Gift Cards and Pre-paid Calling Cards

The Department of Defense Military Exchanges have been authorized to sell pre-paid calling cards to the general public who wish to give them to troops serving overseas in Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). These can be used at AT&T phone centers located throughout the area of operations, including the USO at Balad Air Base. You do not need exchange priveleges to buy these.

The face value of the cards are for US domestic phone calls, so understand they are worth fewer minutes calling from Iraq to the US. A "550" minute card is worth 143 minutes (15 cents/minute), and a "300" minute card is worth 80 minutes (22.5 cents/minute).

They can be shipped to you, or you can have them shipped directly overseas. If you send them for 'any soldier', remember to ship to Nate Gies, Attn: Any Soldier (see this post for the complete address), and he will distribute them.

For more info, see https://thor.aafes.com/scs/default.aspx.

Similarly, anybody can order gift cards and gift certificates. You can purchase these for any recipient with exchange priveleges, even those stationed in the US, so these could be a great gift for your friend or loved one stationed state-side. Gift cards are redeemable at the store (PX, BX, NX, etc.) worldwide. Gift certificates are redeemable for exchange service catalog orders. These, too, can be shipped to you or directly to the recipient. There is no shipping charge! For more info, see https://thor.aafes.com/gcs/default.aspx.