What do Deployed Service Members really want in their Care Packages?

Body Glide (anti chafe).

The Dollar Store is your friend:

Charging cables (even a surge protector). Headphones. Decks of cards. Anything to kill "boredom" and boost morale.

Remember how much "downtime" we have.

Copenhagen

As a currently deployed Solder, if your office wants to make care packages, make them for the homeless or needy back home. There is very little in the way of "things" that troops need. If you want to support deployed troops, send them a letter or email.

Sp 4 Byron Skinner Anything to eat, always hungry out in the boonies. In our Squad we had kinda a tradition. Somebody got a care package we all shared it. It was just one more thing to carry. Consume it on the spot. As for personal Hygiene items, the squad got a weekly PX box that had a can of shaving cream a pack o disposable razors, tooth paste, a couple of tooth brushed to replace the guys own tooth brush that got used for weapons cleaning. Facial hair in the field was just ignored and since we were always in the field many of us had grown Fu-Man-Chu's or mustaches . This was before the days of handy wipes and all that other good stuff. We all preferred to smell like the bush. Charlie could smell Old Spice or sensed shaving creme a mile away. Smelly soap, Infantry don't need no frigging soap. Towels were worn around the neck to keep 7.62 ammo belts for the M-60 from chaffing your neck. One rather odd thing that we were always asking for but couldn't be from supply and had to have girlfriends send were full size Kotex. The best cleaning pad for an 81mm Mortar or a four duce mortar there is.

When I was in Iraq and Afghanistan the area was a sea of girl scout cookies! I'm not a big fan of cookies to begin with, but it seemed every care package had at least two boxes. Pretty soon every office had a "help yourself" rack with boxes to give away. That was over five year ago, though, so it may have changed. Actually, the only things needed are things the exchange runs short of, and those shortages only lasted a few weeks. One time razors another time socks, that sort of thing. Remember, the system to resupply Afghanistan has to fly over either Pakistan or Iran to get there and compared to "beans and bullets," PX resupply is not a priority.

So care packages for the military when we're deployed so many packages come with shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste, Q-tips, cards and dice games. Books, old movies that 95% of our military is never heard and then some cookies and snacks and what not. The military does not supply that stuff for us so typically we do end up using the packages just so we don't have to spend money to buy it. Not all but most locations have some kind of BX, PX or small field store. However we get a ton of use out of the games. Although I will say my last deployment we probably had 50 packs of regular playing cards for 10 people. More regular brands and kind of daily "luxuries" that you can't get, except for being in the real world for lack of a better phrase, for instance monster drinks are huge with many people however most of the BXs are stocked with them now or PX. We eat a ton of popcorn. However not all places have microwaves to do that unless you're on the Air Force Base then we have it. So when you are thinking about care packages it would be suggested to go find something about the installation you were sending the materials to or the unit to see what they actually need. Many of the forward operating base like the the Marine units, the Army Post are limited in their capabilities what they can use, what's going to work with their location, they can take , keep fresh. However, most of your Air Force bases have all those luxuries. For any of us though at least in my experience getting the homemade cookies things like that the little small things that kind of remind you of home or your holidays the traditions mean much more. So it really depends on first off what military force are you sending the packages to, what is their location, or approximate idea of location, what are their needs, is it a well known well supplied base, or is it a forward operating base, one that nobody really hears about, something small and basically the middle of enemy territory... whatever the case may be. Another consideration is are they living in tents are they living out of their vehicles are they living in hard billets? That's all going to affect what is actually needed and wanted for those locations. However, whatever people sends us is appreciated and made use of.

A plane ticket home would be the obvious choice, but in lieu of, I'd say phone cards. After that, I'd have to say that it depends upon where they are deployed. Sweat suits that can be worn under the uniform would be great along the Korean DMZ, but in the "sandbox," not so much.

Best things in a care packages I received:
Baby wipes - travel packs (several)
clothes pins and line
jerky
On two of my deployments the unit leadership/supply got all unit members basic hygiene kits. There were male and female kits. These were provided through the system to all members. They included toothbrush / paste, deodorant, mouthwash, soap.

COL Mikel J. Burroughs I've sent numerous packages, each a bit different. Always included (personal feedback from a recipient) wipes, gum, non melting candy, drink packets, hot sauce, instant coffee, gloves. Most things have been mentioned but the thing I haven't seen was pillowcases from home, sometimes sheets if there was space.. and there is a space issue...and boxes were shared so include more than one of a favorite. Color of pillowcase can be either dingy white from the dirt and communal washing or a darker color with pattern, most important, soft. It can carry, store, smell of home when it arrives, strain water, bandage, etc. and some silly toy like a puzzle, pez dispenser, to remind of more innocent days. Wordfind, crosswords, sudoku. Picture from home for someone special.

sox. My mom's homemade chocolate chip cookies. Nothing in cans. Music. News of what is going on in the World. Tactical items. When I returned to the World after 27 months in Korea is was like a totally different reality. The day I landed at SFO after leaving Ft Lewis I for the first time a 747. I have never even heard of one before that. What a big aircraft that is.