Military in Kuwait can reach out and touch someone at home

Thursday, March 13, 2003 | 9:46 a.m.

Military personnel stationed in the Middle East will soon have more ways to contact their loved ones in the United States.

AT&T is constructing calling centers in seven forward-deployed camps and bases in Kuwait that will triple the number of payphones available for soldiers.

"AT&T is honored to be able to assist our troops with the services they need to stay in touch with loved ones, no matter the distance or the time of day, said Bill Baumann, director of AT&T's Military Markets.

AT&T provides calling services in more than 170 overseas locations and aboard more than 200 Navy ships. Soldiers are deployed with prepaid phone cards that allow 20 minutes of calling time, and can be used in connection with AT&T services.

Currently more than 1,000 Nellis Air Force Base personnel are deployed around the world. Four Nevada Army Guard units, totaling more than 400 soldiers, have been deployed. About 180 of the Guard soldiers are now serving overseas.

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