In 2008, the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED) established the Navy and Marine Corps Reserve Psychological Health Outreach Program (PHOP) to ensure Reservists and their eligible family members have full access to appropriate psychological health care services, to increase resilience and to facilitate recovery. PHOP counselors provide support to all Navy Reserve Centers (NRC) and are embedded in 29 Reserve units across the nation. Reservists and their families are eligible for FREE services from PHOP.
PHOP team members connect with Reservists to provide support through resources and referrals on many common stressors including, but not limited to, relationship problems, deployment related issues, grief/loss, unemployment and underemployment, financial assistance, legal issues, and housing/homelessness. PHOP also supports NRC command leaders by providing consultation, facilitating psychoeducational briefings, and coordinating all-hands resiliency check-ins.
PHOP team members are available by phone at: 1-866-578- PHOP(7467). Follow PHOP on Facebook @BUMEDPHOP for more resources, information and program events.
Chaplains provide a wide spectrum of counsel, advice and pastoral care for service members and their families. They keep all of your communications in complete confidence unless you direct otherwise. They are naval officers who understand the challenges of Navy life and religious ministers available to help you grow in your faith.
The Commander, Navy Reserve Forces Command Chaplain office runs an around-the-clock on-call 100% confidential phone service for Reserve Force personnel and their families providing a safe and confidential way to receive counseling and spiritual services. The CNRFC 24/7 chaplain line is available at (757) 322-5650.
NAVY311 is another resource to connect with a chaplain; support is available to all active and Reserve Sailors, Marines, Coast Guardsmen and their family members.
Call: 1-855-NAVY-311 (1-855-628-9311)
Email: navy311@navy.mil
Text: navy311@navy.mil
Visit: www.navy311.navy.mil
Religious services are available to any Reserve Sailor or family member. Find out more through your command, or visit the Chaplain Corps website at https://www.navy.mil/ local/chaplaincorps.
If you, your friend, your shipmate, or a loved one are having trouble navigating stress or experiencing a crisis, help is always available. Seeking help is a sign of strength and a sign of the good judgment and reliability needed to thrive in life. You can reach out to your local Fleet and Family Support Center, Deployed Resilience Counselor, civilian or military mental health provider, or any of the following free and confidential resources:
MILITARY CRISIS LINE
Connects service members and veterans in crisis with qualified and caring Department of Veterans Affairs responders through a confidential, toll-free hotline, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Support is available via telephone, mobile text or online.
https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/
Call: 1-800-273-TALK (8255, Option 1), Text 838255
MILITARY ONESOURCE
Military OneSource offers free and confidential non-medical counseling via phone and live chat, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They also offer specialty consultations, with services including peer-to-peer support, wounded warrior support, health and wellness coaching, transition assistance and more.
https://www.militaryonesource.mil/
Call: 1-800-342-9647
OCONUS: 703-253-7599
REAL WARRIORS LIVE CHAT
Live chat with a trained health resource consultant who is ready to talk, listen and provide guidance and resources.
http://www.realwarriors.net/livechat
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Suicide Hotline: 988
National Hope Line Network: 1-800-784-2433
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 (24/7)
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services:
1-800-662-HELP (4357)
IMAlive Virtual Crisis Center: https://www.imalive.org/
Military Funeral Honors benefit you two ways. First, as a Reservist you’re entitled to be buried with military honors. Our nation regards the memorializing of its military deceased as an honorable and sacred obligation. Second, you’re eligible to participate in funeral honors ceremonies, earning you drill pay and points for retirement. Navy Military Funeral Honors is a total force mission – it takes active-duty and Reserve Sailors, members of the National Guard, and retirees.
Contact your NRC’s funeral honors representative to learn how you can participate.
SGLI provides you and your family, through Family Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (FSGLI), low-cost term life insurance coverage. Coverage is available in $50,000 increments up to a maximum of $500,000 (as of Mar. 1W) for you, a maximum of $100,000 for your spouse and $10,000 for dependent children. Premiums are deducted from monthly pay automatically once enrollment has been completed.
As a Navy Reserve Sailor, you qualify for educational assistance, as long as you meet the requirements — six years of service and 90 days of aggregate active-duty service after Sept. 10, 2001. The qualifying active-duty periods are mobilizations, Active Duty for Training (ADT), Active Duty for Special Work (ADSW), and Active Duty for Operational Support (ADOS). You can transfer unused entitlements to your spouse or dependents, as long are they are enrolled in the Defense Eligibility Enrollment System and are eligible for identification card benefits. Using and transferring benefits isn’t difficult, but there are a number of steps you must complete to ensure you’re ready.
Step-by-step instructions for transferability of the Post 9/11 GI Bill can be found at: www.mynrh.navy.mil > Commands > CNRFC > N-codes > N1 > N1C > N1C2 (CAC required). Click Post 9/11 GI Bill Documents box. The file is titled One Page — Post 9-11 GI Bill Transferability Information Sheet.
You may also contact the post 9/11 hotline at 1-800-621-8853, or email cnrfc_post911GIBILL@navy.mil. More information on the Forever GI Bill can be found at: www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
The Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program (YRRP) is a DoD wide effort to promote the well-being of National Guard and Reserve members, their families and communities, by connecting them with resources throughout the deployment cycle. YRRP hosts Deployment Readiness Training (DRT) events for Sailors departing for a mobilization and Returning Warrior Workshops (RWW) for Sailors as they return home.
While DRTs are a mandatory training stop for Reserve Sailors before leaving on mobilization, RWW’s are a unique opportunity for returning mobilized Sailors. Designed to provide resources, encouragement and support for Sailors returning from deployment, RWW’s are an all expenses paid weekend retreat held at a three-star (or higher) hotel.
Any Reserve Sailor recently returned from a mobilization or deployment is invited to attend an RWW with a guest of their choice. RWWs are hosted by one of the six Navy Region Reserve Component Commands (REDCOM) at a hotel away from military bases to ensure a safe and relaxed atmosphere for Sailors and guests to focus on the reintegration process. Sailors attend the event on ADT travel orders paid for by the YRRP. Attire for all attendees is civilian business casual. All lodging, meals and travel expenses are covered and include: dinner Friday night, three meals on Saturday and breakfast and lunch on Sunday. Travel is primarily by personal vehicle, and mileage is paid at the current government rate for up to 400 miles. The host REDCOM will work to pair returning Sailors with an RWW nearest to their residence.
During the RWW, trained facilitators lead Sailors and their guests through a series of presentations and table-top discussions that address post-combat stress and transition back to civilian life. Participants are afforded the opportunity to share their experiences in a safe environment with their peers. Symptoms such as sleep and appetite disturbances, decreased intimacy, job loss, financial difficulties, increased anger and/or frustration, alcohol or drug use, and other behaviors not present prior to deployment are safely discussed. The goal is for Sailors to learn that they are not alone and have resources available to help them move forward. For more information: www.yellowribbon.mil
The Navy Reserve office of the Inspector General plays a critical role in helping the Navy Reserve maintain the highest level of integrity and public confidence. The IG inquires and reports on matters which affect the discipline and efficiency of the Navy. Matters which are appropriate for the IG to look into may be broadly placed under the heading of fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement.
The IG’s office is not always the most appropriate place to initiate a complaint or voice a concern. Typically, the chain of command and the informal resolution system (military) or the alternate dispute resolution system (civilian) act as the model for resolving conflict and reporting violations and improprieties.
Follow the four-step process located on the SECNAV IG website to determine the best place to start: www.secnav.navy.mil/ ig/Pages/ComplaintProcedure.aspx, call the toll-free hotline: 1-800-522-3451, or contact: navighotlines@navy.mil
Contact the CNRF IG: https://private.navyreserve.navy.mil/ cnrfc/special_assistants/N0002/Pages/
By phone: (866) 237-2298
Or contact nwor_navreshotline@navy.mil
NMCRS is a private non-profit charitable organization sponsored by the Navy and has been providing need-based financial assistance for Sailors, Marines and their families since 1904. Reserve Sailors are eligible for NMCRS services ONLY when on active-duty orders for 30 days or more, with certain exceptions. If you are experiencing financial hardship, NMCRS may be able to help. Talk with your command leadership and visit the NMCRS website: www.nmcrs.org
FFSC is a one-stop shop for free parenting and life skill programs, financial counseling, deployment support, transition and employment assistance, relocation support, counseling and victim assistance, exceptional family member support, information and referral and many more programs to promote quality of life for military personnel and their families.
Specific eligibility requirements may be required for some services. Visit your nearest FFSC for further information or online at www.cnic.navy.mil/ffr/family_readiness/fleet_and_ family_support_program.html
Navy Reserve Sailors are eligible to use temporary military lodging facilities and resorts located across the U.S. and around the world. Military lodging facilities range from modern resorts to mountain cottages. There are limited-service hotels built specifically for families arriving at a new duty station as well as full-service recreational facilities, and some facilities even allow pets.
There are a number of sites to visit for Military Lodging options. Two recommendations are the Armed Forces Vacation Club and Military One Source.
Visit www.afvclub.com and www.militaryonesource.mil/recreation-travel-shopping/travel/recreational-lodging for more information. For Lodging options, visit www.dodlodging.net or www.navy-lodge.com.
Veterans Affairs, known as the VA, helps service members, veterans and eligible surviving spouses become homeowners. As part of their mission to serve you, they provide a loan guaranty benefit and other housing-related programs to help you buy, build, repair, retain or adapt a home for your own personal occupancy.
As a Reserve Sailor, you’re not immediately eligible for a VA Loan. You must first meet the time in service requirements — completion of six years in the Reserve, or 181 active-duty days during peacetime or 90 days during war time. Buying a home is a complicated process, but the VA can help make it a little easier. Visit the VA website for more information: https://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/index.asp.
You can take advantage of local Community Recreation & Travel offices for discounted tickets to local attractions and vacations. Morale Welfare and Recreation’s Tickets & Travel offer tickets to parks, museums, movie theaters, concerts and theme parks such as Walt Disney World, Sea World and Universal Studios.
For more information on discounts available to you at a local military installation recreation office (it may also be referred to as MWR or Leisure Travel Service), or if you’re not located close to an installation, visit them online at www.navymwr.org.
Space-A travel is available to you as a Reserve Sailor. Traveling by military aircraft can save you a tremendous amount of money if you’re flexible — military flights can be unpredictable and subject to delays and cancellations. You will need to be ready both financially and emotionally to change plans at a moment’s notice, but for many Space-A passengers, traveling to places like Hawaii, Alaska, Germany, Italy or Japan at little or no cost is worth the effort.
You can find locations DoD-controlled flights leave from at http://spacea.net/misc-space-links. Flight schedules can be found at www.spacea.net/social.
Being a Navy Reserve Sailor isn’t an easy job — you’re required to complete all of your military requirements while balancing work and family. It’s not easy for employers either — knowing they might lose a great employee for an extended period of time. To help, the military uses ESGR as a resource to inform and educate service members and their civilian employers about the rights and responsibilities of all parties affected by the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA).
Since USERRA is law, there are parts of the legislation protecting both the employee and the employer. To be eligible for protection under USERRA after uniformed military service, service members must report back to work or apply for reemployment within the following guidelines.
• 1-30 days of service: Report next scheduled work day
• 31-180 days of service: Apply 14 days after completion of service
• 181+ days of service: Apply within 90 days of completion of service
Employers are required to provide the following to returning employees, where applicable:
• Reinstatement of health insurance
• Prompt reinstatement into job following military service
• Training or retraining of job skills
• Accumulation of seniority, including pension benefits
• Protection against discrimination
If the employee is absent from a position of civilian employment by reason of service in the uniformed services, he or she is eligible for reemployment under USERRA by meeting the following.
• Employer had advance notice of the employee’s service
• Employee returns to work in accordance with USERRA guidelines
• The employee has not been separated with a disqualifying discharge or under other than honorable conditions
For more information or to get in touch with an ESGR representative who can assist you, visit: https://www.esgr.mil/ or contact their customer support line: https://www.esgr.mil/About-ESGR/Contact
The Secretary of Defense established the Freedom Award in 1996 as a way to recognize civilian employers who go above and beyond and to ensure their employees are well-taken care of.
Nominations for the Freedom Award must come from a Guard or Reserve service member employed by the organization they are nominating. Family members can also submit nominations on behalf of the service member. Employers from all sectors of employment are encouraged for nomination (local, state and federal agencies are eligible). To nominate your employer, visit the Freedom Award page at www.freedomaward.mil.
Annual Navy Employer Recognition Events (NERE) recognize civilian employers who provide outstanding support to Reserve Sailors in their organizations. If your employer fits that description, consider nominating your leadership to attend a NERE event. The annual event rotates between San Diego, CA and Norfolk, VA.
NERE’s are all-day events including tours of Navy ships, aircraft and facilities. Transportation and lunch is provided. NEREs conclude with a dinner reception with the Chief of Navy Reserve and Commander, Navy Reserve Forces Command, as well as other flag officers. E-mail nominations must include:
• Name of company or organization
• Name and title of leader you wish to highlight
• Mailing address of employer
• E-mail address of leader (or administrative assistant, if applicable)
• Approximate number of employees in organization
• Approximate number of Reserve/Guard employees (if known)
• Your name and contact information
• Description of why your employer should be selected to attend NERE
This year’s event will be held June 7, 2023 in San Diego, CA. Visit the nomination portal: https:// private.navyreserve.navy.mil/OCNR/Strategic_ Plans_and_Policy/Pages/nere.aspx