Posted on Mar 4, 2014
What does every deployed Soldier need/want someone to send them?
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<p>Need some help here - I have a good friend of mine's son deployed and I want to send him something. What does an Infantry Soldier need or want someone to send him that isn't available in country? </p><p><br></p><p>Already thought about sending his girlfriend but she won't fit in the box - need ideas of what a Ranger would need or want.</p>
Deployment
Ranger
Airborne School
Edited 10 y ago
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 24
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on my last deployment, we had access to a TV/DVD player but ran out of new movies pretty quickly. My girlfrend at the time sent hours of recorded prime time TV burned onto several DVDs. We would just throw one in on our downtime and let it run through. The Patoon Really liked it.
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SSG (Join to see)
Anything consisting of non perishables like Fruit & Nut snacks, Fruit cups, Candy (if its in a zip lock bag)!
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MAJ Craig Clark
Fruit cups is a great suggestion - forgot about those. I always wanted canned peaches back in the day. Thanks.
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Sir,<div><br></div><div>All of the previous suggestions were excellent. The only things I would add are little holiday-related items that will boost morale for the holiday, but are cheap enough that they can throw them away afterward.</div><div><br></div><div>I was ecstatic when I received paper Christmas ornaments to put on my wall, a strand of silver garland, and little plastic noisemakers for New Year's Eve. It really lifted my heart, and broke up the monotony of working 12-hour days, 7 days per week. </div>
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SGT (Join to see)
I just noticed that you said he's a Ranger, so maybe my suggestion was a little off. He might not appreciate frou-frou stuff like decorations, lol.
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MAJ Craig Clark
Oh, I don't know. I was a Ranger during Desert Shield/Storm over Christmas and would have enjoyed a Christmas card or two.
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I personally liked receiving old fashioned mail from my wife and children. I know they could email, skype, or instant message me, but it wasn't the same. I enjoyed receiving the mail and seeing my sons handwriting and misspellings. I encourage people to write letters.<br>
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MAJ Craig Clark
Couldn't agree more. I am a Desert Shield/Storm/Provide Comfort guy and there was nothing like getting a letter and there was nothing like NOT getting a letter during mail call either.
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1SG (Join to see)
Hygiene products, all the best junk food one can buy, and Pete's Hot sauce. That's all my soldiers cared about. Hope this helps...
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1SG(P) (Join to see)
Sir. I'll go out on a limb and say yes. And woe betide our nation if units start going places without one! I don't know where this fellow is. But even the smallest FOBs usually have generator power. Wherever there's AC current, there's a coffee pot!
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SGT Justin Brothen
Oh those baby wipe showers, first time you feel fresh and clean, second kinda sticky. Third time you regret everything LMFAO
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SFC (Join to see)
SGT Justin Brothen I’m before wipe time. A piece on cloth with water in your steel pot, that is before they issued us Kevlar helmets. :)
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Toilet paper, baby wipes, any toiletry items, any tobacco items (can be traded), socks, cookies, chips, beef jerky, barbecue sauce (makes food tastes better).
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My step son asked for Kool Aid packets to add to his canteen. We sent enough for the entire platoon repeatedly!! They couldn't get enough of it.
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CSM Charles Hayden
CMC Robert Young Before the box of Kool Aide we ordered for my little brother arrived for me to send him in 1967, he arrived at the Los Angeles train station - in a casket.
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<p>SLIM JIMS!!!! Yes those are pork products in a Slim Jim but who cares, the post office no longer ask. </p><p><br></p>
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MAJ Craig Clark
Never thought about someone looking through the box for pork products. Are all boxes opened and rifled through?
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SSG (ret) William Martin
Sir, if you address the package to a particular person, that package should go to that person. If you address to the a particular platoon, yes, the soldiers will have a field day with that box. BTW, I could not get enough of Slim Jims in the combat zone.
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Coffee (I loved getting the Starbucks Via packets), snacks (nuts, sunflower seeds, jerky, etc.), magazines/books.
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MAJ Craig Clark
Thank you Scott - wondering if there is a way to brew beans on a FOB. Guess I could always send a coffee pot.
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