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Support Our Troops
- Thread starter Habanero
- Start date
PlannerGirl
Cyburbian Plus
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- 6,370
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- 29
that is true you cant send them snail mail but you can send them care packages via the USO website or you can send them email via the dear abby website
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- 45
Planderella
Cyburbian
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- 31
As inspired by El Guapo's thread , use this thread to post links and such indicating ways we can show support for our troops.
I'll repost my link:
Books for Soldiers
I'll repost my link:
Books for Soldiers
Jeff
Cyburbian
- Messages
- 4,159
- Points
- 27
Michael Stumpf said:
I've been sending what they really want. Chap stick, porn, beef jerky, smokes, and chew.
The baby wipes and everything else they say on the news to send is only making it to guys in the rear (the ones with showers anyway). The guys in the filed aren't carrying boxes of baby wipes. The trucks are well stocked with them I'm sure. My old unit is now tasked with guarding the supply line, so they may actually have a place to keep some of the stuff they are sent, but for the most part I've been just sending the necessities
Adopt-a-Company
The local newspaper has adopted my husband's company and they have been sending the local paper and making care packages for each platoon. A couple of weeks ago, Ft. Riley still had a few line companies that still had not been "adopted." You may want to contact the nearest military installation and see if they are sponsoring such a program.
I've been sending sunblock, chapstick, hard candy, peanut butter crackers, girl scout cookies, sunflower seeds (helps retain water), beef jerky, and the sports pages. Sorry, Mike, but there is a good chance that the porn is not getting to your friends. They (Kuwaiti custom officials??) search many of the packages and all porn, pork, and other "illegal" items are disgarded. . .heck, we were advised that they couldn't even receive the Sports Illustrated Swim Suit addition. Geez. I've also been advised to put a list of items within a letter in the box, because many people have received empty boxes with nothing but a letter in them.
My husband is attached to the 3rd Infantry Division (2nd Battalion 70th Armor) and my brother is somewhere in northern Iraq. Baghdad are bust!!
The local newspaper has adopted my husband's company and they have been sending the local paper and making care packages for each platoon. A couple of weeks ago, Ft. Riley still had a few line companies that still had not been "adopted." You may want to contact the nearest military installation and see if they are sponsoring such a program.
I've been sending sunblock, chapstick, hard candy, peanut butter crackers, girl scout cookies, sunflower seeds (helps retain water), beef jerky, and the sports pages. Sorry, Mike, but there is a good chance that the porn is not getting to your friends. They (Kuwaiti custom officials??) search many of the packages and all porn, pork, and other "illegal" items are disgarded. . .heck, we were advised that they couldn't even receive the Sports Illustrated Swim Suit addition. Geez. I've also been advised to put a list of items within a letter in the box, because many people have received empty boxes with nothing but a letter in them.
My husband is attached to the 3rd Infantry Division (2nd Battalion 70th Armor) and my brother is somewhere in northern Iraq. Baghdad are bust!!
PlannerGirl
Cyburbian Plus
- Messages
- 6,370
- Points
- 29
Hum its on the news here in DC to stop sending care packages-they are overloaded and need to focus on supply and security
what gives?
what gives?
Cardinal
Cyburbian
- Messages
- 10,069
- Points
- 34
I certainly appreciated people's good intentions, but most of what they sent us in GW1 was not really needed or even wanted. We would get boxes upon boxes of things like hard candy and deoderant. We never used it. Basic things like that, we could get anywhere. Books were good, but there was no time for them on a mission. Hometown newspapers were wonderful. The best food items were canned goods like tuna or ramen noodles - anything to get a break from MRE's and T-Rats.
Jeff
Cyburbian
- Messages
- 4,159
- Points
- 27
Re: Adopt-a-Company
Apparently alot of stuff is getting through now if the packages are 5 lbs or less. I guess they just don't have the time to check them. Anyway, here is the official USMC mailing policy, probably the same for everyone else too.
Travel Times for Mail are currently:
8-10 days for letters
15-20 days for pacakges
To verify mailing address, contact your Key Volunteer or unit Family Readiness Officer.
USMC Guidelines for Mailing Packages
Currently there are no restrictions on mailing to Southwest Asia with the following exceptions:
No pork products
No pornography to include popular fashion magazines such as Cosmo, Maxim, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit
Issue. These items are considered offensive in Islamic countries.
No alcohol.
No anti-Islamic literature.
Package size restrictions: Over 48" long and greater than 16" in circumference will be returned.
US Postal Service Guidelines for Preparing Packages
Careful preparation of your package helps to ensure safe delivery.
The Box
Choose a box with enough room for cushioning material around the contents. Sturdy paperboard or corrugated fiberboard boxes are best for weights up to 10 pounds.
Where to Find Boxes
You can purchase boxes and tubes of various sizes at most Post Offices. If you are reusing a box, cover all previous labels and markings with heavy black marker or adhesive labels. Be sure not to reuse boxes with the ORM imprint. They can not be used for regular mailing.
Cushioning
Place the cushioning all around your item or items. You can use newspaper, styrofoam "peanuts," bubble wrap, or shredded paper. Close and shake the box to see if you have enough cushioning. If you hear items shifting, add more cushioning.
Placing an extra address label with the delivery and return addresses inside the package will ensure that the item can be delivered in case the outside label becomes damaged or falls off.
Mailing Fragile Items
Use foamed plastic or padding to protect your items, placing the cushioning inside hollow items as well. Careful packaging is the best way to safeguard your valuable items against damage.
Mailing Heavy Items
If you are mailing a very heavy or very dense item, start with a sturdy box, pack the contents securely with a strong material for bracing to prevent shifting, and tape all the edges with reinforced tape. Packages heavier than 70 pounds cannot be mailed.
Sealing
Tape the opening of your box and reinforce all seams with 2 inch wide tape. Use clear or brown packaging tape, reinforced packing tape, or paper tape. Do not use cord, string, or twine because they can get caught in mail processing equipment. Place a strip of clear packaging tape over your label to prevent the address from smearing.
sal95 said:
Apparently alot of stuff is getting through now if the packages are 5 lbs or less. I guess they just don't have the time to check them. Anyway, here is the official USMC mailing policy, probably the same for everyone else too.
Travel Times for Mail are currently:
8-10 days for letters
15-20 days for pacakges
To verify mailing address, contact your Key Volunteer or unit Family Readiness Officer.
USMC Guidelines for Mailing Packages
Currently there are no restrictions on mailing to Southwest Asia with the following exceptions:
No pork products
No pornography to include popular fashion magazines such as Cosmo, Maxim, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit
Issue. These items are considered offensive in Islamic countries.
No alcohol.
No anti-Islamic literature.
Package size restrictions: Over 48" long and greater than 16" in circumference will be returned.
US Postal Service Guidelines for Preparing Packages
Careful preparation of your package helps to ensure safe delivery.
The Box
Choose a box with enough room for cushioning material around the contents. Sturdy paperboard or corrugated fiberboard boxes are best for weights up to 10 pounds.
Where to Find Boxes
You can purchase boxes and tubes of various sizes at most Post Offices. If you are reusing a box, cover all previous labels and markings with heavy black marker or adhesive labels. Be sure not to reuse boxes with the ORM imprint. They can not be used for regular mailing.
Cushioning
Place the cushioning all around your item or items. You can use newspaper, styrofoam "peanuts," bubble wrap, or shredded paper. Close and shake the box to see if you have enough cushioning. If you hear items shifting, add more cushioning.
Placing an extra address label with the delivery and return addresses inside the package will ensure that the item can be delivered in case the outside label becomes damaged or falls off.
Mailing Fragile Items
Use foamed plastic or padding to protect your items, placing the cushioning inside hollow items as well. Careful packaging is the best way to safeguard your valuable items against damage.
Mailing Heavy Items
If you are mailing a very heavy or very dense item, start with a sturdy box, pack the contents securely with a strong material for bracing to prevent shifting, and tape all the edges with reinforced tape. Packages heavier than 70 pounds cannot be mailed.
Sealing
Tape the opening of your box and reinforce all seams with 2 inch wide tape. Use clear or brown packaging tape, reinforced packing tape, or paper tape. Do not use cord, string, or twine because they can get caught in mail processing equipment. Place a strip of clear packaging tape over your label to prevent the address from smearing.
Tranplanner
maudit anglais
- Messages
- 7,940
- Points
- 39
Toronto Rallies in Support
Today there was a pro-US (and UK) rally at City Hall...I took this pic from my office window, then went down for a walkabout. I think the turnout would have been better if it wasn't for the weather - freezing rain, and then stinging little ice pellets.
Today there was a pro-US (and UK) rally at City Hall...I took this pic from my office window, then went down for a walkabout. I think the turnout would have been better if it wasn't for the weather - freezing rain, and then stinging little ice pellets.