Grand Forks AFB  Base Essentials

The Grand Forks Airman & Family Readiness Center is here and ready to assist  with a variety of resource and referral information for on and off base agencies and community service organizations. Contact the A&FRC Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 701-747-3241 or through the Grand Forks AFB Command Post after-hours number (in cases of emergencies) at 701-747-6711.

Victims of Sexual Assault

For immediate assistance, the Sexual Assault Prevention & Response Program (SAPR) can be reach 24/7 on 701-747-7272. The SAPR office is located on 558 Eielson Ave., Bldg. 440

Security Forces Assistance

The GFAFB Security Forces Law Enforcement Desk is located at 465 Steen Blvd., Bldg. 339 and is available 24/7 by calling 701-747-5351 or by dialing 911.

The Air Force Aid Society is a non-profit, charitable organization and is the official charity of the United States Air Force. The organization is headquartered in Arlington Virginia to provide emergency assistance to Airmen and Air Force familes when unexpected financial emergencies arise with no-interest loans and grants to assist families meet immediate needs and make a positive step toward a lasting financial solution. Staff members are available and on call 24 hours a day 7 days a week for emergencies to get you home due to a serious illness or a death in the family. All other request will be handled during normal duty hours which are Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. To obtain assistance during duty hours please call the Grand Forks Airman & Family Readiness Center at 701-747-3241. After duty hours, call the Command Post at 701-747-6771/6711, or the Grand Forks AFB, Base operator at 701-747-3000. If you have emergency needs please contact your First Shirt or Commander to aid in your travel assistance, and a verification message from the American Red Cross stating your presence is needed at home.

All Airman & Family Readiness Consultants can also assist you in the process of applying for a zero-interest loan for immediate emergency needs. Please give the Airman & Family Readiness Center a call to see if you are eligible before going to a "Pay Day Lender". We are here to help you meet your needs and provide you with the best possible assistance possibly.

The Air Force Aid Society, or equivalent emergency financial assistance for other branches of the service, can be reached by contacting a representative on any military installation. All of the military services and the American Red Cross have reciprocal agreements to assist individuals and family members in emergency situations. If you are traveling on orders, there may be emergency instructions or telephone numbers on your orders. Each case is reviewed on an individual basis. Often, services are joined with the efforts of the Red Cross to ensure total assistance to the member and their families. The Air Force Aid Society provides interest free loans and grants based on the individual situation for needs such as:

• Basic Living Expenses
• Emergency Travel
• Vehicle Expenses
• Funeral Expenses
• Medical/Dental
• Child Care/Respite
• Moving Expenses
• Miscellaneous Expenses

Eligibility

• Active duty Air Force personnel and their eligible family members
• Retired Air Force personnel and their eligible family members, but not on a continuing basis, and based on a case-by-case review
• Air National Guard or Air Force Reserve personnel away from home station on extended active duty 15 days or more under Title 10 USC
• Spouses and dependent age children of deceased Air Force personnel (who died on active duty or in retired status)

If your family needs American Red Cross emergency assistance, call the toll-free at 1-877-272-7373. The American Red Cross is available for emergency aid and can assist with financial crises. Rapid communication between service members and family about emergencies is available 24 hours a day. These communications include verifications of death or serious illness of immediate family, birth announcements to parents deployed overseas, as well as health and welfare reports resulting from a lack of communication over a long period of time. Active duty service members stationed in the United States and their immediate family members may call the Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Service Center toll-free for help 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at 1-877-272-7337.

You are  Eligible for Financial Assistance if you are

• An active duty service member

• A member of an activated National Guard or Reserve unit

• An immediate family member of a service member in the above two categories

• A military retiree or spouse/widow(er) of a retiree

  Information to Have Ready

  When calling the Red Cross, please provide as much of the following information about the service member as is known:

• Full legal name

• Rank/rating

• Branch of service (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard)

• Social Security number

• Date of birth

• Military unit address

• Information about the deployed unit and home base unit (for deployed service members only)

   

The toll-free telephone number is also available  from our local Red Cross chapter, the East Grand Forks MN branch. They can be contacted at 218-773-9565.

For chapters outside the Grand Forks area, conduct an internet search. The American Red Cross also has a free downloadable app "American Red Cross Here Care" available in you systems play store.

The Grand Forks Salvation Army Northern Division has been serving  North Dakota and Minnesota for over 125 years by providing critical services with much needed support. The Grand Forks Salvation Army provides assistance for basic needs of daily life for those without the resources to do so themselves. Often, the program provides food, shelter, clothing, financial assistance to pay utilities, and other necessities based on the customer's need. The Service Center is located at 1600 University Ave in downtown Grand Forks and can be contacted via phone at 701-775-2597. The facility is open Monday to Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Programs and Services

• Rent eviction and deposit assistance
• Rent and utility assistance
• Crisis intervention
• Emergency disaster services
• Personal care closet
• Emergency medical and dental assistance
• Utility disconnection assistance
• Gas assistance
• Back-to-school supplies
• Grocery baskets and food assistance (Picture ID and proof of current address required)
• Emergency disaster relief services
• Community Care ministry
• Winter coat assistance for children and adults
• Seasonal assistance
• Men’s and women’s ministries
• Youth ministry

Medical Emergency

If you need emergency care to safeguard life, limb or eyesight, go immediately to the nearest health care facility or call 911. You or a responsible family member must notify your Primary Care Manager (PCM) of this emergency care within 24 hours.

Medical Emergency En Route

While traveling, it is imperative that you always carry the 24-hour contact number for your PCM. For Provider and beneficiary questions about TRICARE services or care, contact UnitedHealthcare Military & Veterans toll-free at 1-877-988-9378.

Grand Forks AFB is located in the TRICARE West Region. While you are en route during your PCS, (or anytime you are away from home) it is important to know what to do in the event that you or your dependents need medical care. For those active duty members and dependents who are enrolled in TRICARE Prime, if you need non-emergency care away from home, your care will be covered IF you obtain approval from your Primary Care Manager (PCM). Your PCM from your previous duty station retains responsibility for your medical care until the day you enroll with a new PCM at your new duty station. Until that time, it is important that you give your civilian medical provider your home address from your previous assignment. This will help to ensure that any bills are sent to the appropriate claims processor. Your military identification card and/or TRICARE enrollment card will identify you as having military health benefits.

Important Documents to Hand Carry

The following items should be hand carried and not packed in your household goods shipment or luggage; Driver's licenses orders, passports, ID cards, credit cards, checkbooks (blank, canceled and current statements), Divorce papers (discharge papers; death certificates and annulments as applied to divorce situations) and Birth certificates (original or certified copies) for all family member copy of allotment application . Should you encounter an emergency en route to Grand Forks AFB have the emergency contact phone numbers of your in-bound Commander’s Support Staff, Grand Forks AFB Command Post, your sponsor and relatives readily available.

Organizations to Contact in an Emergency

Locate and contact the closest DoD military installation. ANY Air Force Airman and Family Readiness Center, Army Community Service or Navy Family Support Center can provide you invaluable assistance if needed. The American Red Cross also provided services to ALL branches of the military as well as veterans and DoD employees. One of the services provided is 247/365 emergency communication messages.

The Grand Forks Red Cross office is located at 1708 River Rd. NW, East Grand Forks, MN. They can be contacted via phone at 213-773-9565 or by calling 1-877-272-7337 for Armed Forces emergency assistance.