‘Military One Source' helps with family problems Published July 1, 2004 By Rudi Williams American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- The Defense Department has established a "one-stop" place to go whenever servicemembers or family members need assistance with any kind of problem.It is called "Military One Source," and is available anytime, worldwide, said John M. Molino, deputy undersecretary of defense for military community and family policy."Military One Source is a revolutionary augmentation to the family services we currently have on military installations around the world," Mr. Molino said.Each branch had its own program, and now DOD officials are bringing them together as Military One Source, Mr. Molino added.He said the program is intended to complement assistance already offered. Mr. Molino said Military One Source allows DOD officials to provide assistance to families and servicemembers via the Internet or a toll-free telephone number.Services available include help for common, everyday difficulties to life's most complicated situations, he said."It's a remarkable way to … step forward into a new generation of providing services," he said. "It's a place where no matter when (a) situation occurs, the military family member or servicemember could make a phone call or go on the Internet and begin to get some help."Each military branch provides a lot of family services on installations, but Mr. Molino said that about two-thirds of military families live off base. "The people who are off the installation tend to be the most junior folks," he said."They may not have the financial resources to have two cars, or to get themselves back and forth to the installations to get those services," Mr. Molino said. "So what One Source does is provide the opportunity to make that phone call and let us bring the services, literally, figuratively and electronically, to your home."When people call for help, the person responding will have at least a master's degree in social work or some kind of counseling service, Mr. Molino said. "That person is trained specifically to deal with military issues -- issues that complicate military life. So they're very sensitive to what you ask," he said."Some people think they're the only people who ever experienced whatever their problem is, and, of course, they're not," Mr. Molino said. "Most everyone goes through different phases and different cycles."The person on the other end does not make judgments about situations, he explained. "They're there to listen to what you have to say, evaluate it and give you the beginnings of an answer or actually the answer to your question," Mr. Molino said.Military One Source provides information on a gamut of situations: from needing a plumber in the middle of the night to fix a broken pipe, to needing veterinary service for a sick dog. It also handles things like helping families new to an area find child care, or information about the school system, summer jobs -- whatever is needed."One Source can get all that information and provide it to you in a most efficient manner, whether it be electronically or getting back to you on the telephone," Mr. Molino said.People should not be afraid or embarrassed to seek help from Military One Source, he said. "The person at the other end of the phone isn't going to be judgmental about your situation," he said.Word of mouth is the best way to get the word out about Military One Source within a unit, he said. For example, Mr. Molino said, "If I'd made a phone call and had a positive experience, I can tell you about it. I can say, 'You know, I tried One Source one time, and it worked for me. You ought to give it a shot.' Asking for help isn't a sign of weakness; it's really a sign of being smart -- it's a sign of smartness.”He pointed out when servicemembers are deployed, they can put their minds at ease knowing that if their family needs help, it is only a phone call away.Putting himself in that position, Mr. Molino said, "I would find it very (comforting) to know that my family back home has that option … and they don't have to wait for the family center to open. They don't have to find a way to get to the family center. My wife wouldn't have to find a way to have the children taken care of."If there's a language problem, One Source is able to provide services in more than 100 languages, usually in less than a minute's delay," he said.Military One Source also can be helpful to active-duty servicemembers. They do not have to take time off from work or training to solve a problem. All they have to do is call Military One Source, Mr. Molino said.He emphasized that Military One Source counseling service is not mental-health counseling or counseling for an illness that might be burdening somebody."We have a health-care system that provides that service," he said. "This is a different kind of counseling. It's for folks that experience difficulties day to day.” When a servicemember is deployed, the family adjusts to his or her absence. Somebody is walking the dog and taking out the garbage. When the servicemember comes back, he or she has to fit back into the family. Sometimes that creates friction, Mr. Molino said.All families have some degree of difficulty, and most of them manage to work through the problem. But sometimes they need a little assistance, and one phone call can now get them that kind of counseling, he said.Military Once Source also is available to National Guardsmen and reservists being called to active duty for operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.The toll-free numbers for Military One Source are:-- From the United States: (800) 342-9647.-- From outside the United States (where available): (800) 3429-6477.-- International collect: (484) 530-5747.