“There are almost 22 million military veterans in the United States today and millions more around the world,” writes Google’s Chief Legal Officer David Drummond in a Google+ post announcing the new website Google For Veterans, as well a Veteran’s Channelon YouTube. Launched on Veterans Day, the new services offer “some new tools to help these vets —and their families — find new ways of connecting online.”
“My father was a Tuskegee Airman and a veteran of WWII and Vietnam, so it’s important to me that Google supports veterans,” Drummond adds. “I’m proud of the work we’re doing on this front.”
Built by Google employees who served in the military, or have loved ones who do, Google For Veterans offers tools for veterans transitioning to civilian life, those who are still deployed, as well as their families back home.
Much of the site is composed of pre-existing Google tools, including Google Docs, Calendar, Gmail, Picasa and Google Maps, which Google encourages site members to use to record their military experiences. Building a resume, tracking investments and connecting with fellow veterans are also encouraged.
Similar features are offered in the family section of the site, which includes links to information on veteran issues and peer support, and tools to memorialize loved ones.
The website links to Google’s Veteran Channel on YouTube, where users are welcomed with a message from first lady Michelle Obama. The channel offers videos on transition tips and invites veterans to share videos in which they discuss their experiences, and invites civilians to post questions and tributes.
As Google notes, information uploaded via Google For Veterans is stored in “the cloud,” which stores content on the Internet (rather than a single computer) so that it can be accessed via logon from any device. Privacy settings vary between Google products, and since the site offers a variety, users should note they may need to adjust settings for each one. TheGoogle Privacy Center, linked from the Google homepage, offers videos explaining policies and practices.
