Jordon’s Journey: Connecting Troops with Essential Support
By Dave Wagner, Communications Volunteer
When Jordon Barney received his deployment assignment to go overseas, he felt a mix of excitement and anticipation. As a Regional Program Specialist deployed with the American Red Cross’ Service to the Armed Forces team, he knew the work ahead would be meaningful, but nothing could fully prepare him for the depth of connection and responsibility that came with living among the troops.
“I was assigned to Poland, to a region called the Zagan cluster,” Jordon recalls. “It’s five bases grouped together. I lived on one called Karliki, tucked away in the woods.”
The isolation was real. The time difference made it hard to stay connected with loved ones back in California, and the quiet moments could feel heavy. But Jordon wasn’t just there to endure, he was there to serve.
The American Red Cross has supported military members and families for well over a century. Today, we continue to care for the humanitarian needs of the U.S. military community from the time a service member takes the oath when they navigate life as a veteran.
Through every phase of duty, service members and their families face a unique — and sometimes daunting — set of challenges like reaching a loved one stationed overseas during an emergency or combating veteran isolation.
From the first day of enlistment to life after service, dedicated Red Cross team members are committed to providing a continuum of care to members of the military community. Whether stationed stateside or deployed overseas, Red Cross SAF teams are a lifeline between military personnel and their families back home.
Jordon’s role was twofold: he handled emergency messages in person and worked to boost morale through partnerships with organizations like the United Services Organization (USO) and Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR). “We’re there to make the experience much better,” he said. Sometimes that means organizing events. Other times, it means just being someone to talk to.
One moment stands out.
“A soldier came to me, and unfortunately, he was dealing with a death in the family,” Jordon shared. “I talked with him, I empathized with him, and took down the information we needed to process an emergency message for him and his family. I talked with his chain of command on base in He was stationed in Romania. Eventually, we got him home.”
It’s moments like these that define the SAF mission. The work is quiet, often behind the scenes, but its impact is profound.
“When you live in a military environment and serve through SAF, you really see the scale of the impact that we make around the world,” Jordon said. “Not many people get to do this. It’s really about being able to help people.”
November is Veterans and Military Family Appreciation Month, and we celebrate the legacies of resilience, honor and dedication carried by military families.
The courage and sacrifices of U.S. military service members and veterans are matched by the enduring support of their families, who carry forward the strength and spirit of the military community. Each family stands as a living testament to courage, supporting one another through challenges and continuing the traditions of resilience and honor.
At the Red Cross, we are proud to serve these families through our Service to the Armed Forces programs, offering emergency communications, support and tools to foster well-being and strengthen their unique bonds.
The Red Cross Hero Care Network is a free 24/7 support system for military and veteran families when they are facing life-changing events like the birth of a child, the death of a loved one, a medical emergency or even a financial crisis. The Red Cross is the only organization to provide this emergency messaging service to separated and active-duty military families.
Overseas Military Community Support
For over 140 years, the American Red Cross has provided comfort and support to service members during every major forward troop movement and mobilization. From providing nursing services for wounded soldiers during the Spanish-American War to transmitting emergency communications and boosting the wellness and preparedness of service members stationed in the Middle East or Eastern Europe today, the Red Cross is there to ensure the humanitarian needs of the nation’s military members are met, wherever they are.
All active-duty service members, veterans, Department of Defense contractors, civilian personnel (on Status of Armed Forces Agreement) and their families are eligible to free Red Cross services on their military installations and bases overseas.
Learn more about Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces here.
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