Thread: Iraq/Afghanistan - soldiers needs

I have a buddy who works on patrol in my precinct. He's already served 3 tours of duty in Iraq and is headed off for a 4th tour but to Kenya to fight Al Qaeda's ugly little head that's rearing up over there (he told me this was not secret or classified info, etc). Sounds like he's going for at least a year.

I just wanted to ask the veterans what they would want in a care package. The precinct as a whole is trying to put together a large package that will last him for some time. But what is it that you'd really want, need and can actually have while over in that environment?

Hygiene items such as toothpaste, razors, shaving cream, lotions etc. Take a bottle of mint Listerine, pour out the mouthwash and replace with vodka and green food coloring then glue back on the seal...oh wait did I say that....that would be illegal...DO NOT DO THAT WHATEVER YOU DO DO NOT DO THAT...

Also peanut butter/jelly, beef jerky, non-perishable snacks/soups/ravioli, lighters, cheap sunglasses to give to kids, porn, pens and pads, coffee and creamer, DVD's are always welcome especially the classics. Copenhagen and Marlboro's, even if he does not smoke/dip they become currency.

Also Tivo some random TV shows with commercials and local news and send it to them on DVD. Sometimes just hearing local commercials and Seinfeld reruns is enough to get you through the day.

Any used paperbacks that you can collect. Ship them over from the Pct often!!

Lots of magazines (old and new), beef jerkey, trail mixes, dried fruit and a BUNCH of the little individual water flavoring packets (tea, lemonade, raspberry etc)...drinking bottled water all the time with no flavor sucks

-OT

Depends on how established the base is that they will be staying at. If they have a decent PX they could use magazines, newspapers, DVDs, snacks, and ziplock bags (to keep the dust out of your snacks; well at least try to keep the dust out), and gift certificates to REI or other outdoor stores so they can buy things lick wick away socks.
If the base is not well established than add toiletries, and powdered Gatorade. Around the holidays send holiday specific items like Christmas lights during Christmas. You can always ask them once they get there what do they really need. Either way most people appreciate the package regardless of what is in it because they feel as though they have not been forgotten.

my advice is that you not mail toilitries with food. the extreme temps in the mail containers can cause the soap to, for lack of a better term, vaporize. all of a sudden all your food, even stuff that was wrapped, tastes like soap. i also had someone mail me jolly ranchers that melted and fused into one big ball.

as previously mentioned, its nice to have people send stuff even if you don't need it. my guys had a table of free stuff where they would put the items from packages that they didn't want. someone would always need whatever it was.

Thank you all- collectively we shall gather everything that's been suggested

So i was not the only one to get the BIG BALL of JOLLY RANCHERS...lol

Ha ha - we sent 10 HUGE boxes ( about 6 feet tall) full of everything suggested here and elsewhere. Thanks.