Phone card plan for soldiers in Iraq gathers steam

Since the military made it impossible for most service people overseas to communicate with home via YouTube and other social networking sites, they have at least stepped up the effort – along with the American public to help soldiers talk with their families.  By logging on to the Army & Air Force Exchange Service or calling (800) 527-2345, moms, uncles, neighbors and civic groups can take part in the "Help Our Troops Call Home" effort by sending any one of three Military Exchange Global Prepaid Phone cards, including a 550-minute card capable of providing more than two hours of call time from any of 72 phone centers in operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom to the United States. Phone cards may be sent to an individual servicemember designated by the sender or distributed to "any servicemember" through the American Red Cross, Air Force Aid Society, Fisher House Foundation, Navy-Marine Corps Relief, Soldier & Family Assistance Center, and United Service Organizations.  The American public has already  sent more than 201,000 prepaid phone cards to servicemembers through the Army and Air Force Exchange Service's "Help Our Troops Call Home" program, AAFES said in  a statement.  The AAFES has operated call centers in Iraq since June 24, 2003.  In April 2004, AAFES received Defense Department approval to do something the command had never been done before - sell exchange merchandise to "civilians" on behalf of troops serving in war zones halfway around the world. "Help Our Troops Call Home," have provided nearly $5 million in calls home since the program began in April 2004, AAFES said. The Department of Defense recently blocked  access to YouTube, MySpace and 11 other popular Web sites on its networks. According to a memo sent by Gen. B.B. Bell, the U.S. Forces Korea commander, overseas military personnel will be prevented from using these sites in an effort to protect information and reduce drag on the department's networks.  Detractors of the plan say the net effect will be to block access to servicemembers in Iraq and Afghanistan who are the primary users of the sites.