DoD discourages "care packages" (my title)

defense link ^ | March 26, 2003 | DoD

[Lokibob]

DOD AND USA FREEDOM CORPS LAUNCH "ON THE HOME FRONT"

The Department of Defense announced today that it has teamed with USA Freedom Corps to launch "On The Home Front," a new resource for people seeking to support our troops, their families, and their communities in meaningful ways. President George W. Bush created the USA Freedom Corps Office at the White House to foster a culture of service, citizenship and responsibility. Volunteer resources are available by calling 1 (877) USA-CORPS, or online at http://www.usafreedomcorps.gov.

Although there is a long tradition of writing letters and sending care packages to troops stationed away from home, the general public is urged not to send unsolicited mail, care packages or donations to service members forward deployed. Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness David S. Chu said, "There is nothing better for the morale of our troops than to know that the people back home are taking care of their loved ones and supporting the war effort." To minimize delays and complications in sending support, DoD recommends the following:

Operation Dear Abby. Send e-mail messages to deployed troops of any service from your home state via: http://anyservicemember.navy.mil.

Defend America. Sign an online thank you card for troops at: http://defendamerica.mil/nmam.html.

Operation USA Care Package. Contribute to the purchase of a care package of items forwarded troops such as sunscreen, disposable cameras, prepaid calling cards, and toiletries via: http://www.usocares.org/home.

Military families may need extra help in meeting basic home and family needs during the deployment of a loved one. There are many ways individuals, organizations, and businesses can offer their time and resources to help. Following are some of the opportunities now available through the USA Freedom Corps' new "On the Home Front" web resource.

Local chapters of the American Legion, American Red Cross, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the USA, Camp Fire USA, National 4-H Council, National Fraternal Congress of America, The Salvation Army, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) of the USA are among leading community service organizations providing ways for volunteers to help local military families. They are working with the National Guard and Reserve units, as well as with military bases, to match volunteers with families that need help in areas such as household repairs, spring cleanings or tutoring and direct those families to businesses and organizations that may be offering free or discounted services.

Volunteers can also help families, including those who own small businesses, with specialized skills like major repairs, financial planning or legal services. Some of these organizations are also helping to take care of children, after school and on the weekends, whose families have a parent or caregiver stationed away from home. The Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Camp Fire USA, National 4-H Council, and YMCA of the USA are playing important roles in these efforts.

Individuals can also make a difference at home by reaching out to share their time and compassion with veterans to say "thank you" for their service to our country and by volunteering with a Department of Veterans Affairs hospital or other facility.

Community volunteer service helps to replace valued volunteers who have been deployed. Local opportunities for volunteer service such as mentoring a child, teaching someone to read, working in a local police department or serving at a local food shelter can also be found through the USA Freedom Corps' new "On The Home Front" Web site.

[Lokibob]

This does not prevent a family member from sending a package, but the group support type are not to be sent.

Also note that even a family care package could take up to a month to get to the front.

[Brad’s Gramma]

bttt

[XJarhead]

Eh, screw it. I'm sending some anyway. They'll sit somewhere for a month or so, but eventually, when the guys are just sitting around, they'll get delivered.

[boxerblues]

If you have a specific soldiers name there is no problem in sending packages. I've been sending mine out no problem, however the I was informed today about a few new restriction from the post office
*keep boxes under 60#
*size no larger than 24 x 24 inches, otherwise they go by slow boat
* you must abide by Muslim country laws, (we are in some as a courtesy) no pork or pork products, porn, liquor, religous materials
* make sure you list all items on the customs form

[motexva]

Typical government/military communication - maybe there is a good reason for this but what is it? I guess us little people aren't supposed to know the details. Just today we were talking at work about getting some packages together. What's the deal?

[Ford Fairlane]

This does not prevent a family member from sending a package

That's good - I just sent one of my cousins some.. umm.. "ordnance", stuff he cant get overseas, the supply sergeant in the local guard unit (one of our mutual friends) was really cooperative & sent it thru semi-offical channels for me

[Lokibob]

Bullets and bombs get priority in the shipping cycle.

Every care package going to the front line requires a vehicle to carry it. I don't like it it, but understand it.

Remember, the troops don't have a USPS postman delivering the mail daily.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Terrorism is the deal. They do not want to publicize the addresses of the soldiers in the field. If you think anthrax created havoc in the halls of Congress, just imagine what something like that could do when sent to the forces that are spread all over the globe?

[Brad’s Gramma]

We're at war.

The rules have changed.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

You remind me of my mother... who, when talking to my children, is a "no nonsense" grandmother. Straight and to the point. :)

[Brad’s Gramma]

It's real easy, sitting by a computer where no one can see you.

Here at home? I roll over.....ask them, dare ya! They've all got me wrapped right around those little pinkies.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

:)

[motexva]

The Red Cross guy I talked to said that all donations had to be sealed up - ie, packaged food. He said everything would be checked by the military before it was distributed. Your rationale has the ring of truth about it, but if they're worried about prepackaged foods for them that means they're worried about it for us.

And we weren't going to have addresses to specific soldiers - we were going to bring our stuff to Red Cross and they were going to handle the distribution of it.

[motexva]

Glad to see you're still thinking for yourself. They'll come for your gun and you'll ask why and they'll say "We're at war. The rules have changed."

Me, I like to think, and I prefer a government that treats me like an adult, and not a grandchild. They should explain why they're forbidding a tradition that dates back to at least the Civil War.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

I am pleased that you are doing this, hoping you and your coworkers can gather up a few packages to bring some spot of brightness to the darkened, sand-swept skies of Iraq.

I'll check my local Red Cross, too. I have heard of OPERATIONSHOEBOX... I think it is on the net.

[anymouse]

Something for the USO Canteen folks to consider.

[TheFilter]

Other nice things to do:

If you know a military family with someone who is deployed, offer to watch the kids or just listen to their worries/concerns. Especially important for young folks who are not used to deployments.

Donate time, money, or goods to the USO. One thing they use a lot of is coffee, and paperback books are also good. Troops passing through enjoy having these things.

My husband is deployed and a friend I don't even know very well brought me a bouquet of flowers last week - that was thoughtful and unexpected.