Survivor Outreach Services

Welcome to the U.S. Army Reserve Survivor Outreach Services (SOS) website. If you came to this page because you are a surviving Family member, please know we are here for you. SOS is the official U.S. Military program designed to provide long term support to surviving Families of Fallen Soldiers. This is your program! Conceived of and developed by Survivors, this program is continually refined based on Survivor feedback and involvement by senior Army leaders.

The U.S. Military remains fully committed to the purpose and essence of Survivor Outreach Services, which is to provide quality programs to support Families of the Fallen.

SOS is a “one” program. Regardless of your loved one’s Military component, duty status, location, or manner of death, SOS Coordinators and Financial Counselors are here to provide dedicated outreach and support.

We know that there are no words or actions that can ever fully solace you in your loss, for there is no greater calling than to serve ones’ nation with honor and dignity. For us, there is no greater duty than to support the Families of those who have died in service to our nation.

How to find my SOS Coordinator

The U.S. Military has a network of SOS Coordinators at locations across the United States. Please use our SOS Staff Locator to find the SOS Coordinator that supports the area you live. Contact phone numbers are listed by state and county, or by country.

Find Your Coordinator

If you cannot find your SOS Coordinator, we have a dedicated and committed Family Programs team who are standing by ready to provide excellent and immediate services.

U.S. Army Reserve Family Program Directors, Coordinators, Readiness Liaisons, and Soldiers will provide Survivor Outreach Services as part of a unified program that links surviving Family Members of deceased Soldiers to the Army Family. For additional information you may contact the Army Reserve Regional Family Programs Director:

1st MSC (Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands) - Ms. Cortes at 787-707-4082 or elsa.f.cortes.civ@army.mil

7th MSC (Europe) - Ms. Yazmine Gutierrez at 49-0611-143-528-0264 or yazmine.i.gutierrez.civ@army.mil

9th MSC (Pacific Region) - Mrs. Davis at 808-438-1600 ext 3305 or j essica.a.davis123.civ@army.mil.

63rd RD (West Coast) - Ms. Quashie 832-270-4614 or leeanne.k.quashie.civ@army.mil

81st RD (South) - Ms. Jones at 910 432-3766 or sherree.l.jones.civ@army.mil

88th RD (Mid-West) - Mr. Cirincione at 608-388-0447 or dominic.a.cirincione.civ@army.mil

99th RD (East Coast) - Ms. Davis at 609-562-7507 or cheryl.e.davis.civ@army.mil

or to locate your nearest SOS Coordinator call toll-free +1 (833) 313-1960 or visit https://dcsg9.army.mil/safr/sos/sos-find.html

MISSION:

The Army Reserve (AR) Survivor Outreach Services (SOS) mission is to build a unified program which embraces and reassures Survivors that they are continually linked to the Army Family for as long as they desire.

The AR SOS Support Coordinators (SC) purpose is to serve as the long-term support for Survivors of Fallen Soldiers, regardless of cause of death or component. SCs advocate for Surviving Family Members, and provide support, information and services closest to where Families reside.

The SCs provide long-term case management, assist in explaining benefits (when no benefits coordinator is available), and share financial literacy resources and legal assistance referrals, along with personalized support. The SCs are a liaison between the Army and the Survivor for any outstanding issues and continue to provide for them based on specific individual needs as long as the surviving Family member wants/needs support.

The SCs also provide awareness education to the command and the local community regarding the needs of Survivors in efforts to maintain linkage between Survivors and the Army, as well as the community they reside in.

Symbols of Honor

Gold Star and Surviving Family Members often wear their Gold Star or Next of Kin Lapel Button. For more information on what these look like, what they mean, and how to get a replacement, please go to U.S Army Human Resources Command

The website also provides information on the Gold Star Service Flag which many Gold Star Family Members proudly display in their homes.

Gold Star and Surviving Family Member Representative

The Gold Star and Surviving Family Member Representative is the Army advocate for surviving Family members. The Public Law 113-66, Section 633, requires each secretary of a military department to designate a member to assist spouses and other dependents of service members, including the Reserve Component, who die on active duty. These representatives are available to provide support and address complaints by spouses and other dependents of deceased service members regarding casualty assistance or receipt of benefits authorized by law. Any Survivor can contact the Army GSSFM Representative directly any time for any reason.

Contact your GSSFM representative if you are seeking additional support or information:

(1) Addressing complaints by spouses and other dependents of deceased members regarding casualty/survivor assistance or receipt of benefits authorized by law for such spouses and dependents.

(2) Providing support to such spouses and dependents regarding such casualty assistance or receipt of such benefits.

(3) Making reports to appropriate officers or officials in the Department of Defense or the military department concerned regarding resolution of such complaints, including recommendations regarding the settlement of claims with respect to such benefits, as appropriate.

(4) Performing such other actions as the secretary of the military department concerned considers appropriate.

Contact the GSSFM representative:

Phone: 855.707.2769/210.466.1173 or BB: 210.834.0494

Email: usarmy.jbsa.imcom-hq.mbx.sos-survivor-advocate@army.mil

Department of the Army staff, have been working with the Defense Finance and Accounting Agency (DFAS) to improve payment processes including submissions of recertification documents, communications and to update information.

The missing link in the process is you! We strongly encourage you to take a look at the newly refreshed myPay website https://mypay.dfas.mil. If you have never used myPay, click on the myPay logo below for the instructions to establish a new account.

Why use myPay? In myPay you can view your Annuitant Account Statements, IRS Form 1099-R, and IRS Form 1042-S. You can also update your federal tax withholding, mailing address, email address and direct deposit information. DFAS also has launched a system called SMARTDOC which allows them to send emails to all annuitants to help keep you informed of future changes.

What is coming? We are very excited that DFAS has agreed to update the ASKDFAS module so that those annuitants who are required to submit school recertification forms will be able to upload the forms starting later this summer. This will be a great first step from the current process of mailing or faxing hard copy forms. The next step will be the creation of an online electronic form.

For additional questions on how to establish a new account or updating an existing account call Toll free: 1-888-DFAS411 or click on the AskMyPay logo below.

To learn how to get eligible surviving Family members unescorted access onto Army installations to utilize authorized facilities, chick here.

For your convenience, Casualty and Mortuary Affairs Operations Division (CMAOD) has compiled a categorized listing of Charitable Organizations that seek to provide material gifts and support to Survivors of current conflicts. Families who have lost a Soldier serving in an Active Duty status are eligible to receive gifts and services provided by these organizations. Upon receiving a signed Authorization for Disclosure of Information (ADI), the Army sends your name and address to each of these organizations. All organizations on this list have been cleared through the Army Human Resources Command Staff Judge Advocates Office for information sharing. If you would like to receive a complete Days Ahead Binder go to https://www.militaryonesource.mil/products#! where you can order it.

The U.S. Army does not endorse these organizations. The U.S. Army does not guarantee the goods or services provided by these organizations, and does not promise that these organizations are still in existence or still provide the relevant goods and services. Issues with these organizations must be addressed through these organizations and not the Army.

Email Us!
List of Family Programs Directors and Coordinators
National Suicide Prevention Call or Text: 988
Support specialists are available at Military OneSource: 1-800-342-9647
Safe Helpline - Sexual Assault Support for the DoD Community Toll-Free: 1- 877-995-5247

OCONUS Veterans/Military Crisis Lines
Europe: 844-702-5495 or DSN 988
Pacific: 844-702-5493 or DSN 988
Southwest Asia: 855-422-7719 or DSN 988

External Link Disclaimer
The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the United States Army Reserve of the linked websites, or the information, products or services contained therein. For other than authorized activities such as military exchanges and Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) sites, the United States Army Reserve does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations. All links are provided consistent with the mission of this website.