Top 10 Items to send to your deployed service members:
1. An MP3 player today may well be one of the best things you can send. On the high end, the iPod is still the king, though Sony’s giving Apple a run for its money; but even on the low end, you can get a surprisingly good player for less than thirty dollars. If you or a relative have a little technical savvy, you can even pre-load the player with music you think your service member will love. Be sure that if you send a gift like this, you should insure the package. The more expensive and technically advanced the gift, the less likely it will arrive as shipped.
2. If your service member doesn’t already have one, send them a cell phone. You must watch this, though. For stateside assignments, a simple pre-paid cell phone, or one using any service, is fine. But if he’s stationed overseas, a cell phone is unlikely to work. For overseas soldiers, send a cell phone that takes a SIM card. Your service member can purchase a new SIM card in the country where they’re stationed and swap it out to make and receive phone calls. (The phone number will change with each card.)
3. What do soldiers do, a lot? March. In sweaty, non-breathable footgear. Through nasty terrain. Answer: a foot care kit. This doesn’t have to be anything frou-frou – just fill a shaving bag with Dr. Scholl’s gel insoles, fungus spray, foot powder, heated socks (yes, they exist), foot deodorizer, charcoal odor absorbers, and whatever else seems appropriate. For those who complain a lot, a foot massager might even be a good choice. You can always make this really easy on yourself by asking your service member to go out to Amazon.com and putting together a wish list.
4. Has your service member received a couple of awards already? Order a custom display case for them. There are plenty of online services that put together shadowboxes and other cases that hold a folded flag, space for medals, and even have custom sections where they can display war trophies or maps of places they’ve been. You’ll probably have to give then a gift certificate for it, and have them work with the case maker, but they’ll love it.
5. Soldiers also love tools. Go to your local law enforcement professional store (Not sure where that is? Call your local fraternal order of police and ask.) and tell them you’d like to see the M16 Military Knife or Law Enforcement Knife. Alternately, if your soldier is a bit of a techie, pick up a good Gerber multitool; since there are dozens of different types, keep in mind what your solder does when you look at the different examples.
6. Gameboy DS or the new PSP could be perfect. Handheld game systems are becoming increasingly versatile and multifunctional, and today’s games can often play DVDs and perform other functions, like personal planning. If you do get a system like this for your soldier, let others in your family and circle of friends know so they can send games for it as well.
7. Home-baked cookies, fudge, brownies, no-bake cookies – any of these sweet treats will be received with joy by your soldier and his buddies. And because the buddies are an integral part of this, be certain to send plenty of whatever treat you’re making. For most treats, four dozen or more is a good number.
8. Laptops for Troops. A new MMOT Program – While deployed, they should have a laptop with wireless this is the foremost best gift . You can see your loved one right away on Skype, chat, and receive emails right away. The laptop has become the saving grace for many back home. It is a relief to Soldiers to have communication technology available on a daily basis. MMOT has started Laptops For Troops to help service members stay in touch with their loved ones. Donate any new or used laptop so a service member can stay in touch with their loved one and save the day!
9. Wargames, like Soldiers of Anarchy or H.A.L.O. or SoCom, will be a big hit with your soldier who has access to a computer. Remember, one of the biggest complaints out of military members is the boredom when they have to wait long periods of time for any kind of action. Addictive wargames will keep their mind occupied and, with the best first-person shooters, his skills sharp.
10. Ultimately nothing is better than a regular letter too if you find the other items to be too expensive. A care package from home with the essentials is a must! Jerky, trail mix, energy drinks, candy, protein bars, and more. Click here for a complete list.
If these items are beyond your budget, just buy a bunch of stamps and write a letter every single day, enclosing pictures if you can. Military members hover at mail call like vultures waiting for that special time when it’s their name being called. This, more than anything, is what they live for.
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