(NAPSA)—Protecting the men and women who protect America may help the nation’s armed forces feel more secure about the families they leave behind. An estimated 200,000 American troops could be deployed for an invasion of Iraq. Manyof these men and womenare leaving their families behind as they risk their lives to protect the nation and its freedoms. Today, 53 percent of activeduty personnel are married and 45 percent have children. These demographics make the government’s $250,000 SGLI policy less than adequate for service members with a family. A child born in 2000 will cost more than $233,000 to raise until the age of 17, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Those costs don’t take into account college expenses or spousal support. Preparing for overseas movement requires more than getting immunized against possible biological hazards. Military personnel need to immunize their families against possible financial hazards. Aspart of a pre-deployment checklist, military personnel should evaluate their life insurance coverage. The Armed Forces Benefit Association (AFBA)is one of a few organizations to providelife insurance protection with no war, terrorism, or area restrictions. For more than 50 years, AFBA has provided life insurance to combat personnel. AFBA wascreated to ensure that military families would be takencare ofif their loved one died in defense of their country. fenseLINK AFBA helps protect the families of the service men and women whoprotect us. In 1947, Gen. Dwight Eisenhower, moved bythe financial devastation of families who lost loved ones in World War II, created AFBA as an organization to serve soldiers and their families. “Nothing is more important to us than our men and women in uniform,” AFBA President Lt. Gen. C.C. Blanton says. “The freedoms we enjoy today are safeguarded by our service members.” AFBA’s regard for service personnel was never more apparent than during the Gulf War. AFBA received life insurance enrollment forms faxed from service person- nel aboard ships and from field locations as they were deployed to the Persian Gulf. In total, 50,000 Gulf War service members signed up for coverage and another 60,000 added coverage. To find out how to supplement SGLI, talk with an AFBA representative. Active, guard and reserve service members should call (800) 776-2322. Log on to www.afba.com or write to AFBA, 909 N. Washington St., Alexandria, VA 22314.