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What are good items to send foot soldier on 1st deployment


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I have a work friend who's son is maybe a year in the Army and was just recently sent on his first deployment most likely to the Kandahar region.  His parents are trying to get information where to send things as it's still fluid and he's not allowed to give them any specifics. Long story short, the guys and I in my shop want to get a care package to send with the personal stuff he gets from his family. We're looking for things to make his stay a bit more tolerable. Can you guys give me a list of common needs, specific brands if possible if you have past experience. Wicking socks, baby wipes, portable food items have been discussed but I'd like to know if there are brand names that stand above the rest. Other odd items to help pass the time? This is a first time experience for the family and their son, I just want to get it right-for some of you, you've been in his shoes and know what works. I understand shipping time to make it over won't be fast so I'd like to act quickly on our end.

 

Thanks for any and all suggestions.

MB

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Wigwam socks made in the USA. Medium to heavyweight with poly or wool mix.

 

Goal zero solar panel with usb and battery charger.

 

Buck hunting knife. Not a tactical one, a buck skinnin one.

 

Gun magazines, Hot rod magazines, Harley mags with chicks.

 

Baking yeast, hopps, barley malt, nalgene bottles.

 

Underarmor thermals, light weight.

 

Zippo lighter.

 

Leatherman multi tool.

 

Playing cards, dice, puzzles of naked girls.

 

Tiger milk snack bars.

 

Dehydrated quality foods like mountain house brand.

 

Sheet of LSD.

 

Leather HESTRA work gloves used in winter by lift mechanics work perfectly for machine gun operators and hold up longer that other cheap oakley shit.

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My brother in law was deployed 4 times...his two most requested items were movies and snuff. He said he could trade for just about anything else he needed with that. I would load him up with an hard drive full of movies and rolls of snuff. I would also send the occasional box of dry pancake mix and a bottle of "syrup". Its amazaing how much dark rum looks like syrup in the right bottle.

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I know from the church I used to belong to a few years back we sent a lot a lot of stuff overseas. Aside from from many of the items previously listed trail mix seemed a highly desirable item.

Best of luck to you and thank you for supporting our troops

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Thanks for the info, my main focus is usefulness, portability/sustainability, and not getting him sent home with a less than honorable d : His folks are getting a handle on how to get it to him with his final destination still unknown. I had a good year this year, there's a lot of good things you can contribute to but the older I get the more I feel for the US soldier that gets deployed for a undetermined period of time far from family (usually in some shit hole country). Hopefully the little things in life help.

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I just called a buddy who spent a few years in the sandbox, the following are quotes or paraphrase:

"Candy. Fuck yeah, candy is a finite resource over there. And it can also be used for bribes - for bribing children. Basically a bribe to get them the fuck out of here, if that's make sense - get them to go away."
"Little shit. Like, um oh like nail clippers, the big ones not the little ones, 'cuz the big ones can be used for many many things. Things like gum, it'll keep your mouth wet, causes you to salivate. A couple nice pairs of underwear, cotton boxer briefs - because the military briefs fucking suck. Hanes, Fruit of the Loom - something 100% cotton."
"Personal pictures, like pets, family - especially pics the guy is in, too."
"It's the little shit that makes the difference - like, throw in a good toothbrush - not electric, because batteries are a bitch to find. Batteries are good too, for trade fodder - AA batteries especially."
"Some of the most useful stuff I ever got in care packages was toiletries. Razors, absolutely. Send over a pack of like the three-bladed bic razors, just standard disposable ones."
"It really depends what kind of size of care package you want to send, and how much you're willing to spend. You know, for around $30-40 you can put together a really decent care package."
"Oh, a towel! Like, a really nice, soft towel."
"If I had to pick three things to receive, it'd be gum, razors, and toenail clippers."

He also mentioned the idea of going down to the recruiting center for the branch he's in and just ask the guys there for some input - they should know the regs on what you can and can't send, and a lot of those guys will have been deployed and know what's most helpful/appreciated.

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He also stressed that baby wipes are great, but they HAVE to be alcohol free or the whole care package can get turned away - guys sometimes wring the alcohol out of the wipes, so they're no longer allowed.

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I have not yet seen all the other answers sosss if I repeat stuff ... opps. Non scented anti fungal foot powder. Non scented anti fungal ointment for various body fungus infestations. Gillette non scented anti bacterial under arm and ass hole area gel type deodorant.

 

Non scented Dove or Ivory body soap. Light brown cotton boxer shorts and cotton socks. Small sharp scissors. High rate sun screen ... non scented. Any kind of hard suck on type candy like various favorite Life Savers. Large finger and toe nail trimmers with file.

 

Non scented non alcohol type baby asshole wipes. This stuff, except the candy, is intended to lower or remove human body odor which can ruin your day AND tell the locals you do not smell like them. You do not smell much at all. HB of CJ (old coot) Hope this helps.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Thanks for the suggestions, package went out two weeks ago. I put in 3 pairs of wicking and two pairs of heavy weight socks from Dicks, 2 pairs Mechanix gloves, one heavy pair of clippers, 4 Hot Rod and Truck magazines, good pair of ear buds and a portable charger/battery pack made for USB devices, 2 boxes of the moist type granola bars and a bag of jerkey. I think the plan is to try to get a package a month sent, looks like the temp range is 30-60deg f this time of year. From my understanding he does Helo maintenance.  The more info he's allowed to release to his family the more specific I can make the items sent. Thanks Stryker, it never hurts to give a little back...Italian roots dictate that we take care of our own and I know 100% of what I send makes it to the intended.

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Glad to hear it went out, just a side note though. I used to sell electronics as a kid. Is that charging device you sent rated for the region? ie 220 50hz or 120 60hz? Not sure of the areas power and I would assume military would be running good old fashioned American juice for obvious reasons.

 

Eta. USB. Next time ill read the whole thing.

Edited by fatty alcohol
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