User Panel
User Panel
User Panel
|
Posted: 8/25/2004 1:58:31 PM EDT
[#1]
A while back a bunch of the members here sent out alot of care packages . Here's a link to get some ideas what the guys sent . Good luck
www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=1&f=5&t=238007 |
|
|
|
Posted: 8/25/2004 2:41:25 PM EDT
[#2]
Ciggarretes should not be a problem over there. What is great is American Copenhagen because what they send overseas is some horrible nasty crap. The cardboard can is worth its wheight in gold over there.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 8/25/2004 3:09:00 PM EDT
[#3]
disposable razors and real toilet paper(the Kick Butt toilet paper sucks)... baby wipes... hand sanitizer... a variety of old magazines... chewing gum... stuff like that is what I looked forward to getting when I was there... Maybe a couple good books too...
|
|
|
|
Posted: 8/25/2004 3:25:17 PM EDT
[#4]
I just got back from Iraq in Mar and might be able to help. Send your guy lots of baby wipes. They are very handy and are better to wipe your third point of contact with. Beef jerky is good because you can eat it on the run. I would suggest Copenhagen AND Skoal, the good stuff comes from the US and is impossible to get over seas. Even if he doesnt chew or smoke, he can use it to barter with. Dont forget lighters! Militec is the lube we used in Iraq and was sometimes hard to come by. Pipe cleaners for getting the sand out of the trigger group. "Adult" magazines hidden in a Pringles can is always a good morale booster. Let me think about it some more and I will add more later. hug.gif ML
|
|
|
|
Posted: 8/25/2004 3:33:25 PM EDT
[#5]
whats the shipping like to get it over there? Is there a list of names and addresses?
|
|
|
|
Posted: 8/25/2004 4:19:43 PM EDT
[#6]
Nippers of tequila,scotch,rum,ect....
Make sure there plastic not glass |
|
|
|
Posted: 8/25/2004 7:12:46 PM EDT
[#7]
|
|
|
|
Posted: 8/25/2004 8:30:24 PM EDT
[#8]
baby wipes (unscented) and Paris Hilton
|
|
|
|
Posted: 8/25/2004 9:35:41 PM EDT
[#9]
If he/she's the religious type send a prayer book or a 'teachings of jesus' book (the beyond the bible kind). One thing about them, you can always get away with reading them :) and they help keep things in perspective for those in more isolated areas. If he/she has friends of faith they may well enjoy reading together.
Seem hokey? Unfortunately, Iraq isn't the mall. When bad things happen and mom and dad aren't there, the unit and it's love for it's own people is all you're going to have. If you partake, the good book helps. Usually I don't get all preachy, but I was reading about a book on chaplain's corps today and felt maybe it'd help someone. As for stuff? Yeah, gum. Good deck of playing cards or stack of poker chips if they're in a bigger unit. Newspaper clippings for small-town folks - they always seem to appreciate it. Pictures of new babies, etc in the family. Firearms related? I wouldn't worry about it much. These days units are pretty well supplied (we were) with that kind of thing. A boresnake would fit real nice in a care package, tho. Who knows? Maybe some procurement type will see them, see the troops actually USING it because it works well and order up a bunch. Funny how fast stuff like that can happen. Then you really could keep everything you need to clean your M4 in one small pocket. |
|
|
|
Posted: 8/26/2004 12:01:37 AM EDT
[#10]
Scope bottle, vodka, food coloring. Burn some CDs with MP3s. A lot of guys have MP3 players and can usually find someone with a laptop to transfer songs to their player from a CD. CDs themselves won't hold up too well in the dust and heat. |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 8/26/2004 12:12:15 AM EDT
[#11]
My brother said N cell batts for his friends Eotech..
|
|
|
|
Posted: 8/26/2004 1:03:29 AM EDT
[#12]
Weapons related send either 1-2" paint brushes or best a shaving brush for the sand. As far as a lub graphite work wonderful before. Having trouble finding it. Dental picks for cleaning carbon out of the nooks and cranies. I keep my guns dry unless I'm on the range shooting alot. Haven't had any problems that way. ( M4, M14, M2, M240, M9, M1911 or M79). My son hasn't had any problem with his M16 or shotgun. (he just traded in his issue M590 for a new 870). Reading magazines are always great, esp. the picture kind.
CD 
|
|
|
|
Posted: 8/26/2004 3:14:17 AM EDT
[#13]
I read another person got a request about sending those neck straps that are either battery powered or you dip in water to keep you cool.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 8/26/2004 3:30:46 AM EDT
[#14]
I just got back at the end of July. Send KoolAid and Gatorade mixs!!! You have too drink so much water that you're sick of plain water.
DON'T send any Alcohol!!!! You'll just get him or her in some serious hot water UCMJ!! Miltec Oil, Bore Snake, patches, Brushes for dusting off weapon parts (a shaving soap brush works great), Mechanix Gloves are great too. Mike |
|
|
|
Posted: 8/26/2004 4:01:25 AM EDT
[#15]
I sent Gatorade, Coffee pouches, lifesavers, beef jerky, cashews, jolly ranchers, and crackers.
Ya gotta eat.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 8/26/2004 4:41:29 AM EDT
[#16]
Yeah, dont send alcohol. I know a couple guys that got away with that shit over there but you realy dont want to risk it. As for how long it takes the mail over there, it varies... most the time 2 to 4 weeks but I just got a letter forwarded to me three weeks ago "from" Iraq that my wife sent to me when I was in Iraq and I have been home since April. |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 8/26/2004 5:14:45 AM EDT
[#17]
I participate in a program called "operation support" where I work. (my employer is very pro-military).
I am sponsoring one of our associates who is stationed at Camp Anaconda, near Balad. When I asked him what he needed, he said they actually have a decent camp store, but that the main thing they could not get was news magazines and local newspapers. He said the newsstand there had plenty of mens magazines like FHM, Details, Stuff, and computer game magazines, etc, but no news magazines or local news other than USA today and Army Times which he characterized as generic and unchanging. So I went to the bookstore and bought the days edition of all the local newspapers, plus some financial papers, all the news magazines, etc. threw in some dried prepackaged snacks and mailed it to him. He was thrilled, he said all his men were clamoring for the newspapers, even though they were a few days old and not local to where they were from, it was still news from "hometown America". Granted he was an LT and might have different wants than your average Enlisted man or NCO, what he asked for sort of surprised me. When I was in the Gulf, the thing most prized item was a can of copenhagen, I made a trip to Manama in Bahrain and got several sealed cannisters of the stuff for everyone, the stuff was like gold over there. You could send them an email and ask them if they have specific needs if they have email access. I just didn't want to send them stuff they already had or did not need. |
|
|
|
Posted: 8/26/2004 5:16:41 AM EDT
[#18]
Dont worry alcohol won't make it past an APO. They will inspect EVERYTHING, believe me. It would just end up in the hands of one of the civilian APO inspectors, and you would not even get a thank you note from him! |
||
|
|
|
Posted: 8/26/2004 5:19:43 AM EDT
[#19]
Gun related: A bore snake is hard to argue with, Maybe a can of dry lube? A good pair of Nomex operators gloves is also hard to beat.
Personel Items: Lots of Baby Wipes, He will be your friend forever!
|
|
|
|
Posted: 8/26/2004 6:42:35 AM EDT
[#21]
Can someone provide a link where we can contact individual soldiers (hell, even a marine) to send care packages. The Lord has been very good to me and my family and we want to help these guys out. When I was in the Army, I didn't have to go oveseas and got out right before all my friends shipped out for Operation Just Cause. I guess He was looking out for me and I want to look out for some troops over there.
Thanks, Ron |
|
|
|
Posted: 8/26/2004 8:41:32 AM EDT
[#22]
Condoms, lots of them. Err, FOR HIS RIFLE! FOR HIS RIFLE! To keep the dirt out!
Ben |
|
|
|
Posted: 8/26/2004 8:45:59 AM EDT
[#23]
Obviously you have NOT been to the sandbox.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 8/26/2004 1:54:23 PM EDT
[#24]
Nobody has any links? How about you Members that are over there right now...how do we help you guys out. I have a 6 year-old that wants to send a letter along with some "goodies".
Thanks, Ron |
|
|
|
Posted: 8/27/2004 9:01:50 AM EDT
[#25]
Porn.Cope&Skoal,"AA' batteries,funny (as in ha ha ha ) books,comics,pictures anything to make them laugh. various toiletries. Thank you for thinking of them. Something we all need to do more of. Take care. Coondog
|
|
|
|
Posted: 8/27/2004 10:33:14 AM EDT
[#26]
Try operation gratitude - they allow you to select and send items from a wish list (option 1), and send a letter with the item for the recipients: operation gratitude  a note from Brigadier General Mark P. Hertling, Assistant Division Commander, 1st Armored Division, Baghdad Iraq, concerning Operation Gratitude: "Our Commanders made it a point to visit every single battalion and brigade during the three days surrounding Christmas. In every location, I saw numerous Operation GratitudeSM packages. Every soldier received a personalized note, some holiday cheer, and some treats. And you know what? It wasn't the gifts or the cards or the notes that made such an impression...it was the realization that someone cared about our soldiers as individuals, understood the importance of their mission and appreciated their sacrifice." hope this helps - _DR |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 8/27/2004 1:38:25 PM EDT
[#27]
How does one go about picking a platoon? I've been debating putting something together like this at school. And about how much is shipping for boxes the size of those in the pics?
thanks |
|
|
|
Posted: 8/27/2004 2:59:34 PM EDT
[#28]
I think MSTN has the best package for you to think about
ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=118&t=199074 |
|
|
|
Posted: 8/27/2004 9:25:37 PM EDT
[#29]
Raided my spare parts for a coworker going to Iraq, made up the following kit for him:
Firing pin, firing pin retainer ("cotter pin") Extractor, Ext pin, Ext spring (incl blue insert and black "oring") Hammer/trigger pin Gas ring set GI chamber brushes .22 patches Plastic muzzle caps (marked RCL-10, which is the mfg's part number, mfg by Caplugs) |
|
|
|
Posted: 8/28/2004 11:09:29 AM EDT
[#30]
Our gun club at work hooked up with a local platoon and asked them what gun-related stuff they needed (hey, we're a gun club). Overwhelmingly, they wanted cleaning kits. In addition, they wanted, but certainly didn't expect, optics. We sent them 30 cleaning kits and a Leupold spotting scope. We're trying to hook up an ACOG, but they're expensive.
BoB |
|
|
|
Posted: 8/28/2004 11:09:43 AM EDT
[#31]
The paranoia level is fairly high curently, so it's hard to find information for mailing goodies to specific troops/units due to concerns about al Qaeda sorts mailing poisoned Snickers bars. Try visiting your local Guard/Reserve armory (of a unit that's been deployed, there's a "rear element" that will still be on site) and asking them for an address to mail packages to, asking a dependent of a local deployed unit, or check with the local American Legion/VFW post.
The biggest boost you can give troops right now is comfort items. Stuff that'll let them know people are thinking about them and appreciate what they're doing. Snacks, books/magazines they can't get through the PX, music (CD-ROMs with MP3s burned on 'em), phone cards to call home, a handwritten note that says "Thanks for what you're doing, we're thinking about you, come home soon in one piece." If your budget's a bit bigger: AA LED task lights like the Gerber Infinity Ultra, 12VDC to 120 VAC inverters so can run off vehicle batteries, battery chargers and AA cells... If you can burn DVDs, send 'em. Whatever you can pirate, no matter how lame, these guys are bored and will appreciate any distraction. Tits will be a bonus though... Lots of troops have laptops that can play DVDs, and there are DVD players in the dayrooms many units have set up. Go easy on the wholesome stuff. They're getting plenty of that through official channels already. 19-year-old E4s can only handle so much virtue at one time before it makes them crazy. |
|
|
|
Posted: 8/28/2004 6:09:14 PM EDT
[#33]
How bout extreme shock ammo??
 Seriously, DVDs, magazines, posters, nail clippers, pocket knives, model cars-planes-etc., candy bars, bubble gum, board games. |
|
|
|
Posted: 8/28/2004 6:12:53 PM EDT
[#34]
Seems like if they're from your area they'd like a local paper to read to catch up on what's going on around home. Also, anything good to read, Car Mags, Gun Mags, If you could tape some NASCAR/NHRA races and send em' or any other sports event for that matter. Anything to make it more "normal" like home. You could always see if you could get some of the local schools to write letters to include.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 8/28/2004 7:36:13 PM EDT
[#35]
The guys I sent stuff to said by far the best thing was the local papers, even though they were a week old by the time they got there. They do have stores in the camps, that have magazines (yes, porn too) etc, and they said they had plenty of snacks, spare parts, baby wipes, and the like. They said they could not buy local papers and didn't have news magazines. So that's what I sent them, and they said everyone was eating them up. All they get is Stars & Stripes and USA today, pretty generic stuff. I'm sure it caries base to base and unit to unit. My guys were at Camp Anaconda near Balad, Iraq. |
|
|
|
Win a FREE Membership!
Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. One new winner* is announced every week!
You will receive an email every Friday morning featuring the latest chatter from the hottest topics, breaking news surrounding legislation, as well as exclusive deals only available to ARFCOM email subscribers.
AR15.COM is the world's largest firearm community and is a gathering place for firearm enthusiasts of all types.
From hunters and military members, to competition shooters and general firearm enthusiasts, we welcome anyone who values and respects the way of the firearm.
Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter to receive firearm news, product discounts from your favorite Industry Partners, and more.
Copyright © 1996-2024 AR15.COM LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Any use of this content without express written consent is prohibited.
AR15.Com reserves the right to overwrite or replace any affiliate, commercial, or monetizable links, posted by users, with our own.
