 |
 3x5 WE SUPPORT OUR TROOPS VET PATRIOTIC FLAG USA 3X5 $6.39 Time Remaining: 23h 29m Buy It Now for only: $6.39 |
 LOT 12 SUPPORT OUR TROOPS YELLOW RIBBON CAR MAGNET NEW $2.99 Time Remaining: 1d 23h 33m Buy It Now for only: $4.00 |
 Welcome Home Flag Support Our Troops USA flag $6.75 Time Remaining: 9d 21h 7m Buy It Now for only: $6.75 |
 SUPPORT OUR TROOPS COME HOME SOON FLAG 3 X 5FT $7.09 Time Remaining: 27d 13h 49m Buy It Now for only: $7.09 |
 WE SUPPORT OUR TROOPS FLAG 3 x 5IN OR OUTDOOR New Lower Prices Wholesale $6.99 Time Remaining: 12d 8h 12m Buy It Now for only: $6.99 |
 MAGNETIC RIBBON FREEDOM SUPPORT OUR TROOPS $4.99 Time Remaining: 2d 23h 39m Buy It Now for only: $4.99 |
 WE SUPPORT OUR TROOPS COME HOME SAFE SOON FLAG 3X5 $6.99 Time Remaining: 21d 20h 27m Buy It Now for only: $6.99 |
 We Support Our Troops Flag 4badge 3x5 Flag $6.99 Time Remaining: 15d 13h 53m Buy It Now for only: $6.99 |
 SUPPORT OUR TROOPS YELLOW WINDOW CLING $2.70 Time Remaining: 14d 20h 53m Buy It Now for only: $2.70 |
 Yellow Support Our Troops Ribbon Lapel Pin $2.09 Time Remaining: 12d 4h 57m Buy It Now for only: $2.09 |
 Large 5 ft x 3 ft American Flag Show Your Patriotism Support for our Troops $3.99 Time Remaining: 1h 11m Buy It Now for only: $3.99 |
 Support our Troops Stripe Car Ribbon Magnet Set of 3 $5.95 Time Remaining: 13d 11h 26m Buy It Now for only: $5.95 |
 We Support Our Troops yellow ribbon USA Flag Free SHIP $6.75 Time Remaining: 22d 17h 13m Buy It Now for only: $6.75 |
 3 X 5 US US WE SUPPORT OUR TROOPS FLAG 3X5 $8.99 Time Remaining: 28d 11h 49m Buy It Now for only: $8.99 |
 We Support Our Troops Flag USA 3x5 Flag $6.99 Time Remaining: 15d 13h 49m Buy It Now for only: $6.99 |
 WE SUPPORT OUR TROOPS MILITARY BUMPER STICKER DECAL YELLOW RIBBON BM0489 $4.49 Time Remaining: 13d 17h 48m Buy It Now for only: $4.49 |
 SUPPORT OUR TROOPS SPARKLE SHINE GLITTER GARDEN FLAG $13.50 Time Remaining: 12d 19h 2m Buy It Now for only: $13.50 |
 WE SUPPORT OUR TROOPS FLAG White Armed Forces Day Flags $9.46 Time Remaining: 1d 7h 31m Buy It Now for only: $9.46 |
 POW MIA FLAG 3x5 3x5 support our troops US US NICE $7.95 Time Remaining: 29d 15h 47m Buy It Now for only: $7.95 |
 USA FLAG AND EAGLE SUPPORT OUR TROOPS PATRIOTIC PATCH $5.00 Time Remaining: 7d 34m Buy It Now for only: $5.00 |
 BLUE WE SUPPORT OUR TROOPS FLAG Military Armed Forces $9.46 Time Remaining: 18d 6h 37m Buy It Now for only: $9.46 |
 SUPPORT OUR TROOPS USA FLAG SET CAR MOUNT W POLES $3.49 Time Remaining: 8d 9h 39m Buy It Now for only: $3.49 |
 SUPPORT FLAG WE SUPPORT OUR TROOPS 3 X 5 POLYESTER CANVAS HEADER GROMMETS $9.00 Time Remaining: 29d 29m Buy It Now for only: $9.00 |
 We Support Our Troops White Flag UK USA COME HOME SOON Afghan Armed Forces Day $5.51 Time Remaining: 23d 5h 39m Buy It Now for only: $5.51 |
 WE SUPPORT OUR TROOPS 3 X 5 FLAG US MILITARY FLAG USMC NAVY US ARMY USAF USCG $6.00 Time Remaining: 14d 19h 3m Buy It Now for only: $6.00 |
 WE SUPPORT OUR TROOPS 3x5 + American Nylon USA 4x6 Flag $20.99 Time Remaining: 21d 23h 41m Buy It Now for only: $20.99 |
 Vending Machine Stickers Ribbon Support Our Troops Yellow AA Global Industry $0.99 Time Remaining: 3d 12h 19m Buy It Now for only: $0.99 |
 We Support Our Troops Come Home Soon Lapel Pin $2.00 Time Remaining: 24d 22h 1m Buy It Now for only: $2.00 |
 Support Our Troops Streamer 4 x 45 Made in USA $5.75 Time Remaining: 3d 22h 47m Buy It Now for only: $5.75 |
 Yellow Ribbon Flag 3x5 feet USA US American Support Our Troops Welcome Home $7.99 Time Remaining: 10d 11h 30m Buy It Now for only: $7.99 |
 NEW HUGE 3 x 5 WE SUPPORT OUR TROOPS MILITARY FLAG $9.99 Time Remaining: 5d 11h 31m Buy It Now for only: $9.99 |
 We Support Our Troops Flag 3x5 feet American Yellow Ribbon USMC Army Navy Marine $7.99 Time Remaining: 10d 11h 27m Buy It Now for only: $7.99 |
 YELLOW RIBBON FLAG 3x5 USA US SUPPORT OUR TROOPS F923 $4.99 Time Remaining: 2d 11h 41m Buy It Now for only: $4.99 |
 We Support Our Troops 5 branches 3x5 Feet Flag $20.00 Time Remaining: 22d 51m Buy It Now for only: $20.00 |
 SUPPORT OUR TROOPS YELLOW RIBBON CAR MAGNET $1.00 Time Remaining: 19d 12h 30m Buy It Now for only: $1.00 |
 3X5 WE SUPPORT OUR TROOPS AMERICAN FLAG YELLOW RIBBON NEW F188 $4.99 Time Remaining: 11d 38m Buy It Now for only: $4.99 |
 WE SUPPORT OUR TROOPS FLAG 5X3 FEET Army wives MILITARY ARMED FORCES AIR FORCE $7.41 Time Remaining: 16d 2h 50m Buy It Now for only: $7.41 |
 WE SUPPORT OUR TROOPS BLUE FLAG 3 x 2 British Armed Forces Day Army Navy RAF $7.09 Time Remaining: 19d 6h 46m Buy It Now for only: $7.09 |
 We Support our Troops 3x5 Feet Flag $20.00 Time Remaining: 22d 51m Buy It Now for only: $20.00 |
 USA We Support Our Troops 3x5 Feet Flag $20.00 Time Remaining: 22d 1h 29m Buy It Now for only: $20.00 |
 Support Our Troops Commemorative Poly Streamer 4 x 45 $7.00 Time Remaining: 1d 17h 7m Buy It Now for only: $7.00 |
 Support Our Troops USA licensed Windchime $34.00 Time Remaining: 22d 20h 39m Buy It Now for only: $34.00 |
eBooks for Troops
Donated Accessories
Len's co-founder is former Artillery Officer Ken Clark who helped develop the initial 'Kindles for Kandahar' into 'eBooks For Troops', expanding Len's idea into a worldwide non-profit organization dedicated to provided eReaders to Americans troops everywhere, at home and abroad. Included with the eReaders are reading lights and camouflage jackets for the Kindles, donated by M-Edge Accessories, and also Amazon gift cards that can be used to purchase eBooks. The first two Kindles were posted to the 101st Airborne Division in Afghanistan at the end of April.
Soldiers have little downtime, particularly when abroad on active duty, and that they do have is very prized and well used. When not on patrol or other forms of duty, troops must have some means of relaxation so that they are alert and ready when they have to be. Some watch TV when it is available and others play games, but reading has unsurprisingly always been a popular way to pass the time.
Troops have very little space for personal items and being able to pack hundreds of books into a small package lighter than the average magazine is of tremendous benefit to them. A Kindle 2, with its high storage capacity and Wireless downloading of eBooks, is the ideal reading platform for troops for whom even one book would be taking up a significant amount of space.
Distribution by Raffle
Due to the demand, Kindles in Afghanistan are distributed by free raffle, and rather than pass around the few physical books that are available round the entire camp, each being read by the same soldier several times over, troops can now pack 1500 books into a 10 ounce eReader. As noted in the article "Kindle for Sale in Europe" (dbReaders), the electronic libraries available to Kindle users are vast, with Amazon offering over 200,000 titles in the English language, and publishers such as Penguin, HarperCollins and Faber and Faber signing up to offer Kindle-compatible titles. The Amazon gift vouchers enable them to select their own choice of reading material and download to their Kindle through the Wireless internet connection.
Kindles (must be K2) are either donated by the public or purchased with money obtained from donation or fundraising events, and then posted to the Army units where they are distributed either individually by means of a free draw, or for use as a shared resource. It is intended that eBooks For Troops will eventually be extended out to all branches of the armed forces. Says Army Chaplain Capt. Jim Mitchem at FOB Cobra in Iraq: "The lottery is working great – causes some excitement each week as the name gets out."
In order to receive Kindles, an Army unit must be sponsored for the program through a sponsorship form published on the website, with reasons provided why that particular unit is a good candidate to receive the free Kindles.
Why the Kindle 2?
The Amazon Kindle was chosen by eBooks For Troops because it was believed to offer the best set of capabilities for troops. The Kindle 2 is specified because it is of the best design for field use, being slimmer and with a more secure back than the K1, and of a smaller profile than the DX. The firmware of the K2 is also still supported by Amazon unlike the K1 to which OS upgrades have not been applied.
There is also the benefit of economy of scale, where buying in bulk enables a lower price to be negotiated. This would not be the case were a mixture of models and manufacturers/distributors used. By including M-Edge Accessories in the venture, eBooks For Troops also have resource to the accessories that make eBook reading easier and safer for troops on active duty in the extremely hostile environment.
About the Author
Marco Gustafsson writes for Digital Book Readers where he publishes articles about e-reading devices, e-ink progress, eBooks, etc. Visit this website and find more of his latest reviews.
US Military Tribute - Far Away - Nickleback