USAA to Sponsor VFW’s Operation Uplink “Free Call Day”

SAN ANTONIO--U.S. servicemen and women deployed or hospitalized around the world will be able to call their loved ones back home at no cost this Veterans Day, thanks to financial service provider USAA’s sponsorship of the Veterans of Foreign War’s Operation Uplink™ “Free Call Day.”

Through the USAA sponsorship, members of the military are expected to make approximately 120,000 calls – totaling some 1 million minutes – from nearly 900 Internet cafes in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as hospitals and morale, welfare and recreation service centers on bases worldwide.

“At USAA, we’re in direct contact with thousands of military members every day, and we hear firsthand the family and household challenges they face. It is our privilege to support the VFW’s Operation Uplink, which gives them an opportunity to hear their loved ones’ voices, helping ease the burden of separation that military service often requires,” said retired Rear Adm. John Townes, USAA vice president of military affairs. “As we expand our business to serve many more military veterans, we look forward to additional opportunities to work with the VFW to help those who serve our nation as well as those who have served.”

USAA, founded by military officers in 1922, recently expanded its eligibility to include all honorably discharged veterans – officer and enlisted – from all branches of the U.S. Armed Services, regardless of years of service. USAA offers banking, investment, insurance and financial planning products and services to more than seven million members of the military and their families.

Operation Uplink, launched by the VFW in 1996, is the premier calling program for the military, and has contributed more than 105 million minutes of free calling time to U.S. service members. In addition to contributions from the public, the program is supported through contributions from members of the VFW, Ladies Auxiliary of the VFW Posts and many business and corporate sponsors.

Captain Shawn Bailey, Jalalabad, Afghanistan, FOB Fenty, says of the program, “I am so grateful for the ability to hear my wife and my 8-month-old over the phone. Your service is crucially important for the morale of the soldiers. You are doing your country an immeasurable service by ensuring the communication of military families!”

“We are very pleased to join forces with USAA, an association recognized as a devoted friend and advocate of the military community, to offer a special Veterans Day Free Call Day,” said Dan Shea, VFW Foundation Director. “Calling home, even for a few brief minutes, is a tremendous morale boost for our soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen, and helps families stay connected despite deployments.”

VFW Operation Uplink works exclusively with DRS Technical Services Inc. to provide the Free Call Day program – the only program of its kind. Corporations or individuals interested in donating to the program or sponsoring a Free Call Day are encouraged to contact Linda Ferguson of VFW National Military Services at 816-968-1102 or lferguson@vfw.org.

About USAA

USAA, a diversified financial services group of companies, is among the leading providers of financial planning, insurance, investments, and banking products to members of the U.S. military and their families. For the past three years, BusinessWeek magazine ranked USAA among the top two “Customer Service Champs,” highlighting our legendary commitment of providing highly competitive financial products for 7.3 million members. For more information about USAA, or to learn more about membership, visit usaa.com.

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