Although the Department of Defense has urged the general public not to send unsolicited mail, care packages, or donations to service members in the war with Iraq, students can support troops through e-mail.

Web sites have been designed to permit public support through greeting cards, virtual thank you cards and calling card donations.

Workers at the Jacobson Center were disappointed to cancel their recent service project where students could put together care packages for Utah National Guard Soldiers, said Cali Carlin, student service coordinator for the Jacobson Center. Carlin believes e-mail support is the best alternative and should be utilized by students.

"We should try to show our support as much as we possibly can, especially considering Utah leads the nation in the number of its troops deployed in the war," said Brigg Bunker, a junior from Mesa, Ariz, majoring in ballroom dance.

Force protection concerns have been demonstrated in the past. On Oct. 30, 2001, the Department of Defense suspended the "Operation Dear Abby" and "Any Servicemember" mail programs. Although these programs provide an excellent means of support to friends and loved ones stationed overseas, they also introduce hazardous substances or materials into the mail system from unknown sources.

The Department of Defense has become aware of organizations and individuals who continue to send packages by using names and addresses of individual service members and unit addresses. The result is a potential danger to troops they wish to support.

Unsolicited mail also competes for limited airlift space used to transport supplies, war-fighting material and mail from family and loved ones.

Previously, the ROTC program assisted the Jacobson Center in delivering the packages before the project was canceled.

"I'm not going to second-guess the Department of Defense," said Captain Verhoef, enrollment counselor and assistant professor of military science. "It was a good decision to prohibit unsolicited mail, considering such mail conflicts with airplanes sending supplies to troops."

Verhoef feels it is important that we try to support our Utah National Guard Soldiers the best we can.

There are more than 3,500 Utah National Guard members on alert or mobilized in the war with Iraq. Utah leads the nation in the number of its troops mobilized.

Utah's federal reservists also are being deployed. About 1,500 have been mobilized, making only 800 soldiers available for service at home.

To show support to the troops, log onto www.defendamerica.mil/support_troops.html, or www.usocares.org/home.htm.

"This gives students an opportunity to do a simple and easy act of service that will make a big impact in supporting our National Guard," Carlin said.



Copyright Brigham Young University 28 Mar 2003