Families / Next-of-Kin
Travel assistance for family / next-of-kin to visit wounded service men and women at military hospitals.
ITO (Invitation Travel Orders) could be granted to family members.
- What You Need To Know Before Visiting
- Family needs to speak with casualty affairs officer who called family to notify.
- The phone number to DA Casualty Affairs is 1-888-331-9369. Ask for ITO
- Usually next of kin (mom and dad-not siblings) are covered under this program. Will pay travel and housing expenses.
American Red Cross
The Casualty Travel Assistance Program (CTAP) provides travel assistance for two immediate family members to attend a memorial or funeral service for a service member killed on active duty in the combat zone. The assistance includes roundtrip airfare, lodging and food.
Active-duty service members stationed in the United States and family members residing with them: Call 877-272-7337 (toll-free).
Family members who do not reside in the service members' household, members of the National Guard and Reserves, retirees and civilians: Call your local Red Cross chapter, which is listed in local telephone books and at http://www.redcross.org/where/where.html.
Active-duty service members and DoD civilians stationed overseas and family members residing with them: Call base or installation operators or the Red Cross office at the overseas location.
Soldiers Angels: Hero Flights
Hero Flights' mission is to serve our heroes and their families in times of great need by providing airline flightrs and other travel accommodations.
When our deployed troops need to get back home immediately because of a death or serious family illness, Hero Flights is activated. When a spouse or parent of a wounded service member needs to get to the hospital where their loved one has been transported, Hero Flights is activated. When the family members or our fallen heroes need to get to their memorials, Hero Flights is activated. These men, women and families have made great sacrifices for us, and we stand ready to assist them at all times. In the first three months of 2008, Hero Flights provided 286 flights, as well as lodging for six families while they visited wounded service members, and transportation for three units to go home on their pre-deployment leave.
Note: the military provides as much travel assistance as possible for military personnel and families, but unique needs can often develop. Hero Flights performs a vital service to our heroes by filling in the gaps in military travel assistance.
Veterans AirLift Command
The Veterans Airlift Command provides free air transportation to wounded warriors, veterans and their families for medical and other compassionate purposes through a national network of volunteer aircraft owners and pilots.
Our priority is on the veterans of Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan). As capacity allows, our mission will expand to serve veterans of other conflicts.
