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Troop Support
As the largest organization of combat veterans in America, we’ve been there and done that — so we understand the importance of supporting those who sacrifice so much to keep us safe. Since 1899, VFW has made assisting military service members and their families a top priority.

As the needs of our service members have evolved over the past 110 years, so have our programs. Aimed to assist military families during deployments, VFW has created three primary programs of support that have led VFW’s National Military Services to the forefront of troop support.
 
Operation Uplink™
Sometimes a simple phone call home can make all the difference. Operation Uplink — one of the VFW’s most popular programs—is responsible for connecting millions of deployed service members with their families back home each year. Supported by generous corporate and private donations, Operation Uplink provides the opportunity for service members overseas and hospitalized veterans alike, to call home free of charge.

Currently, VFW Operation Uplink hosts one “Free Call Day,” each month, during which troops can call home from internet cafes in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait at no cost. In addition, traditional phone cards are provided to hospitalized veterans and in regions not served by the “Free Call Days.”

Unmet Needs
 We understand the financial hardships that often accompany a deployment. VFW’s Unmet Needs program provides the critical financial assistance needed by service members and their families who are having difficulty making ends meet.

Supported by corporate and individual donations, Unmet Needs offers monetary assistance to hundreds of military families each year, in the form of grants — not loans, and is available to all five branches of the military, as well as those serving in the National Guard and Reserves.

Military Assistance Program (MAP)
MAP is best described as the outstretched hand between the VFW and active duty service members. Through grants, MAP provides VFW Posts financial assistance to host or participate in military support events. Some of the most commonly sponsored MAP events include Farewell/Welcome Home ceremonies, Family Readiness Group activities, and MWR events worldwide.

In addition, MAP grants help to fund VFW’s Adopt-a-Unit program  — a program that pairs a VFW Post with a military unit to offer care packages to service members and moral support to their families during a time of deployment.  

Armed with an extraordinary team of individuals, the generosity of patriots, and an unwavering commitment to service members and their families, VFW’s National Military Services programs have created a standard of excellence in terms of troop support and made us a benchmark for other veterans service organizations to follow.  

To learn more about VFW’s troop support programs, or to request assistance, visit National Military Services.