While the troops deployed to West Africa are there to strengthen the fight against Ebola and not for combat purposes, their families are still eligible to receive financial benefits while they are away.
According to Military Times, the nonprofit organization Operation Homefront will be extending its services to these families on the basis that, while their servicemember loved ones are not engaged in a war, they are in a uniquely difficult situation and may be gone for some time. The institution typically only works with cases where the solider is in a direct combat area, noted a press release.
Operation Homefront provides military families with grants to pay for essential items they may not be able to afford while one of their providers is deployed. The organization specializes in providing money for food, health care costs, baby items, home repairs and bills. They pay directly to the service providers 72 hours after the application for assistance has been accepted.
"Our service members have shown enormous courage and flexibility to face any threat, and we are going to be equally flexible to ensure that while they are deployed for this humanitarian mission, we are back home taking care of their families." stated Tim Farrell, chief operating officer of Operation Homefront, in the release.