This time of year, chocolate and instant cocoa, instant soup might be good (it gets cold this time of year).
Beef jerkey is also a hot item normally since they can bring it with them to munch on.
Hope this is some help.
Posted on 02/16/2007 4:30:45 PM PST by Trteamer
I am sending a care package to my nephew in Iraq. What do the soldiers need over there? What are some really cool items can be sent?
All The Best
A Nancy Pelosi dartboard set.
ping
My nephew is over there, too. He likes small cigarillos, (CAO Italia to be exact) because he can smoke them in about 15-20 minutes. The come in a 5 pack in a metallic in that fit well in his uniform pockets. He also likes Popular Mechanics, Shooting Times, Guns and Ammo, and NRA publications. He likes beef jerkey and power bars for missions, too. Apprently they only have time for snacks while they are OUT KICKING JIHADI ASS!
Seriously though I heard toiletries and goodies to eat are most appreciated and shared amongst them all.....
http://austinbay.net/blog/?p=481
Advice For A Troop Deploying To Iraq
(1) Buy a very good pair of tactical gloves– I bought a pair at Bull Tactical Supply in Austin. GT Distributors (which handles police gear) should have some as well.
(2) Have a dust mask for convoys. A scarf helps but a “dickey” type mask is better.
(3) Arrive in good shape –make that very good shape.
(4) I took doxycycline. I don’t believe [Logbase] Anaconda is in a malarial zone but you might move around. Talk to your doctor about it. Mine told me to safe-side and take the drug. I don’t regret it. You might also take some extra vitamin B (folic acid). Glucosamine sulfate helps some folks with their joints, and wearing kevlar armor takes a toll on “older” joints. [ED: older joints like my knees, which are in terms of wear 217 years old.]
(5) Have a good pair of goggles [ED: a plus hear for the Army’s Rapid Fielding Initiative– the goggles the Army is now handing out to troops in Iraq are very good. I ended up passing mine on to another colonel. Maybe someday I’ll get them back, but he’s told me they served him well in Baghdad and dangerous places.]
(6) I prefer the UnderArmour t-shirts and shorts. They wick sweat quickly, they can easily washed by hand, and the compression shorts provide support. [ED: Kevlar “over-armor” seems to ride better on UnderArmour-type fabrics. Cotton t-shirts– even when sopping wet with sweat– seem to bunch up. There were a couple of days I wore cotton t-shirts and wished I hadn’t.]
(7) I was not impressed with the KBR laundry operation– Their operation runs on these principles: “if it can shrink it will, if it can fade it will, if it can fray, it will.” For DCUs and sheets, etc., it’s okay. For UnderArmour garments, it isn’t. [ED: This means get some powdered Woolite or its equivalent and wash UnderArmour by hand. And perhaps your socks as well. Several times I washed them out in non-potable water. Believe me, the Iraqi sun dries them out quickly and kills any lingering smells. An ambient temperature 125 degrees serves as a superb bleach.]
(8) Have a camelbak canteen and use it. My water intake went up (as it should have). On summer days I was drinking at least three liters of water a day, if not more. The camelbak allows you to drink with your hands free while working or moving. [ED: Get the basic camelbak, not the fancier models. I got a large version (has a capacity of almost three liters) and had my nametag sewn on its flap. Several junior enlisted troops who bought the camelbak model with the butt pack told me they wished they hadn’t. There seemed to be a common “zipper malfunction.” One PFC told me he felt he’d been ripped off. I told him I’d help him write a letter to the manufacturer and we’d complain to the PX. He didn’t follow up with it. I ran into a week or so after that conversation and he told me the canteen worked okay so he didn’t want to waste time hassling with a letter. But he appreciated my offer.]
This time of year, chocolate and instant cocoa, instant soup might be good (it gets cold this time of year).
Beef jerkey is also a hot item normally since they can bring it with them to munch on.
Hope this is some help.
ping
Now I know many of you can help this FReeper out.
It's cold right now. Candy is good. Recent magazines (cars, guns, video games, FHM, Maxim)
Small stuffed animals would be good, if he is in contact with Iraqi children.
"I prefer the UnderArmour t-shirts and shorts."
Been in the news:
"The ban on popular clothing from companies like Under Armour, CoolMax and Nike comes in the wake of concerns that a substantial burn risk is associated with wearing clothing made with these synthetic materials, officials said."
If he has a laptop/DVD player, send some movies that have just been released. Or, some of the TV series that have been released: 24, LOST, Alias, etc. We also sent over Airwolf and MacGyver series.
Toiletries are always a great idea - toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, razor blades, etc. Our last package contained enough toiletries to get him through his deployment.
We also sent a particular protein drink that he likes as sometimes it is hard to eat on the hall schedule. Make sure it mixes with water -- which they always have.
They also enjoy anything for a holiday that they are over there. You've got St. Patrick's Day, Easter, Memorial Day, etc. coming up. Anything to remind them of home and your traditions.
My son likes raman noodles, cookies, fruit roll-ups, peanut butter and cheese crackers, beef jerky, Ritz crackers, koolade add ins, chips, cocoa, coffee, mac and cheese.....his list is endless.....but I always throw in the box extra toothbrushes, toothpaste and deordorant...
http://www.localsloveamerica.com/brian/postoffice.html
Lotta experience here....Go idea shopping.
This 'wish list' came from a First Sergeant in Afghanistan:
Any snacks without chocolate covering, it will be too hot soon and it will melt. Trail mix is a pretty big hit. Oh, they also like gatoraid or cool aid. Water gets a little old!
Most of the music they listen to is country and rock. Toby Keith is big along with bands like Metallica. I like Jewel, but then I'm from CA!
All DVDs are welcome, well maybe not too many chic flics! They seem to like the CSI, Friends, and TV series like that. We really dont know what is playing.
Anything my men can get will be great. We aren't looking for tons of stuff. Letters are just as good as anything and they help keep the guys going knowing that people care what they are doing and sacrificing for.
Here is a partial list of food items/utensils that we've sent over the last two years. Many of our correspondents have specific items they've asked for, and some of what's below is just what we could get donated.
Assorted breakfast bars, Cereals, Chips, Condiment packs, Bags/Boxes of candy, Beef jerky, Bubble gum, Campbell's Tomato Soup, Cheez-its crackers, Cracker Jacks, Crispy Rice Cereal, Easy Mac packs, Fritos, Fruit Cocktail, Gatorade Powder, Green Tea Bags, Gum, Hershey's Kisses, Hidden Valley Ranch Dip and Dressing Mixes, Holiday M&M's, Hot chocolate, Keebler Cookies and Crackers, Kraft Mac & Cheese, Libby's Cut Green Beans, Lipton Italian Side - Tomato Parmesan, Lunch-To-Go tuna, Marshmallows, Microwave popcorn, Millstone Coffee, Mini pretzels, Napkins, Oatmeal, Paper plates, Peanuts, Plastic ware, Pop Tarts, Powdered drink mixes, Raisins, Ramen cups, Salt and pepper packets, Slim Jims, Sugar Free Crème Savers, Sunflower seeds, Tabasco Sauce, Tootsie Pops, Trail Mix, Twizzlers, and V-8 Vegetable Juice cocktail.
I think that was the flight deck fire on the Forestal. Everyone wearing cloroframs got them glued to their feet.
The list of hygiene and toiletry items includes Baby wipes, Band Aids, Bath soap, Body powder, Body Wash, Chap Stick, Combs, Cotton balls, Cough drops, Dental floss, Deodorant, Disposable razors, Emory boards, Flea collars, Foot cream, Foot powder, Hair brushes, Hand lotion, Hand sanitizer, Ibuprofen, Kleenex Pocket Packs, Manicure sets, Q-Tips, Rolaids, Shampoo, Shaving cream, Sun block, Sun glasses, Tissues, Tooth brush cases, Tooth brush/tooth paste combos, Travel Pack containers, and Wet wipes.
Since you mentioned a nephew, I deleted the feminine hygiene items!
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