Google makes one-call program available to military support group

Google launched a one-number calling program on Wednesday for military families who belong to a social networking support site.

Google has provided its Google Voice program to members of the Blue Star Families support organization. Google Voice will allow deployed troops to keep in touch with family members by using just one number that will contact all the phones used by his or her family members, including phones in the home, at work and mobile.

"Loved ones can call to leave messages throughout the day, and then when that service member visits an Internet trailer, all the messages are right there. It's like a care package in audio form," wrote Sgt. Dale Sweetnam, an Army Fellow in Google's Washington public affairs office, in the Official Google Blog.

Sweetnam is in the midst of a one-year tour as the first Army Fellow which that is part of the service's training with industry program. He focuses on helping troops and families use Google Voice.

Google launched Google Voice for anyone with a dot.mil e-mail address in August, and kicked off its program with Blue Star Families, which has chapters on 70 military bases, on Wednesday to coincide with Veterans Day.

Sweetnam said based on his experience, deployed troops don't have time to call four or five numbers to reach their families in the United States. He said the ability to use one number to phone home is "a huge morale booster."

Pamela Stokes Eggleston, the wife of a retired Army sergeant who is director of development and external affairs for Blue Star Families, said, "It will really help communications for military families, because it will help eliminate missed calls."

Google and Blue Star Families issued special invitations on Wednesday for members of the group to sign up for Google Voice, according to Sweetnam, who enlisted in the Army after earning a college degree in communications. Eggleston said about 50 families already have signed up for the service.