National Resource Directory connects service members, veterans, and families to vetted support
For service members transitioning from active duty to recovery and rehabilitation healthcare, accurate information and resources are essential. The National Resource Directory, or NRD, is a federal government website serving as a trusted guide to meet these needs.
“The NRD connects wounded warriors, service members, families, caregivers, and veterans of any era with vetted resources to support their recovery, rehabilitation, and either reintegration to service or transition to their next chapter,” said Jonathan Morris, program manager for the NRD and the deputy director of the Warrior Care Recovery Coordination Program at the Defense Health Agency.
The program ensures wounded, ill, and injured service members receive tailored support during periods of change, and manages the directory with current, safe, and secure resources from:
- Federal, state, and local government agencies
- Military and veterans service organizations
- Nonprofit, faith-based, and community organizations
- Academic institutions
- Professional associations serving military and veteran communities
Morris said the program’s team works with service members who planned on a full military career but must transition, “whether it is combat-related, a health issue like cancer, or behavioral health struggles, they are suddenly facing a medical board and transition out of the military within 180 days to a year.”
The program supports warfighters and families through this “massive shift during a tight window” by providing a reliable place to seek help. The directory serves active duty personnel, National Guard and Reserve members, veterans, caregivers, and family members — demonstrating an enduring commitment wherever they are in their military journey.
“From inception into the military service, to any time after the service member has retired and the family still needs support, we will help them,” Morris noted. “It doesn’t matter when you served, how you served, or when you left.”
He said his office’s dedicated inbox receives many emails from extended family members seeking to help a loved one but who may not be familiar with the military support system. The NRD quickly connects them to the resources they need.
“The NRD and our dedicated inbox are always available,” Morris said. When responding to emails, his office does not collect personal data but may ask for a service branch and general location to help connect users with the appropriate resources specific to their location.
A convenient, streamlined way to find support
A key purpose of the NRD is to make relevant resources easy to find. Users can access the directory from a mobile device or computer without registering or creating a profile, Morris said.
“People in crisis need help immediately and they don’t have time for exhaustive searches,” he said, “We built the platform to get them there quickly.”
Visitors can search by city, state, or ZIP code, or filter results by categories including:
- American Red Cross
- Benefits and compensation
- Education and training
- Employment
- Family and caregiver support
- Health
- Homeless assistance
- Housing
- Military adaptive sports program
- Military children and youth
- Transportation and travel
- Other services and resources
The directory covers subjects ranging from military and veterans’ benefits, healthcare, educational opportunities, employment, homelessness assistance, and behavioral health resources, including posttraumatic stress disorder information. Combining a category with a location enables users to identify services available in their communities.
Morris said the team intentionally connects users with programs suited to their branch of service to maintain cultural continuity: “Marines want to talk to Marines and Soldiers want to talk to Soldiers.”
Comprehensive vetting leads to trusted support
In an online landscape where predatory scams or outdated information can be common, NRD resources are subject to extensive security and quality controls. The directory is listed in the Federal Register as an authoritative source for vetting federal resources.
“Our uniqueness is threefold,” Morris stated. “One is every resource goes through a 10-step vetting process when they are considered. Second, the National Resource Directory is listed on the Federal Register as an authoritative source. The third is the National Resource Directory doesn’t just vet resources when they’re onboarded, we re-vet on a yearly basis.”
In addition to annual re-vetting, the directory’s content management team conducts daily reviews and monitors broken-link reports.
“If a web address returns an error, our team immediately validates it, corrects the web address is possible, or archives the resource from public access if the organization has shut down,” Morris said.
This persistent monitoring ensures resources remain reliable and up to date, making the directory both impactful and trustworthy to users.
“We work with wounded warriors, families, and caregivers who face time-sensitive challenges,” he said, adding the NRD helps with “the urgent questions: ‘How do I keep a roof over my head, a car in my driveway, and food on the table?’”
In providing resources to help the military with any challenge, every second counts, Morris said. "We're working with wounded warriors, service members, veterans, families, and caregivers. We understand they have challenges, and one of those challenges is time.”
“The clock is ticking, and we must be there to support them immediately.”
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