Armed Forces Emergency Service (AFES) The American Red Cross and military based Red Cross stations around the world offer 24 hour emergency reporting services to the military and their families, including forwarding an emergency leave request for a service member because of illness or death of an immediate family member, or birth notifications to service members away from home. The American Red Cross is the ONLY recognized verification source for the military. From July 2005 to May 2006, 20 volunteers donated 6,496 hours to maintain round the clock coverage around the world for active-duty military personnel and their families.   Forty-four Cortland County customers phoned for assistance with emergencies requiring notification or the presence of a family member in the military.   105 units of service were provided in all.