Phone card gifts make it easy for Americans to show deployed troops they care DALLAS - Any American can now help troops in contingency operations telephone call home. The Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) is now authorized to sell prepaid calling cards to any individual or organization that wishes to purchase cards for troops who are deployed. Up until now, those wishing to lend a helping hand had no other alternative, but to purchase other retailer’s prepaid cards that, in many cases, were not designed for affordable international calling. Now, anyone (even those not in the military) can help troops in contingency operations call home from one of the many AAFES call centers in Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom (OIF/OEF). Many of the prepaid cards available to the general public from retailers other than AAFES offer much higher rates and connection charges. For service members to receive the best calling rates from OIF/OEF, senders should take advantage of the savings and purchase the Military Exchange 550 Unit Prepaid Card as it offers the best value when calling home with minutes that never expire and no hidden charges or connection fees. And senders don’t even need to know the names or address of deployed personnel to provide the great benefit of a phone call home. Helping service members stay in touch with friends and family has never been easier. Anyone can log on to www.aafes.com and click the “help our troops call home” link. From there, those wishing to pay for troops to call home can send a prepaid calling card to an individual at his or her deployed address or to “any service member” deployed or hospitalized. AAFES will coordinate distribution of donated cards addressed to “any service member” via the American Red Cross, Air Force Aid Society or the Fisher House Foundation. AAFES currently operates 31 call centers in Iraq, 19 in Kuwait and four in Afghanistan. All of these locations stay busy playing a critical role in keeping the lines of communication open between deployed troops and their loved ones. AAFES officials hailed the Department of Defense’s foresight in allowing it to offer phone cards to the general public. “A phone call home can make a Soldiers day,” said AAFES’ Chief of Communications LTC Debra Pressley. “This initiative allows any American to make a direct impact on the morale of deployed troops around the world. We hope everyone takes advantage of this opportunity to purchase a phone card that will make a connection between the front lines and the home front.” In addition to the ability to send phone cards, individuals and organizations can further extend support to deployed troops with a “Gift From the Homefront” gift certificate. This innovative initiative allows anyone to help deployed troops purchase merchandise in one of 54 contingency stores. “Gifts from the Homefront” can also be purchased 24 hours a day by logging on to www.aafes.com or by calling 877-770-4438, seven days a week, everyday of the year. From there, the “Gift from the Homefront” can also be sent to an individual service member (designated by the purchaser) or distributed to “any service member” through the American Red Cross, Air Force Aid Society or Fisher House. Reports from Iraq indicate that the certificates distributed most recently 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. "Gifts from the Homefront" certificates are available in denominations of $10, $20 or $25 and are subject to a $4.95 shipping and handling processing fee. As is the case with Military Exchange Prepaid Phone Cards, “Gifts from the Homefront” can be purchased by anyone with a U.S. credit card or check, but only authorized military customers can redeem them at AAFES facilities throughout the world, including 54 locations in OIF/OEF. -- 30 -- Home
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