she can use the computers in her local Library to Skype for free...
Posted on 08/30/2012 6:21:00 PM PDT by Toespi
Military folks need some info please. Was in a restaurant this evening and got to talking to our waitress. She proudly told us her 21 year old Air Force daughter was literally on her way to Afghanstan as we were speaking. She is worried for her and mentioned she would not be able to communicate with her for a long time. I asked why and she said she can't afford a phone or computer a computer would be out of the question. She lives alone and makes a base pay of $800.00 a month. She had borrowed a friends cell phone for the past couple of days to text with her daughter. Somewhere I heard that there is a family program available that offers free computers to families to be able to Skype, email etc. with their loved ones deployed. Does anyone know anything about this and if so, who would I contact to get ths info for her. Thanks.
I don’t know anything about that..but her daughter should sign up for www.anysoldier.com for starters
I know I heard of it, it was called Operation Home Link or something, here is a forum about it:
Free Computers for Military Families of Deployed Men and Women:
If her main goal is video communication she should get a smart phone or tablet with 3G rather than putting money into a computer. If she signs up for a 2 year contract with a carrier then the devices are fairly cheap.
Goodwill or Salvation Army might have used laptops for little, and Linux (e.g. Ubuntu) can be had for free if she can find a friendly geek to load it up. Skype runs on Linux as well as Windows now.
http://www.skype.com/intl/en-us/get-skype/on-your-computer/linux/
Use caution and some common sense here as well...many MANY people pull this as a scam, to get money, computers, etc from people...and do not even have any relative in the military! I ask that you just think it through before handing over $$
The only thing that comes to my mind is to contact a nearby VFW Post.I wouldn’t be surprised if they could help...either directly or by means of a referral.
Walmart has a prepaid phone deal. My son has this. It works very well. You can pay $30 for a card that permits limited texting and calls for a month, or $45 for a card that permits unlimited texting, data, and calls for a month. You do have to use their phones, but they’re good phones. We have found that the Walmart plan works better than the prepaid Verizon or other plans.
ALSO!!!!!!!! Im guessing the base she will be on, will have a USO or miloitary service center...and GOD FORBID...she might have to actually write a letter, like we did during Viet Nam!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
anyairman.com
She’s USAF.
The USAF Bases at Bagram and Kandahar have phones and computers all over the place available for USAF personnel.
Email was very easy and used all the time.
Seriously???? And the digital charges cost an arm and a leg.
Good advice. Some people even use phony valor/combat service to get elected to public office!
...depending on her daughter’s AFG location, there may be a USO bldg with either free phones (via the military DSN) or calling cards available. The daughter should be able to make “morale calls” by patching through a military installation switchboard near the mother’s home.
..AFG local internet is pricey ($50 and up per month) and a LOT slower than Stateside (and that was in Kabul). Skype was fair at best (on video and sound quality), but had a number of dropouts on my end from there (Jan-Oct11).
There will be computers on base, and the Public library has free computer usage everywhere I’ve been. There are online services like Skype and others that are free.
she can use the computers in her local Library to Skype for free...
Also, just about ever unit has Iridium sat phones that you can use to call home with. My kid brother is a Marine grunt and still was able to call home without bringing a computer, iphone etc. Most certainly the USAF can.
If she doesn’t pay those charges then she’ll pay up for cable internet access or ‘fios.’
The free cell phone programs are intended for low income folks, sounds like she qualifies. She can get one of the free phones and 200 minutes/texts a month. Should work till she can swing internet access.
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