The American Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Services provides 24-hour emergency services for military personnel and their families.  The Red Cross keeps military personnel in touch with their families following the death or serious illness of a family member or the birth of a child or in response to other family emergencies.Red Cross emergency messages provide military personnel and their commanders with fast, reliable information to help them make decisions regarding emergency leave, deferment, compassionate reassignment, and dependency discharge.The Red Cross also assists military families with access to emergency financial assistance by coordinating their requests with and through the national military aid societies.