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Red Cross hires new military coordinator

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David J. Diestler

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Jason C. Harris

JANESVILLE — When Jason Harris returned home after eight years in the U.S. military, he was unsure how to connect with the county veterans service officer or how to use the GI Bill.

“So there was a delay from the time I got home to starting school,’’ he said.

Harris isn’t alone. Many area soldiers and their families don’t know what resources are available and how to access them, he said.

That’s why the South Central Wisconsin Chapter of the American Red Cross headquartered in Janesville has created a military coordinator position.

Harris, 32, of Janesville was hired for the job in December and has been working to improve the Red Cross Service to Military Families Program.

“One area of focus is helping the returned veterans integrate back into the community. I know how important these services are,’’ he said.

Harris, a Marine Corps veteran, served four years of active duty plus four years of reserve duty. He was deployed three times.

He plans to attend meetings related to veterans and their families to learn about their needs and inform them about the new Red Cross services that so far include:

-- Helping families of deployed troops.

The Red Cross is working with United Way’s Volunteer Network. Local volunteers will provide services such as snow removal, lawn mowing and repair jobs while their loved ones are away, Diestler said.

-- Facilitating video chat between families and loved ones who are deployed using a large screen at the Red Cross office.

Families can chat with their deployed loved one between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. weekdays. Some Saturdays will be scheduled. Military units overseas are being contacted to establish a day when soldiers from this area can gather on specific days to “chat” with their families back home, Diestler said.

The video chat service will start as soon as a new computer camera arrives, Harris said. Meanwhile, he can direct families to other video chat locations.

-- Assisting veterans integrate back into the community.

Information will be made available through the Red Cross Web site, where troops and their families can access a database of resources and services throughout Wisconsin.

The military coordinator position was made possible through a $30,000 Service to Armed Forces Families Grant that ends in May. Whether the six-month, part-time position continues depends on whether the grant is renewed in May, said David Diestler, executive director of the local Red Cross.

“We wanted to be a conduit for these people to get in touch with different services in their county and throughout the state that they might not know about,” Diestler said.

Harris agreed.

“We’re aiming to work together with the community as a team to offer the support and services that the troops and their families will be needing,” he said. “Our goal is not to repeat services but to add to them and create a robust outreach program to the troops and their families.”