Can the troops make phone calls without paying out-of-pocket?

[indigo]

Yesterday on Salon, there was an article about some vets (classified as 'outpatient' but still on site) getting charged for lunch at Walter Reed.

I was at the post office today and purchased some phone cards for the troops. On my way home I wondered -- don't they get to use military phones to call home (and not pay, of course!) Kind of like what you see on MASH, lol, if that makes sense.

I am hoping that phone cards for troops is to get them phone time above and beyond what they are alloted. Please don't tell me these people don't get phone calls home. What is military policy?