Homefront Help is SIGNALConnections’ effort to support U.S. service members, veterans and their families. The column highlights programs that offer resources and assistance to the military community ranging from care packages to benefits and everything in between. In that same spirit, Homefront Help presents opportunities for readers to donate time, offer resources and send words of thanks to those who sacrifice for freedom. Programs that provide services are listed in red. Opportunities for the public to reach out to service members are listed in blue. Each program description includes a link to the organization's website, when available.
Digital and infrared imaging solutions help provide situational awareness and long-range observation capabilities in security systems. FLIR Systems has developed the ChromaNox cameras, which use electron-multiplying charge-coupled device technology. With near-infrared response and on-chip gain amplification, the cameras provide high image quality in a wide range of lighting and environmental conditions. Two models are available in 640×480 and 1280×1024 resolution, respectively.
GPS Receiver
Symmetricom has released the the RoHS-certified XL-GPS Time and Frequency Receiver, a network-managed Global Positioning System (GPS) instrument that generates precise time and frequency signals referenced to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). It is suited for applications in test and measurement, central timing systems, process automation, test range timing and the power industry. The XL-GPS conforms to the European Union RoHS Directive as well. More information is available here.
Two U.S. Air Force captains at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) have developed a BlackBerry app to assist forces in Afghanistan. MobiAFG, short for mobile Afghanistan, enables warfighters to access the Program for Culture & Conflict Studies (CCS) Web site's geographical, cultural and other information about the country.
Warfighters, law enforcement and homeland security personnel sometimes need to record personal information at checkpoints, crime and disaster scenes. BioTRAC is a ruggedized, portable identity management system designed to provide multimodal biometrics collection in the field. The system incorporates several biometric devices that can perform identity enrollment in less than two minutes. It includes four, high-resolution fingerprint sensors; a multifunction camera with a one- and two-dimensional barcode reader; and dual iris-capture cameras. In addition, BioTRAC features a smart card reader, Global Positioning System, a proximity card reader and wireless communications capabilities, including 3G, 802.11 and Bluetooth. Northrop Grumman Corporation created the system.
Homefront Help is SIGNALConnections’ effort to support U.S. service members, veterans and their families. The column highlights programs that offer resources and assistance to the military community ranging from care packages to benefits and everything in between. In that same spirit, Homefront Help presents opportunities for readers to donate time, offer resources and send words of thanks to those who sacrifice for freedom. Programs that provide services are listed in red. Opportunities for the public to reach out to service members are listed in blue. Each program description includes a link to the organization's Web site, when available.
Operation: Military Kids (OMK) supports military children where they live through national, state and local partnerships that establish access to youth programs and other services. More than 600 OMK partners operate around the country to provide opportunities for young children to teenagers. One of the efforts, the Speak Out for Military Kids program, trains military and other youths to form speakers bureaus to advocate for military-connected children affected by deployment. The OMK partners also offer resources for youngsters who have school-related problems, and they put on single-day and weekend camps. In addition to planning special events, OMK partners can provide transportation to activities and participate in the Hero Pack Initiative.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) set out to complete its National Emergency Communications Plan (NECP) within 18 months of publishing the final version. Instead, by January 2010—the halfway point—the OEC had completed 80 percent of the plan’s milestones and was well on its way to finishing the final 20 percent long before the deadline.
To support its global operations, the U.S. Marine Corps is relying on a tactical communications system linked by satellites to theater and national headquarters. Several mobile tactical systems and an innovative space-based networking capability are providing warfighters with reliable, high-bandwidth communications wherever they deploy.
Homefront Help is SIGNALConnections’ effort to support U.S. service members, veterans and their families. The column highlights programs that offer resources and assistance to the military community ranging from care packages to benefits and everything in between. In that same spirit, Homefront Help presents opportunities for readers to donate time, offer resources and send words of thanks to those who sacrifice for freedom. Programs that provide services are listed in red. Opportunities for the public to reach out to service members are listed in blue. Each program description includes a link to the organization's Web site, when available.
Veterans still looking for a way to serve their country and community can find a solution in Soldiers to Scholars, and they can earn the money to obtain their degree at the same time. This organization matches veterans to act as mentors and role models with at-risk, inner-city children. The founder believes that the values of respect for oneself and others, teamwork, education and family these youths need are those that many who served in the armed forces exemplify.
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