
 Welcome to our Network. We exist to link just about every military community
 in the USA,Europe,Japan,Korea and other countries. This would enable
 anyone affiliated with the U.S. Armed Forces, DOD, Government civilians
 and Dependants who have home computers and a modem to access a new special
 kind of E-mail Network called "The Service Member Network". The network is
 not Classified nor Commercial in any way. The purpose of the Military Network
 is to provide open channels to everyone affiliated with the U.S. Armed Forces
 who wish to commerce using E-mail to friends or relatives stationed elsewhere
 around the world "Unofficially". Ofcourse, there are other networks which
 carry a wide selection of "Military People" type conferences however, these
 networks fail to reach very far outside the U.S. or even the European 
 theater. Secondly, most of the stronger networks "Fidonet,Internet" appear
 to experience broken links which end up excluding entire regions, This is
 where we come in. The success of this network rides on many system operators
 living on or around various installations who have volunterred and previously
 cordinated to flow e-mail from one system to another using the topology
 outlined in the Service Member Network. This E-mail will be guarranteed to
 flow "directly" through appropriate channels until eventually everyone
 participating in the network can view it in about a 24hr period "Worldwide".
 This means for instance if a modem user where to post e-mail on a (SM) 
 Network BBS host system around the Fort Polk, LA area. Then exactly
 24hrs later (depending on timing of mail flow system to system), the same
 e-mail can be read on every other (SM) Network host around the country. Or
 in that matter, the e-mail could've been sent from Fort Polk, LA then routed
 to a friend via the (SM) Network stationed in Hanau Germany.  
 
 Fees for the Service Member Network will be based on the rules of that
 particular host system(BBS). Normally the fees on some host systems are
 free of charge or break down registration fees from every six months to a 
 full year to year subscription. Ofcourse, Fees(Registration) costs depend on
 the size and activity of your local host system.

  
 : How did SMNET (Service Member Network) get started?
 
  
 Sometime during the fall of 1993, a group of bulletin board operators living
 in Germany got together and setup a small private network to send mail back
 and forth between the American Boards. Since the fidonet mail links were
 often cut off due to political reasons, this new form of a private network
 helped get the word around the communities. During the spring of 1994 the
 private network really took off by branching into atleast seven or eight
 Military Communites, carried an online Computer Club, carried discussion
 areas with Military Exchange Managers just to name a few. The Private Network
 quickly died once force reduction hit Germany, most of the system operators
 moved back to the states.   
  
 
 During the Fall of 1994 one of the last remaining sysops of the late
 "Private Network" completely reformed the structure and designed a
 new E-mail network called "SMNET". This sysop (Philip Garrison)
 is also a Service Member who runs a BBS called "The Garrison Empire!".
 He along with other sysops from around other communities are helping to
 setup the (SM) Network which is becoming very popular among many american 
 modem callers stationed in Germany. 
 
  
 Today, the (SM) Network is under going a rebuilding phase which is being
 handled by Patrick Chartrand (Sysop of the Lost Realms BBS). The Lost Realm
 Host system will play a major role in the European community by providing
 a new backbone in the (SM) Network just like the Garrison Empire once did.
 New System operators are joining the network thus adding together more
 communities. The Garrison Empire BBS has relocated back to the USA forming
 another major link which will be established whereas Military Communities 
 will be able to send e-mail to European Military Communites and vice versa. 
 It took alot of planning and sysop dedication to make this network really 
 work, therefore i'd like to recognize the following individuals who have 
 dedicated their time and many machines to set this all in motion.    
            
            Thank You for the Service and Support by 
            establishing a Free Communications link
            to our fellow Service Members From:
                   "  HOME AWAY FROM HOME " 
              
            
            
    (Erlensee) Philip Garrison(Emperor)-----------The Garrison Empire BBS!
    (Hanau)   Tom Brown(Heckle)-------------------The Web of Darkness BBS!
    (Hanau)   Lauria Brown(Blondie)---------------The Web of Darkness BBS!
    (Butzbach) Ron Davis(Ron)---------------------The Hobbyshop BBS!
    (Erlensee) Rick Young(Dragon)-----------------Tymnet BBS!
    (Vilseck)  Ben Harmon(Ben)--------------------Rats BBS!
    (Wurzburg) Craig ????(Craig)------------------Magic Byte BBS!
    (Hiedlburg) David Silver(David)---------------The Silverado BBS!
    (Hiedlburg) Suzanne Bell(Suzy)----------------Improbability BBS!
    (Buedigen)  ??????????????????----------------The Wildcat BBS!
    (Hanau)     Pat Chartrand(Thantos)------------Lost Realms BBS!
    (Frankfurt) Sylvester Jackson(Soul)-----------The Darkside BBS!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------     
                             For SysOps Only!
                       
          If you would like to join the SMNET Team, please observe
          the node number request file called MAKEREQ.EXE which
          should've been included in this packet. This MAKEREQ
          program will generate an application for you to CRASH
          MAIL to one of these sites:
          
      
       
                                      SMNET HQ'S Europe
          
          For Germany :         Pat Chartrand (82:82:0) SMNET              
                                PHONE:011-49-6181-572272 (Data)
      
         
                                       SMNET HQ'S USA   
         
          For USA :             Philip Garrison (1:3621/15) Fidonet
                                                (81:81/0) SMNET
                                PHONE:1-615-503-9852 (Data)
                                      1-615-503-9853 (Voice) 
                                      
          For Node Number:      Tom Brown (1:3621/4) Fidonet
                                          (81:81/1) SMNet                              
                                          (200:211/0) LionNet
                                Phone:1-615-551-8936 (Data)

      Your Node Number will be processed in a speedy manner! Spread
            the word about the SMNET, for the Troops of the Troops.      
                                              
                                              
                                    Thank You
                                    
                                        SMNet Admin Team                    
                                                     
                                                                         