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<DIV id=date>Edition: Tue, December 18, 2007<BR><A
href="http://www4.army.mil/news/standto.php?dte=2007-12-18">Rich-text
Version</A></DIV>
<DIV class=column>
<H2>TODAY'S FOCUS</H2>
<P><B>Army Emergency Relief</B><BR><BR><B>What is it?</B> Army Emergency Relief
(AER) is a private nonprofit organization incorporated in 1942 by the Secretary
of War. AER's sole mission is to provide financial assistance to Soldiers and
their Families.<BR><BR>In the form of interest-free loans and grants for:<BR>•
Emergency assistance to include rent, food, travel, car repair, funeral, medical
and dental expenses.<BR>• Children and Spouse Scholarships <BR>• Incidental
expenses for Soldiers medically evacuated from Operations Enduring Freedom and
Iraqi Freedom <BR>• Support to Families of Fallen Soldiers<BR><BR>AER assistance
is available 24/7 and worldwide. The Army operates 91 AER offices at U.S. Army
Installations where Soldiers and their Families may seek AER assistance. To
ensure access to AER assistance, Soldiers and their Families may also go to any
of the other Military Aid Societies (Air Force Aid Society, Navy-Marine Corps
Relief Society, and Coast Guard Mutual Assistance) or the American Red
Cross.<BR><BR><B>What has the Army done?</B> To increase Soldiers' awareness of
AER and to help raise funds to support AER's mission, the Army conducts an
annual AER Campaign from March 1st through May 15th. In addition to its Annual
Campaign, AER accepts unsolicited donations from individual donors and
corporations at anytime.<BR><BR><B>Why is it important to the Army?</B> The
well-being of the Army's AII-Volunteer Force depends on the well-being of our
Soldiers and Families. Army Emergency Relief is dedicated to "Helping the Army
Take Care of Its Own" and provides Army Leaders a valuable asset in
accomplishing their command responsibility and moral obligation as leaders to
ensure a ready source for financial assistance to Soldiers and their
Families.<BR><BR>The AER Web site may be accessed by <A
href="http://www.aerhq.org/" target=_blank>clicking here.</A><BR></P>
<H2>INFORMATION YOU CAN USE</H2>
<P>
<UL>
<LI><A href="https://www.us.army.mil/suite/page/409993" target=_blank>2007
Strategic Communication Guide</A> - Read the 2007 Army Strategic Communication
Guide for key messages and updates.
<LI><A href="https://www.us.army.mil/suite/page/303879"
target=_blank>Strategic Communication Coordination Group (SCCG) Workspace</A>
<LI><A href="https://www.us.army.mil/suite/page/216363" target=_blank>Army
Public Affairs Portal</A>
<LI><A href="http://www.army.mil/valor" target=_blank>Stories of
Valor</A></LI></UL>
<P></P></DIV>
<DIV class=column>
<H2>NEWS ABOUT THE ARMY</H2>
<P>
<UL>
<LI><B>Evacuated Soldiers</B> now get immediate combat injury pay (<A
href="http://www.army.mil/-news/2007/12/17/6620-evacuated-soldiers-now-get-immediate-combat-injury-pay/"
target=_blank>ARNews</A>)
<LI><B>U.S. Army may get tougher barrel,</B> better mags for M4 (<A
href="http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=3256175&C=america"
target=_blank>DN</A>)
<LI><B>Army chief of staff reviews</B> Afghan police training (<A
href="http://www.army.mil/-news/2007/12/17/6642-army-chief-of-staff-reviews-afghan-police-training/"
target=_blank>ARNews</A>)
<LI><B>Pentagon cuts order for U.S. Army helicopters</B> due to delays (<A
href="http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?ContentBlockID=68f82ac3-3de2-45f6-b803-1958f07da880"
target=_blank>AN</A>)</LI></UL>
<P></P>
<H2>WAR ON TERROR NEWS</H2>
<P>
<UL>
<LI><B>Coalition troops kill six,</B> seize 29 suspected terrorists in Iraq
(<A href="http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=48442"
target=_blank>AFIS</A>)
<LI><B>Secretary of state makes</B> surprise visit to Iraq (<A
href="http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/world/AP-Rice.html?_r=1&ref=middleeast&oref=slogin"
target=_blank>NYT</A>)
<LI><B>U.S. Troops discover, destroy</B> al-Qaida tunnel network (<A
href="http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15902&Itemid=1"
target=_blank>MNF</A>)
<LI><B>General urges caution</B> in Baghdad pullout (<A
href="http://www.syracuse.com/newsflash/index.ssf?/base/politics-14/1197911673116400.xml&storylist=topstories"
target=_blank>SYC</A>)</LI></UL>
<P></P>
<H2>OF INTEREST</H2>
<P>
<UL>
<LI><B>Guard Family gets</B> extreme dream home (<A
href="http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,158442,00.html"
target=_blank>ML</A>)
<LI><B>'Sky Soldier' Michael Gabel</B> killed in Afghanistan (<A
href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17332373"
target=_blank>NPR</A>)
<LI><B>Army private dies at Landstuhl</B> after six days in a coma (<A
href="http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=51067"
target=_blank>SAS</A>)
<LI><B>American Airlines extends special fares</B> and other offers for U.S.
military personnel through July 2008 (<A
href="http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/prnewswire/LAM11917122007-1.htm"
target=_blank>CNN</A>)</LI></UL>
<P></P>
<H2>WORLD VIEW</H2>
<P>
<UL>
<LI><B>Army deserter</B> wants to change recruitment (<A
href="http://www.reuters.com/" target=_blank>RT</A> | <A
href="http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSL1738756620071217"
target=_blank>Story</A>)
<LI><B>U.S. general counters</B> al-Qa'ida claim of strength (<A
href="http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/" target=_blank>AUS</A> | <A
href="http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22939044-2703,00.html"
target=_blank>Story</A>)
<LI><B>U.S. chopper attacked</B> on southern Philippines' Abu Sayyaf island
(<A href="http://news.monstersandcritics.com/" target=_blank>MC</A> | <A
href="http://news.monstersandcritics.com/asiapacific/news/article_1381838.php/US_chopper_attacked_on_southern_Philippines_Abu_Sayyaf_island__Roundup_"
target=_blank>Story</A>)
<LI><B>Pak-U.S. military talks today</B> to enhance bilateral ties (<A
href="http://www.onlinenews.com.pk/" target=_blank>ON</A> | <A
href="http://www.onlinenews.com.pk/details.php?id=122165"
target=_blank>Story</A>)</LI></UL>
<P></P>
<H2>WHAT'S BEING SAID IN BLOGS</H2>
<P>
<UL>
<LI><B>Disabled Iraqi children</B> get new wheels (<A
href="http://soldiersmind.com/" target=_blank>SM</A>)
<LI><B>A candle</B> in the window (<A href="http://thisvetslife.com/"
target=_blank>VL</A>)
<LI><B>Troops detain two,</B> aid attack victims in Afghanistan (<A
href="http://thetension.blogspot.com/" target=_blank>TN</A>)
<LI><B>Troops mutiny in Iraq?</B> Not quite (<A
href="http://blackfive.blogs.com/" target=_blank>BF</A>)</LI></UL>
<P></P></DIV>
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