April 18, 2003April 18, 2003
University of Missouri Outreach and Extension, through the TeleCenter Network, is helping military service members and their families stay in touch.
Thousands of citizen-soldiers from Missouri (Army Guard, Air Guard, Reserve and others) are deploying to all points of the world. University Outreach and Extension is making free Internet and videoconferencing available to these families, whether the service members are out of state or overseas.
Service members who want to communicate with family members must initiate the process through their commanders. Then the Department of Defense will contact the Missouri National Guard, and the Guard will find the video/Internet location closest to the service member's family.
"I am pleased that the University and its TeleCenter partners in Missouri communities are able to provide this vital service in a time of need," said Ron Turner, UM executive vice president and director.
"Videoconferencing is more challenging to provide in the rural areas," commented Thomas A. Smith, LTC, GS, MoARNG Director, Information Management, "but if you've ever witnessed a family-oriented video conference, the service is remarkably emotional and gratifying." Previously, the Missouri National Guard has provided video conferencing for families with deployed soldiers in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Kosovo and Kuwait.
Keith Crumley, Jefferson City TCRC coordinator, is coordinating the videoconferences.
|
|
||
 |
Eileen Yager,
yagere@umsystem.edu |
|
|
© 1993 to 2010 Curators of the
University of Missouri, all rights reserved.
DMCA and other copyright
information |
||