Care Packages for Soldiers

Care Packages For Soldiers: A Guide On What To Send

Whether you or your loved one is a soldier, sailor, Marine, or a member of another branch of service altogether, it's not up for debate: Being a member of the military is one of the hardest jobs there is. In fact, it's more of a life's calling than a simple job. Sure, you can stay in for four years or twenty just like most other jobs or careers, but the unique atmosphere in which servicemen and women find themselves, the singular demands of the military lifestyle, and the utter metamorphosis through which a civilian becomes a member of the armed services ensure that a military hitch will transform one's life forever. That is why sending care packages for soldiers are so important.

Speaking of transformative demands, fewer things are as rigorous, as stressful, and as self-revelatory for a member of the military as an overseas deployment. Indeed, such deployments can easily be seen as the ultimate test of endurance and self-reliance. It should come as anything but a surprise, then, that the ultimate remedy to such an ordeal is a care package from home. Read on to learn what to include in the next care package you send to your own soldier!

Personal Hygiene

There's no two ways about it: Soldiering is dirty work, and hygiene items aren't always there for the taking. That being the case, why not send some to your soldier in their next care package? They'll be over the moon, and you'll be confident that they're at least rudimentarily clean between R&R rotations.

• Toothbrushes are a no-brainer. Clean teeth are happy teeth, and happy teeth make for a healthy, combat-effective soldier. You can send battery operated models if you want, but a standard plastic one will do just fine.

• Mouthwash is a good idea for those soldiers who really take their minty-freshness seriously. Find it next to the toothbrushes and related supplies.

• Baby wipes are the king of combat supplies. Baby wipes (also called wet wipes, diaper wipes, and so on) are great for everything from cleaning a rifle to sterilizing wounds in an emergency to supplementing dwindling toilet paper rations. Beyond that, they can keep your desert-bound soldier cool like few other things can. These things are almost as good as money; no care package is complete without them!

• Febreeze (or a similar product if you can't find the name brand) is a great way to help keep your soldier's fatigues and other gear smelling nice until laundry day.

• Body spray, body wash, and suntan lotion are great personal care items for any care package. In particular, the body wash can double as soap and shampoo if your soldier finds him or herself in a pinch. Sprays tend not to melt in the hot sun like stick deodorants will, and suntan lotion will protect your soldier's skin from those same rays.

• Laundry detergent will usually be available on the nearest base or posting, but sending some of your soldier's favorite from back home can be a powerful scent trigger and a reminder of better (and cleaner!) times.

Entertainment

Deployments and other such maneuvers alternate between profound boredom and naked terror. This is especially true in today's wartime climate, but having something to do can go a long way in helping your soldier stay calm, cool, and collected. Exactly what you send will vary by the tastes and preferences of the recipient, but some things are always a hit no matter whose hands they end up in. Here are a few examples:

• Books, whether fiction or non, can be a great way to pass the time. Here are some of the most requested books by soldiers, along with a Kindle incase they don't already have one.

• Movies are another great pick. Unlike books, which take a certain sort of person to truly enjoy them, almost anyone can get into a movie. What's more, they can accommodate large groups, making them perfect for squad-level (or larger!) events. Again, Amazon is a good place to check for films you think your soldier will enjoy.

• Games are always a good care package item! If your soldier is stationed in a place with a proper recreation area, why not send him or her a video game or two? Chances are good that if they're not right on the front lines, a game system of some kind can be scrounged up. Failing that, travel-size board games will do nicely. Chess, obviously, is the military game of choice, but backgammon, a few decks of cards so your soldier and his or her friends can play poker, or a collection of puzzles (crosswords, Sudoku, and things of that nature) can also be sent - your soldier will undoubtedly find a use for them all!

• If your soldier is a fan of celebrity gossip, science and technology, or just about any other conceivable niche, a magazine or three in their next care package might be just what the doctor ordered. Magazines are a great way to keep your loved ones educated, entertained, and enthusiastic about quote-unquote normal stuff while on deployment. The particularly laid back person may even consider sending their soldiers magazines of a more... ahem... adult nature, but this is best left to fiances, spouses, and the like.

• Comic books are decidedly mainstream nowadays, and you may have a soldier of your own who's as into them as anyone you know. If that's the case, there are plenty of places online you can order them. Some places will even ship them APO/FPO direct!

Food

To put it bluntly, your soldier will almost always be hungry, and a plate of home-baked goodies can turn his or her mood from sour to sweet faster than you can say "double chocolate". If you're a good cook, food from home is also a good way to help your loved one make fast friends. After all, nothing says "comrade" like sharing a cookie or two!

Here are some ideas for care package stable foods you can send, but feel free to improvise and experiment - the important thing is that nothing you send spoils, melts, or requires exotic or labor-intensive cooking processes. Nearly anything else is fair game. In addition, some item suggestions can be found on dodlive.mil.

• Potato chips (Pringles, Lays, and so on, either plain or flavored)

• Beef jerky

• Cookies

• Crackers, crisps, pretzels, and other related snack foods

• Hard candy (Jolly Ranchers and the like)

• Energy drinks and powdered beverages like Gatorade, instant coffee, and so forth

A note on the energy drinks you might choose to send: Always pick non-carbonated! If the fizzy varieties don't go flat during shipping, they might explode and ruin everything else. What a shame that would be!

Miscellaneous Items

There are plenty of odds and ends your soldier will want and / or need while they're away; a care package is a great way to make sure they get them. Here are a few suggestions:

• Writing supplies (Pens / pencils, paper, envelopes, stamps, et cetera)

• A camera and memory sticks or cards

• Phone cards for when they make it to a place with long-distance capabilities

• Sunglasses

• A pocket knife or multi-tool (don't skimp on the quality if you buy one of these. A good one can last forever, but a cheap one will break in a week.)

Clothes

A spare change of clothes is always a welcome thing for the soldier on deployment. In addition to sending some of his or her own personal clothes from back home if they're allowed to have them, your soldier might also appreciate the following:

• Hand and foot warmers - the desert can get quite cold at night, to say nothing of the weather in other places.

• Uniform undershirts, t-shirts, and so forth

• Lots of extra socks and underwear!

Conclusion

Sending care packages to soldiers, whether the soldier is one's own flesh and blood or a member of some community's "Adopt a Soldier" program, is one of the most rewarding things you can do for them. Not only will they be overjoyed to know that there are people back home who are thinking about them, you the sender will feel a great sense of self-gratification and good karma. Hopefully this guide has helped start you on your first military care package, but don't be afraid to add your own personal flourishes to the mix! The key to the success of these packages lies not so much in their contents, but in the thought and the emotion behind them. Oh, and although this article refers to soldiers almost exclusively, it should be noted that these suggestions and tips apply equally to all members of the military. Now then, go on - it's time to get packing!