Adjusting to Life after Military Service during the COVID-19 Pandemic
by Catie Ballenger, American Red Cross
The American Red Cross offers all members of the military, veterans and their families direct services ranging from responding to emergency needs for food, clothing, and shelter, referrals to counseling services (e.g., financial, legal, mental health), respite care for caregivers and other resources that meet the unique needs of local military members, veterans and their families.
Local Red Cross chapters develop and maintain relationships with key community partners, working hand in hand to provide care and comfort to our American Heroes. One of these partners is Operation TBI Freedom (OTF), a Colorado program that provides support for veterans and active-duty military personnel with traumatic brain injuries.
This month, Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces Specialist Josh Starrlett received a request from OTF social worker, John Lenz, who was working with a disabled, U.S. Army Private First Class (E-3) veteran. Not only was the veteran adjusting to life with a degenerative muscle disability, she was a young mother of four children. Because of COVID-19 school closures, she was also now her children’s teacher.
The new responsibility of homeschooling seemed impossible. The children did not have the tools they needed to learn from home. The Red Cross of Colorado responded immediately, supplying the family with yearlong subscriptions to the newest version of Microsoft Office. Every member of the family received a license so that each child would be able to complete their schoolwork. Additional support was given to allow the new software to work on their old computers.
The partnership between the American Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces and Operation TBI Freedom has made it possible for this veteran and her family to cope with and respond to the challenges of life after military service during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Find out how you can volunteer your time to support our military at home and across the globe by clicking below or downloading our Hero Care App in English or Spanish.
