SOLDIERS IN NEED

NEWS RELEASE: 04-088     November 9, 2004

AAFES MEDIA CONTACT: JUDD ANSTEY - anstey@aafes.com

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.'"

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."

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.

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The Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) is a joint command of the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force, and is directed by a Board of Directors who is responsible to the Secretaries of the Army and the Air Force through the Service Chiefs of Staff. AAFES has the dual mission of providing authorized patrons with articles of merchandise and services and of generating non-appropriated fund earnings as a supplemental source of funding for military Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) programs. To find out more about AAFES' history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our Web site at http://www.aafes.com/pa/default.asp.

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You can now manage all your Air Force subscriptions from one location. Point your browser to http://www.af.mil/subscribe/

Try these other U.S. Air Force news and information products:
Air Force Print News - http://www.af.mil/news/ -- daily news from around the Air Force.
Air Force Operations Center - http://www.af.mil/opscenter/ -- an Air Force Link special that highlights Air Force operations.
Airman Magazine - http://www.af.mil/news/airman/ -- a monthly magazine of indepth news and features showcasing America's Air Force.
Air Force Television News - http://af.feedroom.com/?fr_chl=30755134465444c91b0d2d4e2c6e1f4b4575760b -- Air Force Television News is produced bi-weekly.
Air Force Radio News - http://af.feedroom.com/?fr_chl=fecab8607aaae01948e77ffb45d121864d98aa02 -- Air Force Radio News is produced Monday through Friday.
Air Force Policy Letter Digest - http://www.af.mil/policy/ -- a monthly compilation of policy news from throughout the Air Force.
Air Force Press Releases - http://www.af.mil/mediacenter/ -- news releases on current Air Force issues and events.

AND...THANKS TO THE 201ST RED HORSE - HERE'S SOME WAYS THAT YOU CAN SHOW THESE GUYS WE CARE...

Dear all,

We have received many wonderful inquiries from Guard friends and family about helping to support our troops, including the men and women of the 201st.

Attached is list of ways to help support ALL of our deployed men and women in uniform.

If you have an organization that wants to help the 201st directly, the following items on our wishlist are:

- AT & T Phone Cards (preferably 60 - 120 minutes - rechargeable)

- Wal-Mart and Giant Food Store cards (to help families in need back home)

- Greeting cards for all occasions (Birthday cards-Children/Adult cards, Anniversary Cards, Graduation Cards, etc.)

OR a gift card for Hallmark. These would be used by our "card lady" who sends out wishes to family members upon the Guard Member's request.

- Goodie Bag Items for the 201st send off day (such as hard candy, gum, mints (all kinds), granola bars, water (150 bottles)/name-brand soda (150 cans), cereal bars, cookie packets, snack crackers, small peanut packs (something salty), small jerky packs, crossword puzzle books, healthy snacks, (just not chocolate bars - they melt!)

(We would need ALL goodie bag items no later than December 12, 2004). **************Please let us know if your organization wants to help with items for the goodie bags (and what items they want to provide).

We would like to collect enough items for 150 bags.

- Pillowcases (yes, pillowcases) to donate to what is called "Operation Pillowcase."

Operation Pillowcase is a program offered to all deploying Air Guard members by the Family Support Group of the 180th in Toledo, Ohio. They put a photo transfer from a digital picture of deploying Guard members onto a pillowcase.  We want to send the 180th pillowcases so we can, in return, get pillowcases with pictures of our 201st Guard Members for their families.

Quote from the 180th - "As the days and nights of separation pass, our aim is to provide some support and peace to that family member as they lay their head down at night, knowing that their service member is protecting our country."

What a nice thing to do for Guard Family Members!

(We would like to collect about 400 pillowcases).

Please send any of the items on the 201st wishlist to: (OR deliver with your Guard Member)

201st RED HORSE

C/O 201st Family Readiness Group

126 O'Neil Street

Annville, PA 17003

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Janis Robinson,

on behalf of 201st Family Readiness

The information below is from Anne Hurst of Army Community Services -

It provides yet another way to support our troops    Thanks Anne!

Message Below:

I have some information to pass on to you and maybe you will know of some folks who wish to support the troops in Iraq. We have a LTC Donovan from the AWC who is presently stationed in Iraq. He lives across the street from the hospital. He is in contact with us for other reasons, however he shared a need of t-shirts (especially Lg and X-lg), gym shorts, and socks that are needed by the soldiers. (the wounded soldiers, some very critical, are treated and stay at the hospital, when they come in they have their uniforms cut off of them and have no other possessions). He said they would also appreciate cookies, candy like licorice and magazines - they don't have anything that's fairly recent:

His name and address:

LTC Michael Donovan

OCPA-USACE-GRD

APO AE 09316

SPECIAL THANKS AND HUGS TO SUE PAUL - AN ARMY/AIRFORCE BRAT WITH A HEART OF GOLD. PRAYERS TO YOUR LITTLE BROTHER AS HE AND THE REDHORSE 201ST HEAD OVER.