Outreach
(315)772-6557
11042 Mt. Belvedere Blvd. - Family Resource Center

Army Emergency Relief (AER)

(315)772-6555

11042 Mt. Belvedere Blvd. - Family Resource Center

National Website: www.aerhq.org

Army Volunteer Corps (AVC)

(315)772-6555

11042 Mt. Belvedere Blvd. - Family Resource Center

Community Information Services/Information & Referral (I&R)
(315)772-6799
11042 Mt. Belvedere Blvd. - Family Resource Center

Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP)
(315)772-5476
10250 4^th Armored Division Drive

Family Advocacy Program (FAP)
(315)772-5914
10250 4^th Armored Division Drive

Financial Readiness Program (FRP)

(315)772-5196/0050/2919
11042 Mt. Belvedere Blvd. - Family Resource Center

Mobilization and Deployment Program (Mob/Dep)
(315)772-2848
11042 Mt. Belvedere Blvd. - Family Resource Center

Relocation Readiness Program (RRP)
(315)772-6566
11042 Mt. Belvedere Blvd. - Family Resource Center

ACS Outreach Services brings ACS information into the community to promote Soldier and Family well-being and quality of life, focusing on three main areas: education and prevention, direct services and cultivating a sense of self-reliance within the Military community.  ACS Outreach provides ACS overview briefings and information tables, and is available for unit functions by request.  In addition, ACS Outreach Services coordinates special events throughout the year.

Unit Service Coordinator
ACS Outreach manages the ACS Unit Service Coordinator (USC) program. Each battalion and brigade are assigned an ACS USC to serve as a conduit to units to assist them in bringing ACS classes and services directly to the unit based on unit specific needs.  Please contact ACS Outreach Services for more information.

ACS Outreach Services
(315)772-5374
ACS Bldg., 1780 Restore Hope Avenue
usarmy.drum.imcom-fmwrc.list.mwr-acs@mail.mil

Overview

Army Emergency Relief is the U.S. Army's own nonprofit organization dedicated to alleviating financial distress on the force. AER provides grants and zero-interest loans to Active Duty and Retired Soldiers and their Families. Over 4 million Soldiers supported since 1942. AER officers are conveniently located at installations around the world. Visit ArmyEmergencyRelief.org to learn more.

Education Programs

AER’s Education Program is a secondary mission to help Army Families with the costs of education. The three separate scholarship programs are:

Stateside Spouse Education Assistance Program
• Applicant must be the Spouse or widow(er) of an active duty or retired Soldier and reside in the United States. 
• Stateside applicants must be full time students. 
• First undergraduate degrees only.
• Active duty military personnel are not eligible.

Overseas Spouse Education Assistance Program Major General James Ursano Scholarship Fund for Dependent Children.

Overseas Spouse Education Assistance Program 
• Applicants must be a Spouse of an active duty Soldier assigned in Europe, Korea, Japan, or Okinawa. 
• Applicants must physically reside with the Soldier at the assigned location. 
• First undergraduate degrees only.
• Off post students are not eligible.
• Spouses may be part time or full time students.

Major General James Ursano Scholarship Fund for Dependant Children 
• Dependent children, stepchildren, or legally adopted children of Army Soldiers on active duty, retired or deceased while in active duty or retired status.

The children of Grey Area Reservists/National Guard are eligible as well.

Scholarship awards will be awarded up to half the cost of tuition. Scholarship awards are based on financial need, as evidenced by income, assets, Family size, and special circumstances.

Applications and instructions are available for all the scholarships on the AER website at https://www.armyemergencyrelief.org/resources/

View all AER forms. 

The Fort Drum Army Volunteer Corp seeks innovative ideas and processes to improve the quality of life at Fort Drum through the use of volunteer agencies. We offer quality volunteer work experiences in environments where volunteers are appreciated and valued.

Administrative, medical, mentoring, teaching and coaching are a few of the opportunities that are available. Many agencies have flexible schedules and some even reimburse you for childcare. You can volunteer for a day, an evening, for a one-time event or for ongoing activities for as long as you desire.

Why Volunteer?

• For the volunteer: Build your resume, contribute to the community, meet new people, share expertise, gain new skills and work experience, be challenged.
• For the community: Develop new programs, sustain programs, enrich the quality of life for Soldiers and their families, price and ownership.
• Recognition: Volunteer of the Quarter, Installation Impact awards, national and agency awards.

Getting Started

Complete a volunteer registration packet, which includes Volunteer Agreement DD Form 2793 and if you are under 18, the Parental Permission Form DA Form 5671. Register online at MyArmyOneSource.

Each agency offers orientation and training. Training may include, first aid, office administration, tax preparation, train the trainer, coaching skills, etc. Volunteers may attend the volunteer manager/supervisor training as well.

The Volunteer Corps coordinator can help you to find an opportunity that matches your interests or talents and assist you with the application process.

• Volunteer Management Information System Basic Training - VMIS 101 - This class covers the use of VMIS, including registration, uploading positions in your organization, and input of monthly volunteer hours.
• Volunteer Administration Training - This class covers volunteer regulations, files, awards and the Volunteer Information Management System (VMIS)

Army Volunteer Corps (AVC)

(315)772-6555

11042 Mt. Belvedere Blvd. - Family Resource Center

The Information, Referral, and Follow-Up Program serves as a centralized point of contact for information and referral to a comprehensive network of internal and external agencies, services, and programs to assist Soldiers, Families, civilians, and retirees in meeting their basic needs and improving their quality of life. Individual and Family assessments are conducted to ensure appropriate assistance and referrals are provided.

I&R maintains an extensive resource file of local public, private, and volunteer agencies and organizations to assist individuals and Families with the support needed.

In addition, I&R serves as the central distribution point for all ACS information, flyers, brochures, and upcoming ACS events and activities. We invite you to visit ACS and utilize the many services and opportunities that we have to offer.

Community Information Services/Information & Referral (I&R)
(315)772-6799
11042 Mt. Belvedere Blvd. - Family Resource Center

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The Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) helps provide support and the required care for Family members with disabilities and special needs, to better support the Soldiers and Family members stationed at Fort Drum.

EFMP works with other Military and Civilian agencies to provide for Family members with special needs:

• Comprehensive and coordinated medical services
• Educational needs
• Housing needs
• Community support services
• Personnel services

The EFMP assists with the special physical, emotional, developmental, and intellectual needs by providing community support services such as resources, information and referral, advocacy, support groups, respite care and relocation assistance.

An Exceptional Family Member is a dependent family member (child or adult) of an active duty Soldier, with any physical, emotional, developmental, behavioral, mental, or intellectual disorder that requires special treatment, therapy, education, training, or counseling on an on-going basis.

Some examples of EFMs are those with: Asthma, Autism or PDD, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD or ADHD), Diabetes, Arthritis, Depression, Bipolar, or Schizophrenia, Anxiety/Phobias and Panic Disorders, Learning Disabilities or any special education services, and high risk newborn.

Soldiers eligible to relocate their Families at government expense should identify Family members with a medical, physical, emotional, or intellectual disorder to assignment authorities in accordance with AR 600-75; enrollment in the EFMP is mandatory.

Those who are required to enroll are: Active Duty Army, The US Army Reserve Soldiers in the USAR – Active Guard Reserve program and other, USAR Soldiers on Active Duty exceeding 30 days, and the Army National Guard personnel serving under authority of title 10, United States Code.

Enrollment is done on a walk in basis although assignment coordination or screening requires an appointment. Enrollment in the program does not adversely affect selection for promotion, schools, or assignment. The information provided to EFMP is not made available to selection boards and command. EFMP is designed to help Families get the care they need and deserve.

Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP)
(315)772-5476
10250 4^th Armored Division Drive
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COVID 19 Resources

Financial Planning & Consumer Affairs Services - Personal Financial Planning and Consumer Affairs Services are offered to help Soldiers and their Families develop and maintain a realistic spending plan, reduce debts, improve their credit, plan for the future through savings and investment, and resolve consumer complaints.

Individual Counseling - Individual counseling is available for Soldiers and Families requiring or wishing to receive personal assistance.

Classes - The Financial Readiness Program (FRP) offers regularly scheduled classes on money management, saving and investing, credit and debt management, and consumer affairs, such as home and car buying.  Classes are also offered to units in all areas of personal financial planning.

Special Classes - In addition to routine classes and individual counseling, our staff is available to teach financial readiness classes required by AR 350-1 or to present to groups such as SFRGs, NCOPDs and OPDs.

Financial Counseling (by appointment)

• Budget Counseling
• Debt Management Counseling
• Overall Financial Planning
• Basic Investment Planning
• Retirement Planning
• Student Loan Management
• Credit Counseling
• Credit Reports & Scores
• Home and Car Buying
• Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)
• Family Subsistence Supplemental Allowance (FSSA)

Debt Management
If you find yourself in the position of considering loan consolidation, you may be headed for financial difficulty.

The following are danger signs:

• More than 20% of your take home pay is used for credit payments (excluding home mortgage).
• You have one or more loans from a lending company(ies) at 18% or more interest.
• You use credit cards impulsively.
• You routinely use your overdraft protection.
• You do not pay your bills on time.
• You pay only the minimum amount down on your charge accounts each month.
• The use of advance check cashing and pay day loans is part of your regular budget plan.
• Your car loan is financed at 12% or more interest.

If one or more of the above describes you or your spouse, don't wait! Stop by the ACS Annex, Bldg. 435A MWR Dr. or call 772-2919/5196 and schedule an appointment with a Financial Counselor.

Financial Management Tips:

1. Obtain a yearly credit report. The three major companies are:

   TransUnion Corporation (800) 916-8800

   Experian (888) 397-3742

   Equifax (800) 685-1111

2. If you want telemarketers to stop calling your home, register with the “Do Not Call” Registry. For the Federal Government contact http://donotcall.gov/default.aspx or call 1-888-382-1222 from the telephone you wish not to be called. New York State can be contacted by calling 800-697-1220 or online at www.consumer.state.ny.us

3. For every pre-approved credit offer you receive, an inquiry has been made into your credit report. The number of “hits” on your account may work against you. To exclude your name from a list of pre-screened names for a two-year period, call the OptOut Request Line at 888-567-8688.

ACS Financial Readiness Program helpful links:

www.feedthepig.org

www.financialentertainment.org

www.militarysaves.org

www.saveandinvest.org

www.ftc.gov

www.annualcreditreport.com

www.treasurydirect.gov

www.mymoney.gov

Financial Assistance Programs by County

Jefferson County

Lewis County

St. Lawrence County

Financial Readiness Program (FRP)
(315)772-5196
ACS Annex, 435A MWR Drive
mailto:usarmy.drum.imcom-fmwrc.list.mwr-financial-readiness@mail.mil
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ACS Mobilization and Deployment (Mob/Dep) provides professional and timely support to active duty, Reserve and Guard Soldiers and their Family members through workshops, briefings and services developed to enhance mission preparedness and self-reliance throughout the deployment cycle. The Mobilization and Deployment readiness mission is to develop an adaptable community in which Soldiers and their Families are prepared for deployment, have access to the support they need throughout its course, and are prepared for the unique challenges they face when their Soldier returns.

Training Support Documents

• SFRG Leader Handbook
• Key Caller Notebook 
• OPSEC and Social Networking
• Resilience Training Skills Overview
• Pre-Deployment Handbook
• Reunion Handbook

 Must Have Documents

• AR 608-1 Appendix J 
• Married Soldier Pre-deployment Checklist
• Single Soldier Pre-Deployment Checklist

Website Support:

www.myarmyonesource.com
www.militaryonesource.com 
 

Mobilization and Deployment Program (Mob/Dep)
(315)772-2848
11042 Mt. Belvedere Blvd. - Family Resource Center

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The Relocation Readiness Program is a comprehensive program designed to help Families in the relocation process. Available seminars and briefings cover a wide range of topics. Join us for a welcome tour and spouses’ welcome, cultural activities, and more. Relocation Readiness' goal is to help you make a smooth transition.

Welcome books are given to each Soldier during in-processing at the welcome center located at Clark Hall. Each book contains information on ACS programs, Army Emergency Relief and other resources available on post and in the surrounding communities. Additionally, installation specific information can be found in the Installation Program Directory box on www.militaryonesource.mil.  This site provides the most current information on your next duty station. 

For Families who are in transition, there is a well-stocked Lending Closet. Borrow basic household items, such as pots, pans, dishes, silverware, sleeping mats, folding table and chairs, playpens, highchairs and car seats for up to a 30-day lending period.

Infant/toddler seats are mandatory for vehicles in New York State; the Lending Closet has a limited supply. Call (315)772-6566/3241 for more information.

Support Groups

• Hearts Apart Support Group
• International Spouse Support
• English as a Second Language
• Citizenship and Immigration Services

Relocation Readiness Program (RRP)
(315)772-6566
11042 Mt. Belvedere Blvd. - Family Resource Center

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Climb to Glory Fund

The Family and MWR Climb to Glory Fund accepts unsolicited donations or gifts made to the Army and intended for Military Family support. These funds are distributed at the Battalion level to Family Readiness Groups of all permanently stationed units under the jurisdiction of Fort Drum and tenant units physically located on Fort Drum. 

Any individual or organization that would like to make cash donations to The Climb to Glory Fund may contact:

Family and MWR Financial Management

10783 Chapel Drive

Fort Drum, New York 13601

(315)772-5844