MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- It may be hard for some Marines to ask for help on personal matters -- but it isn't hard to get it.Marine Corps Community Services One Source is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year to Marines and their families for personal, confidential counseling referrals.And it's free for help with myriad issues -- whether a Marine grappling with combat stress or a military spouse needing tips on parenting an unruly child. MCCS One Source -- available to servicemembers Corps-wide -- refers callers to counselors located off military installations. The counselors are licensed professionals offering help with problems ranging from stress to marital difficulties, officials said. MCCS One Source is similar to employee help programs that have cropped up at major corporations in recent years."Civilian employers have the same types of services," a One Source spokesman said. "It's virtually identical, but built (for) the needs of the military." Some Marines may feel uncomfortable seeking counseling on base. One Source gives them an alternative to consulting their chaplain or Marine and Family Services, the department where base counselors operate. All they need is a phone and number. On the opposite end of the phone line is an MCCS One Source consultant. The consultants possess master's-degree-level training. They can provide contact information for a counselor qualified to meet the specific need. "The consultants assess the Marine themselves," said Kimberly Gates, section head for Marine Corps Family Team Building at Headquarters Marine Corps. "If it's a problem that can be handled in six sessions, they will refer them to a counselor in their local area."But if a Marine is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder or another serious issue, they'll be referred for more extensive care, Gates said. Most calls received by One Source consultants deal with the emotional well-being of the caller and their family. The calls are almost equally split between military members and family members, Gates said.The service has been available for 13 months and call volume is growing, Gates said. She attributes the increase to growing awareness of the program. Gates wasn't sure whether the war in Iraq has anything to do with the increase in calls. It's not always clear whether the issue is combat-related, she said."The person may have had these issues, particularly couples issues, prior to leaving," she said.Most importantly, no matter the issue, help is available, she emphasized. She urged servicemembers and family members who've been helped to tell a friend.For more information, call (800) 869-0278 or visit www.mccsonesource.com.