thedrifter
11-20-07, 03:39 AM
Press Release Source: The Army & Air Force Exchange Service
Deployed Troops' Calls Home Expected to 'Surge' as Holidays Approach
Monday November 19, 3:55 pm ET
DALLAS, Nov. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Deployed troops know there's no better sound than a loved one's voice during the holidays. In fact, when the holidays came last year Soldiers, Airmen, Marines and Sailors deployed in support of Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom responded, scooping up almost 80,000 Military Exchange Global Prepaid Phone cards in November and December alone, ultimately spending some 23 million minutes on the phone at telecommunication centers throughout Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait.
"Troops really ratchet up the communication once the calendar flips to November," said AAFES' Senior Enlisted Advisor Chief Master Sgt. Bryan Eaton. "Even with the technological advances of email and text messages, a phone call is still the most personal way to bridge the gap between the front lines and the home front."
To help keep telecommunication costs low for troops far from home and provide an affordable avenue for every American to make a tangible impact on deployed troops' morale this holiday season, AAFES' "Help Our Troops Call Home" program continues to improve military Families' quality of life.
"This initiative goes far beyond a service member soldiering in the desert," said Eaton. "Phone calls home during this time of year can also impact how a child is doing in school or even a spouse's ability to manage the hectic season. Add it all up and it becomes pretty clear that phone calls home aren't just a luxury, they're a quality of life issue for the entire Armed Forces community."
Any American can help keep military Families connected this holiday season by logging on to www.aafes.org or calling 800-527-2345. From there, Global Prepaid Phone cards can be sent to individual service members (designated by the sender) or even directed to "any service member" through various charitable partners.
Since "Help Our Troops Call Home" began in April 2004, the American public has placed 131,503 individual orders for more than 222,000 Military Exchange Global Prepaid phone cards. More than 24,000 of these orders have been earmarked for "any service member" and distributed via charities such as the American Red Cross, Air Force Aid Society, Fisher House Foundation, Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, Soldier & Family Assistance Center and USO.
The Army & Air Force Exchange Service is a joint command and is directed by a Board of Directors which 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 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 www.aafes.com/pa/default.asp.
AAFES MEDIA CONTACT: JUDD ANSTEY -- anstey@aafes.com
Ellie
Deployed Troops' Calls Home Expected to 'Surge' as Holidays Approach
Monday November 19, 3:55 pm ET
DALLAS, Nov. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Deployed troops know there's no better sound than a loved one's voice during the holidays. In fact, when the holidays came last year Soldiers, Airmen, Marines and Sailors deployed in support of Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom responded, scooping up almost 80,000 Military Exchange Global Prepaid Phone cards in November and December alone, ultimately spending some 23 million minutes on the phone at telecommunication centers throughout Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait.
"Troops really ratchet up the communication once the calendar flips to November," said AAFES' Senior Enlisted Advisor Chief Master Sgt. Bryan Eaton. "Even with the technological advances of email and text messages, a phone call is still the most personal way to bridge the gap between the front lines and the home front."
To help keep telecommunication costs low for troops far from home and provide an affordable avenue for every American to make a tangible impact on deployed troops' morale this holiday season, AAFES' "Help Our Troops Call Home" program continues to improve military Families' quality of life.
"This initiative goes far beyond a service member soldiering in the desert," said Eaton. "Phone calls home during this time of year can also impact how a child is doing in school or even a spouse's ability to manage the hectic season. Add it all up and it becomes pretty clear that phone calls home aren't just a luxury, they're a quality of life issue for the entire Armed Forces community."
Any American can help keep military Families connected this holiday season by logging on to www.aafes.org or calling 800-527-2345. From there, Global Prepaid Phone cards can be sent to individual service members (designated by the sender) or even directed to "any service member" through various charitable partners.
Since "Help Our Troops Call Home" began in April 2004, the American public has placed 131,503 individual orders for more than 222,000 Military Exchange Global Prepaid phone cards. More than 24,000 of these orders have been earmarked for "any service member" and distributed via charities such as the American Red Cross, Air Force Aid Society, Fisher House Foundation, Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, Soldier & Family Assistance Center and USO.
The Army & Air Force Exchange Service is a joint command and is directed by a Board of Directors which 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 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 www.aafes.com/pa/default.asp.
AAFES MEDIA CONTACT: JUDD ANSTEY -- anstey@aafes.com
Ellie