[RC] How to send support to "Any Service Member"= - Mary Ann Spencer
How to send support to "Any Service
Member"I
know this is not EXACTLY horse related,
although there are a lot of horseless horselovers overseas, but wanted to
share this in case anyone was interested. Mary Ann
PS AAFES is the military 'walmart' and the only
place to buy American things over there. I spent 2003 in
Iraq.
How to send support to "Any Service
Member"
DALLAS - With the holidays quickly approaching, many Americans = are
searching for ways to reach out to troops stationed overseas. = Anticipating
a rush of mail from well-wishers, the Department of Defense = (DoD) announced
last week that, "Due to security concerns and = transportation constraints,
DoD no longer accepts items to be mailed to = 'Any Service
Member.'"=20
Fortunately, those wishing to send support to troops overseas = have another
option. The Army & Air Force Exchange Service's (AAFES') = "Gifts from
the Homefront" and "Help Our Troops Call Home" programs = allow anyone to
make a direct contribution towards the morale of = deployed troops without
compromising security or increasing the strain = on the military mail
system.
DoD
reports that some people have tried to avoid this = prohibition by sending
large numbers of packages to an individual = service member's overseas
address, which, according to the DoD, clog the = mail system and cause
unnecessary delays in delivery and military APO = cannot guarantee delivery
by a specific date due to processing = constraints.
"Gifts
from the Homefront" certificates, which can be purchased = by any individual,
business or civic organization, allow troops to = purchase items of necessity
and convenience at PX and BX facilities = around the world including 51
Exchanges in Operations Iraqi and Enduring = Freedom. The gift certificates
may also be personalized with a message = to troops who find themselves so
far from home.
Because
the gift certificates can be used for merchandise = already stocked at
contingency locations, "Gifts from the Homefront" are = a safe alternative to
traditional care packages that place unnecessary = strain on the military
mail system and present Force Protection issues. = Service members can
purchase exactly what they need with the = certificates because they can be
applied to a wide range of products. = Reports from Iraq and Afghanistan
indicate that the certificates are = being used for the latest CDs and DVDs,
comfort items such as snacks and = beverages and phone cards for those
all-important calls home.
AAFES'
Commander Maj. Gen. Kathryn Frost says that "Gifts from = the Homefront" and
"Help our Troops Call Home" are excellent ways for ="">all to show they care.
"I encourage every American who is concerned = about the welfare of deployed
troops to buy a gift certificate or a = phone card" said Maj. Gen. Frost.
"While these troops are doing = superhuman tasks in countries half away
around the world, we must = remember that, after all, they too are human and
the holidays can be a = tough time to be away from friends and family.
Something as simple as a = $20 Gift Certificate or $39 phone card can deliver
the much-needed = 'connection home' troops crave during the holiday
season."=20
Those
wishing to send "Gifts from the Homefront" can log on = aafes.com or call
1-877-770-4438. "Help Our Troops Call Home" phone = cards are also available
at aafes.com or by calling 800-527-2345. From = there, the gift certificates
and/or phone cards may be sent to an = individual service member (designated
by the purchaser) or distributed = to "any service member" through the USO,
American Red Cross, Air Force = Aid Society or Fisher House.
"Gifts
from the Homefront" and "Help Our Troops Call Home" phone = cards can be
addressed to "any service member" or individual service
= members.
The gift
certificates can be redeemed at any AAFES facility in = the world including
51 locations in Operations Iraqi and Enduring = Freedom, including 29 in
Iraq, 10 in Kuwait, 5 in Afghanistan, 1 each in = Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan,
Uzbekistan, and 4 in Qatar/UAE/Djibouti.
The
phone cards can be used at any of AAFES' sixty call centers = throughout
Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. The "Help Our Troops = Call Home"
program offers the best value for troops who enjoy calls home = from any of
AAFES' 46 call centers in Iraq and Afghanistan. =20
