Homefront Help is SIGNAL Connections’ 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 and offer resources as well as to send words of thanks to those who sacrifice for freedom. Programs that provide services to the troops 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.


Patriot Express Pilot Loan Initiative
Members of the military community interested in starting or expanding their own small business have a new resource for obtaining initial capital. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced the SBA Patriot Express Pilot Loan Initiative, a streamlined loan product similar to the SBA Express Program but featuring enhanced guarantee and interest rate characteristics. The loans are available to veterans, service-disabled veterans, active duty service members in the military’s Transition Assistance Program, reservists, National Guard members, spouses of any of the above, widowed spouses of military members who died during service and widowed spouses of veterans who died from service-connected disabilities.

The Patriot Express Loan offers the SBA’s fastest turnaround time for loan approvals. Loans up to $500,000 are available. Loans of $150,000 or less qualify for a guaranty of up to 85 percent; higher loans qualify for 75 percent; for loans more than $350,000, lenders must take all available collateral. The Patriot Express Loan includes the SBA’s lowest business loan interest rate, usually 2.25 percent to 4.75 percent above prime, depending on the size and maturity of the loan. The funds can be used for start-up and expansion purposes, as well as equipment purchases, working capital, inventory and business-occupied real estate purchases.

The Web site hosts more information including resources to help people start, grow and succeed in their businesses, a checklist for starting a business, a list of lenders resources to assist those who already own a business and forms for the Patriot Express Loan.
 
USCIS Military Help Line
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has established a toll-free hotline to help members of the U.S. military and their families with immigration services and benefits. Callers can receive assistance with tracking their application for naturalization; notify USCIS of a new mailing address or duty station; check the status of an application or petition; obtain information about bringing a spouse, fiancée or adopted child to the United States; obtain information about posthumous citizenship for a deceased member of the armed forces; and submit an application for expedited processing. Troops and families stationed in the United States or overseas can access the hotline through the base telephone operator or the Defense Switched Network. Service specialists are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central Time. After hours, callers will receive an e-mail address they can use to contact USCIS for assistance.

The toll-free number is 1-877-CIS-4MIL (1-877-247-4645). In addition, the USCIS military page contains information and links to services specifically for the military and their families. 
 
Golfers 4 Freedom
In an effort to show appreciation for the sacrifices warfighters and their families make for the nation, Golfers 4 Freedom hosts golf tournaments and accepts donations to purchase and deliver resources to the troops and their families. A recent tournament raised money to provide amenities to wounded warriors at Balboa Naval Hospital and also to buy crank bikes for operation Iraqi Freedom amputees. The amputees used the bikes to participate in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon in San Diego. Golfers 4 Freedom also sends golf equipment to service members overseas. In addition, the group supports the Freedom Alliance’s Scholarship Fund, which awards scholarships of service members killed or seriously injured in the line of duty.
 
Giant Purple Heart Medal
Patriotism can grow in the oddest places. Artist Roger Baker mowed a 1,000-foot long rendition of the Purple Heart medal into a field as a gift of art to the American public. The image covers 850,000 square feet of the Thomas Bull Memorial Park in Hamtonburgh, New York. The project began after Baker had a chance meeting with an official from the Military Order of the Purple Heart. Baker says that because of the nature of what the Purple Heart stands for, he wants as many people as possible—veterans and civilians—to see the image. If possible, he wants to keep it maintained until Veterans Day. 

 
The SIGNAL Connections staff encourages readers to take advantage of the programs mentioned in this column and to pass along the information. In addition, if you know of a program that is helping service personnel, please let us know about it. Submit that information to SIGNAL's news editor.

The SIGNAL Connections staff has made every effort to verify the legitimacy of these programs and to include information accurate at the time of publication. Inclusion in this column does not constitute an endorsement by AFCEA International or SIGNAL Connections.