American Red Cross provides services to military personnel and their families. Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Services personnel work in more than 800 chapters in the United States, on 61 military installations around the world and with our troops in Kuwait, Afghanistan and Iraq. Red Cross services include: emergency communications between active duty members and their families, access to emergency financial assistance, confidential referrals to social service agencies, CPR classes, blood services, disaster assistance and volunteer opportunities.

The American Red Cross Mayport Service Center, in conjunction with the Northeast Florida Chapter Red Cross, headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla., offers a variety of educational opportunities at a discounted rate for active duty members and their families. Adult, Infant and Child CPR classes are available as well as First Aid, Babysitting and Basic Aid Training for Children. Special programs for children include Whale Tales (classroom water safety) and Scrubby Bear (basic hygiene), complete with costumed characters.

The American Red Cross at NS Mayport is located in Building 1358 behind the bowling alley. The phone numbers are 904-246-1395 or 904-270-5241. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.However, assistance for emergency communications to military is available for military members and their spouses 24 hours a day by calling 877-272-7337.Military family members other than spouses can call 904-246-1395 for military emergency communications or can contact their local Red Cross office. For 24-hour disaster assistance, house fires or flooding, call our chapter's main office at 904-358-8091.

The American Red Cross has provided blood derivatives to area residents since 1987. Experienced Red Cross staff provides donors with assurance and quality service as they give the gift of life. Donors learn valuable information about their blood and receive a mini-physical, which includes taking pulse, temperature, blood pressure and blood count, all to make sure it is safe for donors to donate.

Donating blood is a valuable service to our community. On average, the American Red Cross provides more than 12,500 blood derivatives to the Jacksonville community every year. A single blood donation can be separated into components and used to help save three lives. Every pint donated saves lives, yet only five percent of the American population donates blood. Every donation makes a difference. Almost everyone who lives to be 75 years or older will need blood at least once in their lifetime. Blood products can be used in many different ways. Red cells are used to help accident victims, surgery patients and anemic patients. Platelets are used for cancer and leukemia patients undergoing chemotherapy. Plasma is used to treat patients suffering from burns or shock.

You can donate blood as often as every eight weeks or six times a year. For more information on donating blood or to schedule a blood drive, call 800-GIVE-LIFE.

Volunteers lead your Red Cross organization. They teach classes, assist in disaster relief efforts, coordinate blood drives and provide administrative support. The Red Cross also maintains a speaker's bureau that provides staff and volunteers to speak at pre-deployment briefs, indoctrination, disaster preparedness briefs, fire prevention classes, hurricane preparedness classes and special programs for children.

The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society is a private, nonprofit service organization designed to provide, in partnership with the Navy and Marine Corps, financial, educational, and other assistance to members of the Naval Service, eligible family members and their survivors when in need.

The Society provides financial assistance in the form of interest free loans or grants for transportation in the event of an emergency, basic living expenses, essential vehicle repairs, a patient's cost share of medical and dental expenses, funeral expenses and other related services.

The Society's services are provided through offices manned by trained volunteers who are familiar with the special conditions of service life. Volunteer opportunities exist for receptionist, counselors, and many more.

Located in Building 1 on Massey Avenue, the Society office is open Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. by appointment only. Requests for assistance with emergencies, including emergency leave, are handled until 4 p.m. and do not require an appointment. For after hours emergencies contact the Red Cross at 877-272-7337.

As the world's largest credit union, Navy Federal Credit Union operates a full service office on the base at Naval Station Mayport, located in Building 460. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The telephone number is 904-241-2448.

Seven ATMs are located in the immediate area. A walkup and drive up are located at Building 460, two full service machines are located at the Navy Exchange complex off Mayport Road, cash dispensing machines are located at Planet Mayport and the Citgo gas station.

Two important numbers that are available 24-hours a day, seven-days a week are Touch Tone Teller at 800-842-6328 and the Consumer Loan Line at 800-336-3333.

On Naval Station Mayport, Bank of America Military Bank is located in Building 1263 on Bon Homme Richard Street between the Gym and the Fleet Store. In the Jacksonville area, there are 29 banking centers and 32 ATMs. With the largest ATM distribution in the world, Bank of America gives Sailors and their families free access to cash worldwide at more than 22,000 ATMs. There are more than 5,700 banking centers in the USA located in states where approximately 80 percent of all military personnel live. The hours of operation at NS Mayport are Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The 24 hour number is 800-445-3115 or call directly at 904-247-2616, option 4.

The station's airfield is operated and maintained by NS Mayport's Air Operations Department. The airfield can accommodate any DoD aircraft and conducts more than 100,000 helicopter and fixed-wing flights each year. Military passenger flights are available through the air terminal, which processes about 13,000 passengers each year. The department also provides air traffic control services, air terminal and servicing functions for transient aircraft, field arresting gear and ground electronics maintenance.

Mayport's Harbor Operations Department oversees the operations of the naval station's seaport. The department supports ship's berthing requirements and provides fire fighting support, search and rescue assistance, spill cleanup response, salvage assistance, emergency personnel transfers at sea and degaussing range services.

Located in Building 2078, Harbor Operations includes the Waterfront Services, Surface Coordination, Service Craft, and Administration Support Divisions. More than 100 military members and civilian employees provide fleet support, serving as ships' pilots, tug captains, electronic technicians and welders.