The number,

1-800-833-6622, is for use by family members of soldiers on active duty

as well as those in the Army National Guard and the Army Reserve called

to active duty. The hotline will remain in operation indefinitely.

The call is

free from the continental United States, Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico,

Guam and the Virgin Islands. Hotline staff takes calls from 8 a.m. to

8 p.m. EDT to answer family support-related questions. Emergency assistance

is provided between the hours of 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. EST.

While the hotline

staff cannot give out information about a soldier's specific location,

status, or mailing address, the staff has been instrumental in linking

thousands of extended family members to the family support groups and

rear detachments at the soldier's unit.

In addition

to local and Army level assistance via telephone, family members can find

answers to many routine questions about family readiness, Army Community

Service, and deployment support resources online at the ACS Web site,

www.goacs.org, and at the Army Family Liaison Office Web site, www.aflo.org.

Information about Operation Iraqi Freedom is at www.army.mil.

The Army National

Guard and the Army Reserve state and regional support commands also operate

assistance lines, though they may not always be toll-free. Information

is available at www.guardfamily.org and www.army.mil/usar.

The U.S. Army

Community and Family Support Center is the headquarters Department of

the Army agency responsible for Morale, Welfare and Recreation programs

the Army provides soldiers and families worldwide.