Military OneSource is a Department of Defense program designed to help active duty, National Guard, and Reserve members and their families cope with the rigors of military life.
The program offers counseling, advice, and other free assistance to qualifying military members and families on a confidential basis.
These services are available on the phone or online 365 days a year, 24/7.
The counseling and related services are non-medical and cover a variety of areas. Some of the counseling and resources are directly related to coping with deployments, frequent moves, and the military lifestyle in general. Other areas where help is available include financial consultation, education, disability care, and spouse employment.
How Do I Contact Military OneSource to Get Started?
Qualifying military and family members stationed in the United States should call 800-342-9647. Those stationed outside the continental United States should call 800-342-9647 or 703-253-7599.
Calling Military OneSource from an overseas location may require specific dialing codes in addition to the 1-800 and 1-703 numbers provided. You can visit the Military OneSource official site to search for dialing instructions for your overseas location.
Is There A Fee for Military OneSource Services?
No. Military OneSource is a Department of Defense program and is not a for-pay or for-profit operation. All who are eligible may use the benefits available 24-7 without charge.
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Who Is Eligible for Military OneSource?
The Military OneSource official site lists the following groups of eligible service members and families:
- Active duty;
- Immediate family of active-duty service members that includes spouses, dependent children, and those with legal responsibility for a service member’s children during separation;
- National Guard and Reserve members and immediate family members regardless of active status, Standby Reserve status or Individual Ready Reserve status;
- Coast Guard members activated as part of the Department of the Navy under Title 10 authority and their immediate family members;
- Survivors of deceased service members to include un-remarried spouses and children of active-duty, National Guard and Reservists of any activation status or cause of death;
- Medically discharged service members enrolled in a Wounded Warrior type program;
- Immediate family, parents, and caregivers of wounded warriors, seriously ill / injured service members;
- Military retirees immediate family;
- Discharged service members (without a punitive discharge) and immediate family;
- Qualifying Department of Defense “expeditionary civilians” and their immediate families.
Those who meet the criteria above are eligible for all Military OneSource services. There are other groups of qualifying military members/veterans and family members that may qualify for “limited services” which include online services and webinars, call center consultation and services, and language translation services for documents and for telephone translation.
Those eligible for such limited services include:
- Non-military/non-spouse such as a domestic partner or an ex-spouse who is the parent of a child eligible for Military OneSource assistance;
- DoD civilians, National Guard and Reserve employees, government contractors, state civilians, contractors and organizations may qualify if they are eligible under another Military OneSource category such as a DoD civilian who is the spouse of a qualifying service member.
A third group of military and military-related people may be eligible for certain Military OneSource assistance via online services and web-based content, plus call center assistance:
- Parents/extended family active-duty, National Guard and Reservists who need help with areas ”directly related to the service member or on behalf of the service member.” These family members may include siblings, grandparents, adult dependent children, legal guardians, etc.;
- Those enrolled an in accredited ROTC program;
- Delayed-entry military recruits, future recruits, and immediate family members of those with a ”non-binding, but promissory contract” with one of the branches of the military;
- Military Service Academy cadets.
Are Veterans Eligible for Military OneSource Assistance?
Veterans have access to Military OneSource benefits; in August of 2018 the Department of Defense expanded this availability from 180 days after separation or retirement to a full year. This change was implemented as part of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2019.
What Services Are Available through Military OneSource?
There are two basic categories of services qualifying military and family members may be eligible to use. They are:
- Non-medical counseling on a confidential basis to help cope with deployments, family separation, reunions after deployments, reintegration to a non-deployed environment, marriage issues, grief, financial issues, and much more.
- Coaching/consultation is available in areas including consulting on wounded warrior issues, elder care, special needs family members, education, adoption for military families, etc.
What Are Some of The Most Utilized Services Offered via Military OneSource?
The Military OneSource official site lists a variety of frequently-utilized specialty areas which include:
- Financial counseling to include budgets, debt counseling, and advice on purchasing a home;
- Tax prep help;
- Health and wellness;
- Our peer support service that puts qualifying military and family members in touch with others who have experienced similar issues for which the service member or family member seeks advice or counseling;
- Relocation assistance;
- Advice/counseling about elder care, adoption, special needs, education, and relocation/PCS moves, careers, etc.
What Are The General Categories of Information and Help Available?
The official site lists the following general areas of information. The help available is not necessarily limited to these categories but this list is a good way to get started:
- Confidential Help
- Military Life Cycle
- Family & Relationships
- Moving & Housing
- Financial & Legal
- Education & Employment
- Health & Wellness
- Recreation, Travel & Shopping
- Service Providers & Leaders
“Confidential Help” is a catch-all phrase for the type of assistance available in all subject matter areas; those in uniform, their families, and eligible veterans can take advantage of this assistance without worry that their careers will be affected by seeking help.
Is Military OneSource Help Available in Any Language Other Than English?
Military OneSource provides certain types of assistance in approximately 150 languages. The official site offers real-time language interpretation services to insure language “will not be a barrier to military families seeking and receiving Military OneSource services.”
These language services are available by phone 24/7 at 800-342-9647. Language interpretation services cannot be used to “discuss or deliver medical information” according to the official site.