Airline Miles

[Skip44]

I would venture to say that all of us know of someone fighting the war on terror one way or the other. The troops in Iraq now have an opportunity for 2 week R&R at home. BUT, first they must have a round trip ticket from a Gateway to home and back to the Gateway. Initially the only Gateway was BWI. Now new Gateways have been added at ATL, DFW and hopefully soon LAX. So if any of you would like to donate some miles go to www.heromiles.org.

 

[chperplt]

There was a news report about this on the Today show a few mornings ago. They say that the troops coming home on R&R are given a rountrip ticket to get them home. They do not have to get themselves from the gateway city and back..

 

[bart]

CHPERPLT,

Your information is inaccurate. Unless things have changed, leave begins and ends at your permanent station. For troops overseas, this is generally one of the aforementioned gateways.

The report was speaking of the returning troops ability to use military airlift on a space available basis. Having tried to use it several times before, it is unreliable at best and usually leads to being counted AWOL when things don't work out.

So these young men and women could use our help.

 

[Skip44]

Well, my son just returned from his R&R and yes he had to use a Gateway! The Military provided transportation from Iraq via Kuwait to a Gateway. Initially his Gateway was BWI. The round trip ticket would have been from BWI to home and back to BWI. As he is based at FT Hood, Killeen, TX., when the DFW Gateway was opened he traveled there instead. We just drove to Killeen.

 

[chperplt]

bart

The Today show report said otherwise.

It's a shame the military won't get these guys and gals home. It's not like they are making bank in the military.

 

[Skip44]

chperplt

You should know the Press doesn't always get it right even when they mean well. As far as the Military providing transportation -- they do get the troops to the States at no cost. When I was in Vietnam I had to make my own way to and from my duty station.

Go check out www.heromiles.org and you will see how it works.

 

[ShawnC]

They just made the change recently over the negative publicity from programs like Hero Miles and Let's Bring Em Home, the DoD is paying for full round trip to home transportation for troops on R&R, I don't think it was implemented in time for the Xmas season though.

 

[ShawnC]

Found more information, story about the DoD covering expenses:

http://www.oaklandtribune.com/Stories/0,1413,82~1865~1806211,00.html

And here is another program that is accepting cash donations.

http://www.lbeh.org/

That one has been doing them it for the past two years.

 

[ShawnC]

*bump*