|
valentines day over seas
okay so my boyfriend is a marine and we've been going out for almost 2 years. he is being deployed soon out to afganistan. but i can still send him stuff for his birthday and the holidays. besides the fact i dont know what to buy a guy in general, i dont know what to get him that would last over sea shipping, and show him i love him.
help
[ ]
Want to answer more questions in the Relationships category?
Maybe give some free advice about: Love Life?
Get him stuff he can use. I found a list here
Q: Is there somewhere people can go to find a list of items that are OK to send to our deployed soldiers? I want to make sure I do not create a problem for him. Also, I realize troops poised to go into combat will not be able to store and keep some things since they are not being based somewhere for 6 to 9 months.
A: These items may be sent. Keep in mind that the list is a good starting point and your soldier may tell you what they need or want. Personal hygiene and grooming items should be individual, small sized and unscented.
1. Coffee bags (like Folgers coffee singles)
2. AA Batteries (or whatever fits in any small electronics they may have taken)
3. Stamped or postage paid post cards
4. Moisturizing lotion
5. Hand sanitizer
6. Chapstick
7. Wet wipes
8. Sun block
9. Eye drops
10. Underwear & socks
11. Large handkerchiefs
12. Any kind of candy except chocolate (it melts)
13. Beef sticks, jerky (nothing with pork in it)
14. Ready to serve canned foods (tuna, stews, soups, hash, etc.)
15. Nuts, dried fruit, trail mix (the stuff with M&Ms in it is ok - the candy keeps it from melting), etc.
16. Bug Spray - some natural and milder for the skin and some with deet to put on his clothes (some send flea collars but I don't think they should have those on their skin)
17. Ointments - such as bactine, anti-itch, neosporin, hydrocortisone
18. Creams - to restore dry and aging skin, or skin repair cremes, needs to be thick
19. Powders - foot and body especially Gold Bond
20. Salves - chap stick, sunscreen balm, carmex, Burt's Bees
21. Aspirin and Tylenol
22. Toothpaste, mouthwash, and dental floss
23. Love
A: Here is a list of proscribed items:
1. No flammable items
2. No tobacco products
3. No alcoholic beverages
4. No religious articles such as Bibles
5. No Christian articles, such as Rosaries
6. No pork or products containing pork products (read lable)
7. No fresh fruits or plants
8. No pornography or anything that can be so construed, such as Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition
9. No books with provocative covers
DIGITAL CAMERA -- Small, durable. You will surely have access to a computer and at least semi-regular email through work, but you will probably NOT have access to a large supply of film.
MP3 PLAYER -- if you like that sort of thing. They make "jukebox" mp3 players like the IPOD and the NOMAD 3 that can hold your entire collection and can also serve as an external hard drive for grabbing folks' pictures and stuff. I am a tech dork so this is the stuff that occurs to me right off the bat.
A GOOD HOLSTER -- You will probably be carrying an M9 pistol (military version of the Beretta 92) and the army holsters are pretty much c**p. Just about everyone over here uses a leather shoulder holster and some folks use hip holsters. I prefer the shoulder holsters that have the weapon on one side and a couple of magazine pouches on the other side. It'll cost about $100.
A SMALL, BATTERY-POWERED ALARM CLOCK.
A HEADLAMP FLASHLIGHT -- I like the one made by Rayovac that can be found at Wal-Mart for about $30. It takes 3 AAA batteries and has a white LED, red LEDs, and a halogen spotlight.
2 MONTHS OF TOILETRIES -- The rest can be shipped to you as necessary or purchased at PXs. I didn't bring a lot because I like to travel light, and it costs more to buy in the states and ship over than it does to just buy at the PX.
A GOOD MULTI-TOOL AND/OR LOCKING BLADE KNIFE -- I have an old Leatherman that is still working like a champ for little screwdriver/plier jobs. As for a knife, I got a CRKT M-16, 4" with a Tanto blade. It is fantastic, sharp, indestructible, light, and only cost about $50.
AT LEAST TWO SMALL LED LIGHTS -- the kind that you push and they light up. Great for clipping onto your collar or your belt loop so you can find your way to the crapper in the dark without having to grab a flashlight.
RED "ROPE LIGHTS" -- they come in 12' lengths and use 110V power, great for the tent. Get other colors if you like but red is great for the nighttime if you don't want to wake everyone. Those cheezy battery powered "tap-lights" are good too.
FOLDING CAMP CHAIRS -- will probably be available at the PX when you get there.
FEBREEZE -- helps when laundry facilities are scarce.
550 CORD, and 100MPH TAPE -- get your own personal supply.
FLANNEL PJ BOTTOMS -- because they're comfy. -:)
FLIP-FLOPS -- because the showers get NASTY.
NSECT REPELLANT -- The troops are really suffering with the bugs. Mosquitoes, flies, fleas are AWFUL and then factor in 120+ heat, it is a terrible situation. Some troops have even asked for MOSQUITO NETTING that they can cover themselves with when they try to sleep. DO NOT send items or repellent with DEET. Instead, send items that contain a non-harmful bug repellant such as citronella, which is easily purchased as oil, spray on, candles, etc. DEET is dangerous.
ANTI-ITCH CREAM -- for those insect bites.
FUNNEL -- To use to get the crystal lite and gatorade powder in their canteen without spilling that precious flavored crystal.. Most of the water the troops are drinking now is coming from the large military water containers, affectionately called a "water buffalo", so the troops must fill their cateens from this and apparently, the water is highly chlorinated and pretty nasty tasting, so DRINK MIXES are still one of the MOST important things we can send.
HAIR GEL -- especially for the gals. Keeps the hair slicked back and off their face.
PANTY LINERS -- Not for what you are thinking.. The troops, both men and women are using these as liners in their helmets to keep the sweat from chaffing them and also keep the sweat from running in their eyes.. Necessity is the Mother of invention..
CANNED FOOD -- In the last few weeks, I have received numerous calls and e-mails from troop families and directly from troops asking if we would send more food.
Canned tuna or better yet tuna in the pouch (weighs alot less), chicken, chili, stew, cheese dip, bean dip, rice dishes and pasta dishes that are ready to eat and just need to be warmed in the microwave (no microwaves, but with the temperature over 120, they just lay them in the sun for about 30 minutes and "God's microwave " takes care of it).
Two things are happening in Iraq right now.
First, I think the troops are just very tired of eating nothing but MREs for months on end. About 80% of the troops get 2 MREs a day and some semblance of a hot meal each day.. Sometimes that "hot" meal is just another MRE that is hot, but still an MRE, so they are craving anything that might taste like real food:
Canned corned beef, sardines, salsa, smoked salmon or smoked oysters, mac and cheese, (but ONLY the one that has the canned velveta cheese), beans and franks, canned fruit and ramen noodles and cup a soup, dry cereal. They can heat the ramen, add some chicken and it's almost a real food dinner.
Second and FAR more important, about twenty percent of our troops are in difficult and outlining areas and because of all the sniping on the supply routes, are having a difficult time getting all their supplies on a regular basis. So there has been rationing of supplies. I spoke to a military liaison for one of the senators in DC and they are doing their best to rectify this issue, but the Iraqi dissidents are sure not helping us. Every day there seems to be another incident of our troops being shot at. For some strange reason, the supply lines are jammed, but many of our boxes are getting through, so PLEASE add some extra canned food items in your boxes and go easy on the toiletries for awhile..
BATTERY OPERATED PERSONAL FANS -- I was at the dollar store the other day and they had these for a dollar and they really work well.. Just be sure to include a package of batteries when you send it. The temperatures in some of the tents at night has been getting to over 130 degrees, so anything that would move the air would be wonderful.
FLY PAPER -- to hang in their tents, the tank, whatever.. the bugs are really bad.
FLY SWATTERS -- at least include one in every box.
Dental Floss
Many of our special forces troops are in places with no running water, heat or even basic facilities, so even brushing their teeth can be a problem, but flossing is the extent of their oral hygiene.
Creams and Hand Stuff
Lip balm (chap-stick, blistex, etc.) Dry skin lotion, hand creams, foot creams Aloe vera cream for sun & wind burn & cuts Sun block..30+ SBP Strong hand cream is best-the dirt is so fine that their skin from the blowing dirt is chapped and cut, especially their hands Emery boards, nail file and nail clippers and q-tips.
Cleansers
Large Baby wipes (in soft packs are best) Hand sanitizers, PURELL-These become a shower many days. when on missions, this is their only way to clean themselves. The dust & dirt is overwhelming. In many areas, even when they have a shower, it is with only cold water. One soldier wrote & said that where he was, had no running water for showers & it had been 70 days since he’d had a “real shower”... Baby wipes and Purell are one of the most essential things we can send. Also, face cleansing pads.
Non-Medicated Eye Drops
Helps soothes the eyes, especially after a”brown out “ - dust storm.. Sometimes these are so bad, you cannot see more than a few feet in front of you.
Feet
Mole skin & blister packs - the terrain is so rocky in Afghanistan & the long missions of walking really does their feet in, “Hot Hands” and “Hot Feet” - hand and feet warmers work for up to 6 hours to keep them warm, White tube athletic socks-Trench foot is a real problem & the troops change socks a couple times a day to keep the bacteria & dampness in control. Sanitary conditions are not the best, so as long as they can keep their feet clean & dry, this really helps. Gold Bond Powder, Lotrimin, Athlete’s foot spray and cream, Foot powder.
Clothing
Underwear, white socks, large hankerchiefs.
Multi-Vitamins
Vitamin E, Zinc tablets, (Cold-eezz, fights off the common cold ) Vitamin C tablets or drops (found near cough drops) Cough drops Throat lozenges. With the cold weather in Afghanistan and the conditions they live in, everyone gets sick and these would really help.
Games
Dominoes, cribbage boards, trivial pursuit, other board games, Velcro dart game for their tents, other indoor type games for winter, crossword puzzle, word game books, nerf footballs, basketball, volley ball and net, soccer balls, whiffle ball and bat, hand pump for balls, patches for balls (very rocky terrain), electronic games, games boys, etc. video movies and video tapes of sporting events, CD’s, make a mix off of your computers.
The troops have a tent where there is a VCR and DVD player and they can go there to watch movies, but the selection is so limited, that some new ones would be a real plus for all the troops. The troops would really love some videos with taped current TV shows. Sopranos, Simpsons, Friends, anything you think the troops would enjoy watching.
Food
Snack and prepackaged foods of any kind ANYTHING CHOCOLATE (except in hot climates) Crystal lite, Gatorade , flavored teas (regular & herbal), Flavored instant coffee, coffee bags for single cups, Tang, instant spiced apple cider mix in individual packets, both regular and diet, instant hot cocoa mix in individual packets, regular and diet, ½ gallon size plastic containers to mix the drink mix in with water.
Some areas have bottled water and they use their water bottles to mix in, but many areas, now, have “water trucks,” so the plastic containers would help.
DORITOS, Pringles (all flavors), Tostitos, SPICY snack food and chips, potato chip sticks, pretzels, esp. flavored popped corn, fiddle faddle, cracker jacks, flavored crackers, Chex mix, cheese nips, salsa & canned dips (not refrigerated), crackers & cheese, spread in bottles and cans, cheese & crackers and peanut butter & crackers in individual plastic cups, cup of soup, cup of noodles, top ramen, any type that is instant and can be mixed with hot water foil packs of tuna or chicken or easy open, pop top cans of tuna; chicken & Vienna sausages, Beef & Turkey Jerky
(Note: No Slim Jim’s; they contain pork & pork is not allowed)
Trail mix, granola bars, Pop-Tarts, all flavors power bars, individual wrapped cookies, snack cakes, etc , fruit roll-ups, dried fruit, nuts - all kinds (pistachios in the shells; sunflower seeds in the shell; peanuts; cashews), instant oatmeal in “fun flavors”, flavored instant grits, sweetened dried cereal that can be eaten as a snack -Lucky charms, oatmeal raisin crisp, clusters, cinnamon toast crunch, in individual or in bigger boxes.
Individual servings of fruit & pudding, “Junior” size baby puddings & desserts, (Don’t laugh, they’re individual sized, need no refrigeration and are tasty & nutritious)
Hard candy, licorice (red), sweet-tarts, M&Ms, mints, jolly ranchers, gum—Lots of it (used on patrols to keep their mouths moist) star-burst candy, marshmallows, graham crackers, Hershey candy bars (sounds like the makings of s’mores), twinkies, peanut butter cups, rice crispy treats, sweetened kool-aid, oatmeal cookies, snickers, nutter butters
ANY kind of chocolate, but only for another month or so.
ANY and EVERY type of home-baked cookie you can think of except FIG BARS and POUND CAKE because those and Skittles are the desserts in MRE’s.
Many times the troops will take power bars, trail mix, tuna or chicken or jerky and pack them in their fatigue pockets instead of an MRE when they go out on patrol. E nothing but MREs gets very old fast , so nutritious food from our boxes is a welcome change.
Personal Hygiene Items: (unscented if possible)
soap, toothpaste tooth brushes and disposable razors, blades, shaving cream, toilet paper etc In many of the areas, there is a SMALL mobile exchange that carries basic items, but from what we are hearing, right now with the large influx of troops, the demand is outweighing the supply. Some of the newer bases are still without a mobile PX, so it’s safe to say that the troops can use the basics.. Some of the newer bases have been requesting toilet paper, so if you have a little extra room in your box, include a couple rolls.
Miscellaneous
Kleenex packets that they can carry in their pockets.
Disposable camera
Flash lights
Batteries AA and AAA
Phone cards-ATT
Pens, stationary, postcards, and regular unused greeting cards, that the troops can use to send back to their families ... (no postage stamps necessary)
Freezer weight ziploc bags, all sizes, but especially the gallon size. The dust and dirt is in EVERYTHING, so the troops put everything in ziploc bags to protect their belongings air fresheners (stick-ums or the kind that hang in a car, the tents get pretty funky)
Fly swatters, Mouse Traps, Battery operated personal fans and fan misters (seasonal)
Some other suggestions are a current CD , photo holders with magnets on the back that they can put up in their tent. Pictures of the SNOW for the troops in Kuwait, Pictures of the beach for the troops in Afghanistan, The Sunday funny papers, the sports section from the newspaper Hobby items, like a drawing tablet with a box of colored pencils or chalk.
A journal. Disposable cameras for them to take pictures to send home to their families.
Thats retardedly long, I cross posted from somewhere else, but anything on the list should work out fine for him.
]
ok here are some ideas:
you could get him a really nice comfy blanket but use it for awhile first or spray the perfume you usually use on it to make it smell like you so he has something to remember you by and cuddle up with when he misses you.
you could take some pictures of yourself for him or get some pictures of you two together and make cute little frames for them.
you could write him a sweet letter or poem or draw him a picture if you're artistic.
Really what he would appreciate most is probably something very personalized that would remind him of you. hope that helps a little bit
]
this is a question that you can only ask your self you know him better than almost anyone eles a idea to give you is write him a poem and buy him a teddybear. i know it sounds corny but its true its shows him you dont have to spend money to show your love to him and a poem is always sweet.
]
More Questions: |