By: Paige Randall, American Red Cross Volunteer

There are few things in life that are as intimidating as joining the United States Military. Every year, prospective military members go to the Seattle Military Entrance Processing Station, or MEPS, to complete their initial entrance requirements. For future members and their families, this can be a daunting process. There are tests, medical processing and contract signing that all happen quickly before heading out to initial training, and it can be overwhelming.

It becomes even more overwhelming when new recruits and their family members worry about how life will be once they’ve departed from this first stop at the processing stations. Thankfully, there are several ways that families and prospective military members can be assisted through this transition period. The goal for Lieutenant Colonel Jason Langer, the commanding officer in Seattle, is to create strong relationships between new recruits and their families, and between the family members and the military.

This is why the Seattle MEPS has partnered with the American Red Cross — another organization that shares a common goal — to help members of the U.S. service members and their families right from the start. One branch of the Red Cross, called the Service to the Armed Forces/ International Services or SAF/IS, is specifically designed for this.

Each Monday, a representative from the local Red Cross SAF team comes in to speak to the applicants and their families and to give them an overview of what services the Red Cross offers U.S. military members. This introduction includes explaining to the families how to get in contact with their service member if there is an emergency.

“Being present at the beginning of someone’s military career is critical to build relationships and best serve our community,” said Will Willis, Director of Service to the Armed Forces/International Services in the Red Cross Northwest Region. “This helps us ensure we’re communicating our mission: that we’re here to stand beside U.S. service members from the day they enlist through their time as a veteran.”

As Lt. Col. Langer put it, “The symbol of the Red Cross is huge.” He explained that by just having representatives from the Red Cross at the MEPS when the families come in can be a way that both the families and their service members can feel at peace about the future. Even if they don’t use this information now, Lt. Col. Langer hopes that it can be a resource for them as they grow in their military careers.

“I think this is valuable because every one of these folks that come through have questions, such as ‘where is my support channel?’” said Lt. Col. Langer. “The Red Cross then explains, ‘This is what we do, this is who we are, this is how we can help you.’ To me, the Red Cross is always a positive part of our organization.”

One of the other ways that the Red Cross helps Lt. Col. Langer, and the other staff members, is by providing resiliency training. “This is great,” explained Lt. Col. Langer, “because it allows me to participate and be one of the team members.”

The Military Entrance Processing Command and the Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces recently signed an agreement that makes relationships like the one between the Seattle MEPS and the Northwest Region of the Red Cross commonplace throughout the nation. This allows new and prospective military members and their families everywhere to receive the same great information and attention they are receiving in Seattle.

Meanwhile, here in Washington state, Lt. Col. Langer and the local SAF/IS team will continue their mission to equip future members of the military with all the resources they need to be successful.