FORT BELVOIR, Va. -- For any family, losing a Soldier, sibling, parent or grandparent can be a very sad, stressful and draining ordeal.
Fort Belvoir's Mobilization, Deployment and Family Readiness Office has established a Casualty Response Group of volunteers to help families in times of crisis.
The CARE team is responsible for helping families deal with a death or other tragic event by helping with simple, everyday tasks that may take a back seat in a time of crisis.
"In the event of a casualty of war or situations of a serious, debilitating or life-threatening injury, a CARE team could be activated," team member Jennifer Humphrey said. "We would do such tasks as answering the phone; answering the door; taking messages; keeping track of questions for the Casualty Assistance Officer; help arriving extended family members; and cooking meals.
"Basically, we will do anything to help ease the first three or four days," Humphrey said.
CARE services are available to active-duty Soldiers and their families on post and within a 60-mile radius; deployed DoD civilians and their families; and family members of deployed Soldiers.
According to team member Carol Janer, Belvoir's team is the only one in the National Capital Region.
The program began in October with the goal of providing an organized, professional approach to a delicate situation.
Team member Tina Hoffman was previously on a CARE team while her husband was stationed at Fort Campbell, Ky.
Despite differences in deploying Soldiers between installations like Campbell and Belvoir, Hoffman believes it is still an essential program to have on post.
"An Army post is an Army post wherever you go," Hoffman said. "Casualties do happen and it doesn't matter whether they're deployed or they're here, a CARE team is needed no matter what.
"In this region alone, the sheer traffic, you could have a casualty from a car accident and the CARE team is here for that," Hoffman said. "It doesn't matter that they are not a rapid-deploying unit that sends out 25,000 Soldiers in three days. A casualty is a tragedy, no matter what."
The Belvoir CARE team has five members that support the installation.
They hope in the future, with enough volunteers, each village at Fort Belvoir will have its own CARE team to support their neighbors.
To gain more volunteers, there is a CARE Team orientation Tuesday at 1 p.m. at Army Community Service, Bldg. 200.
During the orientation, attendees will get in-depth information on how CARE teams support families.
Once in the program, volunteers will go through a day of training to prepare them for dealing with a crisis. The team then meets monthly for workshops and to expand their training.
"We are going to need more experienced military members of the community, due to the touchiness of this topic," Hoffman said.
"It takes a very knowledgeable, mature and caring person to do this kind of work," Humphrey added. "This orientation is a way for us to let people know what they are signing up for."
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