Marines and Sailors, along with members of the other service branches, who are attached to Marine units, are deployed all over the world protecting and preserving our freedom. As a result, many are injured in combat operations and in training accidents, or face life threatening illness. Injury to a service member causes an immediate crisis for his or her entire family; not just emotionally, but also financially. Depending on the type of injury, recovery can take many months, and rehabilitative care can take years, often in hospitals far from loved ones. Airplane tickets, food, lodging, car rental, phone bills and lost wages are some of the things that can create an unexpected financial hardship during what is already a very stressful time.