Posted on Feb 24, 2014

Gifts for deployed soldiers?

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My daughter is dating a soldier who is currently deployed.  Periodically she comes to me as asks, “What can I send him.”  I have given her many ideas and a lot of the basic “Load Out”, but I would like to hear some good ideas about things you have sent to your loved ones or fellow soldiers or maybe items you received while deployed.

Posted in these groups: Imgres

Deployment C92a59d8

Family

Communications B68c5bf

Relationships

Edited 9 y ago

Posted >1 y ago

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Responses: 21

CPT Aaron Kletzing

Posted >1 y ago

Guys, keep in mind that he said his DAUGHTER is also putting together the care package...please try to keep comments appropriate. Thanks!

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SGT (Join to see)

>1 y

Lol, I kind of thought that too. However I am thick skinned. You know, I was a soldier too, so the colorful truth sometimes comes out.... :)

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GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad

>1 y

I was just about to post the very same comment!!! :-)

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CPT (Join to see)

Posted >1 y ago

If he likes to read, I suggest an Amazon Kindle or Barnes and Noble Nook reader.  They are fairly cheap, have a long battery life (you don't always have a regular place to recharge at remote locations), and it lets you carry a library in your pocket.

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CPT (Join to see)

>1 y

Additional piece of advice to go along with one of these gifts:

You don't have to break the bank buying books. Go to http://www.gutenberg.org and download some of the best literature ever written FOR FREE . . . it's even legal! :)

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PV2 Violet Case

10 y

I was trying to figure this out at Christmas time. I do not have a loved one in to send things too like your daugher. I am on a limited budget too but very crafty. I sent some Christmas cards over there but never heard back from anyone. I did not no if we were allowed to send any types of small gifts along. I wanted to put a small candy cane in or other little things like that to show that people here are thankful for them. Are we allowed to send over cards with candy canes or anything like that. I have a cute little thing I do for my grandkids that is in a small snack bag it has hot chocolate, a candy cane and some mini marshmellows and a story about how they were good all year. Can anyone tell me if we can do that? thank you

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Lt Col (Join to see)

10 y

For free e-books, also check out your local library. With my card, I can reserve and check out many e-books online.

And the best part is, they automatically return themselves, so zero late fees. :)

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Lt Col (Join to see)

>1 y

It was the best thing my wife sent me on my first deployment.

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SSG (Join to see)

Posted >1 y ago

Baby wipes

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SGT (Join to see)

>1 y

Definitely...top priority !!

Thanks for the response.

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SFC Mark Merino

10 y

ANTI-BACTERIAL baby wipes. Keep the stank off when there is zero water for hygiene.

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SGM Mikel Dawson

10 y

And when you send them, make sure they are the smaller travel packs. My cousin sent me a bunch of them when I was in Iraq - great. They don't dry out so fast!

A piece of clothes line and some pins so when you hand wash clothes. Some packs of beef jerky can never go wrong, I received some and really enjoyed them. If they got anything electronic, maybe a couple cans of air, a good horse hair brush in case you can't send the canned air. If they got a digital camera, and computer, maybe a UBS stick to back up those deployment pics and docs.

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SSG (Join to see)

Posted >1 y ago

dry seasoning like miss dash, seasoning salt, or something to that effect. I love Buffalo wild wings so my wife sent me their sauces a few times.

Some one sent me a microfiber towel and i loved that thing because it dried fast and didnt take up much room in my bag or kit.

A digital picture frame with all of his favorite pictures from home so he doesnt have to take the pictures with and risk them getting ruined.

A good quality coffee travel mug or tumbler is a MUST (if he drinks coffee)

Flags, hats, shirts, anything he can put up in his area of his favorite sports teams.

and no matter how easy it is now days to talk on the phone or internet, i STILL loved getting letters from my wife!

If i think of anything else ill post it!

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SGT (Join to see)

>1 y

Thanks SSG, I see a lot of thought went into this response. Some great ideas and I will be adding the seasonings to my personal list. You are correct about the letters. Though you can skype and email in most places, even in some of the really obscure FOB's I always enjoyed receiving letters. It seemed more personal for some strange reason.

Thanks for your contribution, and service.

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SSG (Join to see)

Posted >1 y ago

Q-Tips!!!! We were always fighting over q-tips when I was deployed. Darned dust gets everywhere, and they come in handy for weapons maintenance. Bottles of Cholula are also appreciated.

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SGT (Join to see)

>1 y

Great Tip! No pun intended, That is a new item on the list.

Thanks for your response.

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SFC (Join to see)

Posted >1 y ago

If he is stationed at some remote FOB in the middle of nowhere like I was,  then items like baby wipes come in handy, water flavor packets, baked goods, magazines, pictures of loved once, I personally loved peanut butter also.

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SFC Craig Dalen

>1 y

Gifts for anyone who decides to leave their family and put themselves in any austere environment. I understand there are different places overseas but people get placed where they are needed.

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SGT (Join to see)

>1 y

All good ideas and glad to hear them. Though most of these items we have already sent over. I did forgit the water flavor packets. I got to do that next time.

Thanks for your response!

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SFC (Join to see)

Posted >1 y ago

Swedish fish, Comic books, books,
The best part of a care package is the surplus to share with your buddies.

Well, and chocolate chip cookies.

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SPC Charles Brown

>1 y

My mother used to make fudge and cakes to send me while I was in Korea. Man, when I got those care packages the barracks mates turned into a bunch of kids in a candy store. Fortunately she sent enough for everyone, especially during the holidays. She learned how to do this when she was sending care packages to my father in Vietnam. Good times and memories.

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SSG (Join to see)

Posted >1 y ago

Mio

Jerky

Cereal Bars

Mac & Cheese microwave cups

Silly String! I got a big box with 15 cans of silly string once, it was a huge morale booster for the whole squad!

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SSG (Join to see)

>1 y

Small world that you're from ST. Pete!

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SGT (Join to see)

>1 y

Silly string....LOL....I bet that did go over big. I may just have to make that happen. Thanks for your suggestions!

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SSG (Join to see)

>1 y

You're welcome! We had a blast with the silly string!

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SGT (Join to see)

Posted >1 y ago

I have received numerous things that can come in handy.... For instance, especially if a PX or shopette is not available.

Peanut Butter

Jerky

Audio Books (given out by the USO)

Crystal Light packets... to replenish the electrolytes and sugar intake that is lost.

An E-Reader

Baby Wipes

Hand Sanitizer

Canned Goods (Chef Boyardee, Vienna Sausages, Tuna Fish w/Crackers, Chicken Salad w/Crackers)

I feel that these are the best things to send to keep a SM happy while on deployment... Sometimes the little things in life we get are the best, especially if it isn't available.

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SGT (Join to see)

>1 y

Great suggestions Sgt. And I think you closing comment is dead on. I know SM appreciate almost anything no matter how small, as long as it's from home.

Thank you for your comments!

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PO3 Bill Bruzdowski

Posted >1 y ago

I see others have already suggested the kindle or other e-readers. May I suggest a pre loaded subscription to a magazine he may like? Something like readers digest has short uplifting stories easy to read when time is short, or a usa today newspaper subscription can help him to keep current on goings on at home.

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SGT (Join to see)

>1 y

Good Suggestion, sometimes reading a full length books can get a little frustrating when time is short. You wind up stuck in the middle of some chapter and takes days to get back into it. I'll keep it in mind. Thanks for the response.

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