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Verizon, InComm Retailers and the USO are launching an initiative to let Americans demonstrate their appreciation for armed forces personnel serving America worldwide, just in time for the July 4 holiday.

From June 22 to July 4, consumer purchases of Verizon Prepaid Long Distance Phone Cards at participating local retailers will be matched by Verizon, on a minute-for-minute basis, and donated to active duty personnel for international and domestic long-distance calling in the form of 100-minute prepaid calling cards. The cards will be distributed by the USO to United States military men and women worldwide, with an emphasis on serving deployed troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and throughout Southwest Asia, as well as to wounded soldiers who are returning home.

Verizon will donate a minimum of 1 million minutes to the program.

“The prepaid calling cards continue to be a very useful way to keep our troops connected to their families, and we are excited to once again partner with Verizon and thank InComm retailers for providing their assistance,” said Sloan Gibson, USO president and CEO. “With this support, the USO will continue to make a difference in the lives of our service men and women.”

David Skogen, Manager of Verizon’s Prepaid Business Unit, said: “We are honored once again to create a win-win-win program for everyone involved, particularly the heroic men and women serving our country. By purchasing prepaid calling cards, consumers generate matching minutes for military men and women worldwide, which our friends at the USO deliver. These matching minutes enable our troops to stay in close touch with their friends and families and share news and developments with them, which is a critically important, morale-building benefit.”

Participating InComm retailers include:

• Casey’s General Stores
• Holiday Station Stores
• Jackson Food Stores
• Kum and Go
• Oasis Stop N Go, LLC
• Twin Stops

As a leading communications provider to the federal government, Verizon throughout the year makes technology and resources available to military personnel and their families around the world.

The U.S. Army today launched America’s Army 3, the only action game that delivers an authentic and entertaining Army experience by reflecting the training, technology, actions, and career advancement of a Soldier within an exciting, free game experience. Players can download the teen-rated game from Steam, as well as from partners listed at the America’s Army website. As with previous versions of America’s Army, AA3 will be constantly updated to include new features and missions and to highlight new technologies being incorporated in today’s Army.

In America’s Army 3, Every Detail Counts^TM and as a result, the game has more authentic military elements including training, technology, weapons, and audio than any other military game. Built on Unreal Engine 3, AA3 delivers stunningly realistic environments, lighting effects, animations, and team-based experiences so that America’s Army players can experience how Soldiers train, live, and advance in the Army. Players are bound by Rules of Engagement (ROE) and gain experience as they navigate challenges in team-based, multiplayer, force-on-force operations. In the game, a player’s actions and demonstrated Army values are integral to successful mission accomplishment and affect a player’s career progression.

The game is launching with five different environments, each with three different mission scenario options for a total of 15 different map/mission combinations.  Initially, the core of the gameplay focuses on an Infantry Soldier (11B).  Players first complete Basic Combat Training and then progress to Advanced Individual Training for a variety of specialized roles that the Infantry Soldier performs, such as Advanced Rifleman, Automatic Rifleman, Squad Designated Marksman, and Grenadier. This advanced training allows players to unlock new abilities and gear, customize their gear and equipment loads, increase their in-game skill level, and progress in their Army careers.

The America’s Army 3 game offers a number of new features including a new scoring system, detailed statistics, new character movements, a player damage model, mission planning and authentic weapons and weapons effects.

FREE SAT/ACT Test Prep Programs for MOAA Members and Families!

In alliance with the Department of Defense and a group of patriotic NFL football players, eKnowledge Corporation is donating free SAT & ACT Test Prep Software to military service members and their relatives worldwide.
Over the past three years, eKnowledge has delivered more than 120,000 SAT/ACT test prep programs normally priced at $200.00, FREE to military families worldwide. The total value of the donation is now over $25 million.
The NFL players who are supporting the free SAT/ACT donation for 2009 represent the Atlanta Falcons, Chicago Bears, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, Miami Dolphins and San Diego Chargers.
The free SAT/ACT Test Prep Programs for MOAA Members and Families come in a single DVD or two CD-ROM set that includes more than 11 hours of high quality classroom video instruction with up to 40 hours of student interactive learning participation. The test prep programs can be used as a stand-alone instruction tool to prepare thoroughly for the SAT/ACT or as a supplement to other SAT/ACT preparation materials. Each student can select the areas where they need additional or special instruction and then study at their own pace using the 120 classroom video lessons.

To order free SAT/ACT Test Prep Programs, please visit www.eknowledge.com/moaa

For additional information, contact: Lori Caputo, Vice President, Military Donation Programs
(770) 992-0900 LoriCaputo@eKnowledge.com

In an effort to make shopping at the NEX even more convenient, customers can now purchase gift cards from various businesses and banks such as prepaid wireless minutes, financial cards from Visa, Master Card and American Express, Starbucks, Subway and iTunes. These cards will be available for purchase in all NEXs in the continental United States as well as Hawaii beginning July 8.

“We know that gift cards are a big gift-giving item, especially for our customers who may live far from loved ones,” said Loretta Lambert, Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) divisional merchandise manager. “We wanted to give our customers the opportunity to purchase a variety of gift cards right here in their NEX.”

The gift cards will be activated upon purchase and scanning at a NEX cash register. The financial cards will include a fee which will automatically ring up when the card is scanned. The fees range from $3.95 – $6.95 depending on the amount of the gift card. The gift and prepaid cards cannot be returned or refunded.

Read the full article, courtesy of DefenseLink.

When Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates tapped Price Floyd to run the Defense Department’s public affairs operation, he gave him two basic marching orders: improve the way the department communicates — especially to young people — and solicit feedback in the process.

So one week into the job as principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for public affairs, Floyd is taking a fresh look at traditional public affairs and strategic communications practices with an eye toward making them more responsive, more relevant, more inclusive and more transparent.

Gone will be the days, he said, when the department released information and conveyed messages hoping they’d reach receptive ears and eyes and convince skeptical audiences at home and abroad. The new goal will be better-targeted communications that reach groups not necessarily linked into traditional media outlets, and mechanisms that not only accept, but also solicit, feedback.

Read the full article, courtesy of DefenseLink, and find out how they inted to implement these new strategies to reach out to younger audiences.

The Marine Corps Mobilization Command (MOBCOM) will conduct an Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) information brief at the Bowie Baysox Stadium (Prince George Stadium) on Saturday, June 13, 2009 in conjunction with the VA Medical Center’s Welcome Home American Hero event, which is open to all OIF/OEF veterans of all branches of the Armed Forces. Approximately 500 Marines from the local area will attend the brief for administrative muster purposes. The MOBCOM Commander, Col. Frans J. Coetzee, will speak to the IRR Marines and pass information pertinent to their roles as reserve Marines.

The IRR muster is not a prelude to mobilization for the reserves, but is an organizational exercise designed to determine the number of Marines that are capable and ready to serve if needed. The Marine Corps relies heavily on the reserves for operational needs as well as support.

The IRR is comprised of once full-time Marines, or selected Marine Corps Reserve Marines, who still have time remaining on their military commitments. When Marines sign their various contracts they commit themselves to different durations of service, which includes active duty or Selected Marine Corps Reserve, followed by service in the IRR.

Unlike members of the Selected Reserve, who drill consistently with an organized unit, Marines in the IRR are not required to attend monthly training, nor are they attached to a specific unit. They fall under the responsibility of MOBCOM.

Media is invited to the muster and should arrive at 8:30 a.m. The media will have an opportunity to interview muster staff and Marines between 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

For more information, please call Staff Sergeant Dustan Johnson at (816) 813-3946.

5 Brides and Their Grooms Will Pledge Their Love for Each Other and the Country!

Special Event Kicks Off Nuptial Season Coinciding with the Launch of WE TV’s WEDDING SUNDAY including hit series, “Bridezillas,” and “Amazing Wedding Cakes” Sundays beginning at 9pm ET & PT/8 C

Five (5) couples whose grooms are part of America’s Armed Forces; they include:

• Gunnery Sgt. Joseph Minucci (US Marine Corps) and Michelle Mesa. Gunnery Sgt. Minucci was introduced to his Marine Corps recruiter at Military Island in Times Square and will reunite with this “father figure” during his wedding this Thursday.
• Senior Chief Explosive Ordinance Technician Aaron Ryan (US Navy) and Barbara Borowy. Senior Chief Explosive Ordinance Technician Ryan has been deployed four times and he and his fiance have endured long separations. The depth and strength of their bond enabled them to endure the periods apart.
• Lt. Kelly Lanning (US Navy) and Megan O’Brien. The couple spent the last year apart since Lt. Lanning was stationed in Chicago and Megan was finishing school in Philadelphia. They kept pushing the wedding back since they didn’t know where he would be stationed next.
• Lt. Cmdr. Jeff Smith (US Navy) and Traci Dehaas. Lt. Cmdr. Smith has been deployed five different times. Jeff and Traci have spent 3 years of their relationship overcoming a long-distance separation. Now, with Jeff assigned to the Pentagon, the couple is excited to be in the same place together for the first time in a number of years.
• Staff Sgt. Anthony Perretti (US Air Force) and Brittany Cartwright. The couple met December of 2007 and got engaged within seven months of his deployment away from home. The bride recently lost her job, so they are now struggling to pay the bills. Staff Sgt. Perretti is preparing to deploy to Iraq in the fall.

Plus, American Idol’s Melinda Doolittle will perform for the couples’ first dance; and General Patton’s great granddaughter, Juliet T. Totten, co-founder, Poppies & Posies Events LLC, who created the trellis and flower arrangements for the special event.

How did a group of female support soldiers-mechanics, supply clerks and engineers-end up fighting alongside the Marines in some of the bloodiest counterinsurgency battles of the Iraq war? Find out in Lioness, a film about female combat veterans.

Watch the trailer | Buy the DVD

Share your response to the film. Tell your story. Are you a female soldier, veteran or healthcare/support provider? Did the film change your opinion or did you learn something new?

They Want to Hear From You | Read Stories

“VA News” is a video program designed to provide timely news and information about the Department of Veterans Affairs. The weekly 15-minute newscast is co-produced by the VA Learning University and the Office of Public Affairs in partnership with the Employee Education System and other headquarters and field offices.

You can view these updates in Windows Media Player or QuickTime. Visit the VA News site today to get the latest from the Veterans Administration.

Managing your own health care, or the health care of a loved one, can be a tricky business. MOAA’s Health Care Happenings blog covers everything from the latest health care legislation to news and resources for the military community.

Health Care Happenings will provide you with inside information from MOAA’s health care lobbyists and our benefits experts.

Check it out today!