FAQ
How do I send letters, cards, or e-mails to troops overseas?
There are many ways to send a note to the troops! While the Office of Community Relations cannot disclose name or address of Service members due to privacy and security concerns, you may contact any of the groups at Letters and Messages. Many care package organizations also collect letters and cards to include with their shipments. For a list of groups that send care packages, visit: Care Packages. Note, the appearance of hyperlinks or logos does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense of linked sites or the information, products, or services contained therein. If you are interested in sending greetings to our Service members online, you can easily do so through a wide variety of social media sites. Check out the organizations listed at the links above, or visit the DoD and Military Service Social Media Site, where thousands of our Service members and our military families go for news and information.
How do I donate an item or care package to the troops?
For a list non-profit organizations that have indicated they send care packages, visit: Care Packages. While this list is a representative sample of support across the country, it may assist you with your research. Note, the appearance of hyperlinks or logos on the site does not imply or constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense of any linked sites or the information, products, or services contained therein.
I am a business owner who would like to support our Service men and women. How do I do that?
Most businesses are encouraged to find and partner with a non-profit organization that shares its same vision of support for our Service members and our military families. Please visit Community Resources which lists organizations by the category of services they provide. Please note that the appearance of hyperlinks or logos does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense of linked sites or the information, products, or services contained therein.
Community Resources you can find a list of organizations by category based on the type of support they provide for members of our Armed Forces and their families. You may wish to contact one of these organizations to offer assistance. The appearance of hyperlinks or logos does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense of linked sites or the information, products, or services contained therein.
Can I donate funds or items directly to the Department of Defense to help support troops and their families?
No. However, by visiting the Support for our Troops section of Community Resources you can find a list of organizations by category based on the type of support they provide for members of our Armed Forces and their families. You may wish to contact one of these organizations to offer assistance. The appearance of hyperlinks or logos does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense of linked sites or the information, products, or services contained therein.
If I am a caregiver, Service or or family member, who should I contact if I need assistance?
As a member of the military family community, you are entitled to a number of military and government resources. Consult your chain of command, family assistance program, and military aid societies (hyperlinks are below) prior to contacting non-federal entities for your emergent needs. If you are unsure who to contact for help, you can begin by calling Military OneSource at 1-800-342-9647. Military OneSource has counselors available 24 hours/day, 7 days/week to answer your questions and guide you to appropriate resources.
Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society
Can DoD personnel use this website to recommend any listed organizations, programs, or such that support Service members and their families?
Service members and their families are strongly encouraged to consult with their chain of command, family assistance program, military aid societies, and similar organizations or programs prior to contacting non-federal entities for support. If you are a Service member, family member or caregiver in need of assistance and are not sure where to go for help, you can call MilitaryOneSource at 1-800-342-9647. Military OneSource has counselors available 24 hours/day, 7 days/week to answer your questions and guide you to appropriate resources.
Where do I send pictures and press releases regarding citizen support for our Service members?
We encourage you to let us know how you, your community, company, or organization is supporting our Service members and our military families. Please send your high resolution photos and news releases to ourmilitary@osd.mil. Please ensure that photos are in landscape format, and include photo caption and credit. Items will be reviewed and considered for posting. Note, our ethics regulations prohibit us from posting any information about fundraising events before they occur. However, we can post photos and articles about events AFTER they have taken place.
How do I request military support for an event in my community?
If you would like to request military support for your event, you must complete a DD Form 2535 (for aerial support) or a DD Form 2536 (for non-aviation support) and submit to the appropriate branch of Service. You can find links to the forms and the request pages in the middle box at the bottom of www.OurMilitary.mil.
I want to request aerial support from multiple branches of the military. Do I complete a form for each?
Yes. However, please note that multiple Service aerial support at an event requires an exception to policy from the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs.
I wrote a song for the troops. How can I share it with them or have it played for Service members overseas on the Armed Forces Network (AFN)?
We appreciate your efforts to pay tribute to our Service members and their families with patriotic songs and videos. As a U.S. government Web site, we cannot post these kinds of items because we are prohibited from endorsing or promoting particular artists or commercial endeavors. AFN broadcasts programs via satellite from national radio networks. They do not produce original programs and thus have no place to use donated recordings. We certainly don’t want to discourage you from sharing your efforts. Fortunately, with so many social media platforms available, it is relatively easy for you to post your music or video on the Internet. You might also contact some of the organizations that specialize in making entertainment and music available for the troops, listed at: Entertainment and Recreation.
What happened to the America Supports You Program?
The spirit and intent of the America Supports You Program continues. The Department of Defense (DoD) uses www.OurMilitary.mil to highlight and communicate our country’s support for our military and their families. However, the DoD has relinquished all rights and ownership of the America Supports You name and logos.
Can my organization use the America Supports You name and logo?
The Department of Defense has relinquished all rights and ownership of the ASY name and logo. Therefore, the DoD has no authority to approve or disapprove use of the name or logo.
Where do I go for more information on an America Supports You Freedom Walk?
Community walks have been held throughout the United States and in several countries overseas to commemorate the attack on the Pentagon and to honor the lives lost on 9/11/2001. The Department of Defense does not sponsor or host these walks. An Internet search may return information about a community walk near you.
