESOURCES
The VFW Military Assistance Program (MAP) is the outstretched hand between the VFW and the local military, offering our support around the world. In the last five years, MAP has sponsored events supporting over one million service members and their families. If you are a service member or a Family Readiness Group leader, please contact us and we will help you locate a VFW Post or Ladies Auxiliary in your area to work with.
Does your Post or Ladies Auxiliary want to host a MAP event but doesn't know where to start? The best place to start is with the MAP Grant Application, which can only be completed and submitted by a VFW or Ladies Auxiliary member. From this page, simply login (link is above) with a VFW member login and go to the National Military Services link, then look for the Military Assistance Program (MAP) files.
A huge part of MAP includes the Adopt-a-Unit program. Through Adopt-a-Unit, VFW and its Ladies Auxiliary adopt hundreds of military units around the world. Adopt-a-Unit's goal is to develop supportive relationships with units before, during and after deployments to help deliver the vast network of resources VFW has available for the military. Please contact us if your unit is interested in learning more.
To contact the Military Assistance Program (MAP), please email us at map@vfw.org or call 816-756-3390 and ask for the MAP office.
MILITARY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM RESOURCES