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Contact information for key programs and services at this installation.
Deployment can be a challenging phase of the military lifecycle, but it’s important to know that you don’t have to go through it alone. The military provides a variety of resources and support programs — ranging from educational briefings to morale calls — for your loved ones, children and service members to ease the stress of deployment. Military members may be assigned to a specific installation but support may come from local communities, Yellow Ribbon events or the installation itself.
While the dedicated local Individual Augmentee support program has sunset, comprehensive deployment readiness, mobilization, and reintegration support have transitioned fully to the Fleet and Family Support Center. Naval Weapons Station Crane often referred to as NSA Crane or NSWC Crane does host Navy Reserve components, which operates in close partnership with the Navy Operational Support Center Indianapolis, IN, and the Reserve Component Command, Great Lakes, IL.
FFSC Deployment Services and Partnerships
The FFSC serves as the central hub for deployment readiness, ensuring active duty, reservists, and their families are fully supported.
Family Deployment Support
FFSC acts as the primary point of contact for Navy families with deployment-related inquiries, providing direct consultations, resources, and referrals to ease the challenges of the deployment cycle.
Readiness Education
FFSC regularly conducts structured classes and briefings tailored to deployment readiness, operational stress control, and financial planning for deployment.
Reserve & Reserve Component Command
FFSC coordinates closely with NRC Great Lakes and REDCOM to provide specialized, targeted preparation for reservists transitioning to active deployment status.
Reintegration and Retention Programs
For reservists and military families navigating the post-deployment phase, FFSC provides direct operational support for several high-impact Navy programs:
Covered Services:
At Naval Support Activity Crane and Naval Station Great Lakes, the Fleet and Family Support Center provides comprehensive deployment support services designed to meet the unique needs of service members and their families. Whether you're active duty or a reservist, FFSC deployment consultants offer deployment readiness briefs and checklists to assist sailors and families preparing for deployment. In collaboration with Reserve Component Command, FFSC ensures that every sailor regardless of duty status is mission ready and personally prepared for every phase of the deployment cycle.
For more information, contact Naval station Great Lake’s FFSC at 847-688-3603. Deployment support programs are tailored to meet the needs of an individual command.
Ombudsman Program
Navy family ombudsmen are communication links, information and referral resources and advocates for command family members. Appointed by the commanding officer, command ombudsmen are volunteers and spouses of service members within the command. As an official command representative, the ombudsman is a confidential point of contact for all family members connected to the command including spouses, parents and extended family members.
The Naval Station Great Lake’s FFSC ombudsman coordinator maintains a roster of all area ombudsmen. Contact your nearest Fleet and Family Support Center to obtain the contact information for your command ombudsman.
Military OneSource
Military OneSource offers materials and consultations on topics such as preparing for deployment, returning reservists and challenges faced during deployment. For children, Military OneSource offers videos designed to help military families with children aged three through 18 cope with feelings, challenges and concerns experienced during various phases of deployment. For more information, call 800-342-9647 or visit the Military OneSource website.
American Red Cross
Both active duty and reservists can count on the American Red Cross to provide emergency communications to link with their families back home. The Red Cross can also provide access to financial assistance and counseling. Call 877-272-7337 or visit the American Red Cross website for more information.