At my church this morning, there was a notice in the bulletin asking for donations of certain items to be sent to US soldiers serving in Iraq and the Middle East. This notice has appeared each week for a long time. Listed among the requested items were things like toothpaste and toothbrushes.
I know that our soldiers must endure certain hardships while deployed in hostile areas. However, lacking toothbrushes? Why would anyone need to donate toothbrushes and other basic toiletries to soldiers? Doesn’t the Pentagon at least supply them with these basics?
I don’t mean for this to become a debate and I’m not interested in political views about the justifications of prosecution of the current conflicts. I’m also not discussing the recent revelations that the body armor sent to US troops might be lacking. I’m just curious why anyone would ask that toothpaste be donated to US troops.
A friend of mine who was stationed there mentioned that while the BX (store) stocks most items, there may be very little choice in what kind you get. If you really like Tom’s of Maine toothpaste, chances are they won’t have it. Something to wash your face for oily skin? She said that it was impossible to find any kind of face-cleansing products other than soap or body wash that was intended for the entire body. (Since most of the folks over there are men, they cater to that market.) Her husband is now stationed there and mentions that it really helps his sensitive skin (in 120-degree dry weather) to shave with a new razor blade every single day. Care packages let him do that.
I don’t know, maybe not having your preferred kind of toothbrush, or face soap, or toothpaste, or makeup/sunblock may not be a HARDSHIP, but if people were begging to help you out, wouldn’t you pick something small like that for them to give you?
About like that. We have been at war for quite some time, and rear-area services are now pretty well developed. I cannot help but think the well-meaning notice you saw is a continuation of an effort that began when things were more primitive over there.
Well, how useful would it be for you to get a package of ‘stuff’ from a well-meaning person you do not know?
Troops leaving the rear areas of Iraq on routine rotations have sales to unload their stuff on the incoming soldiers. Large-screen TVs, playstations and other electronic goodies are popular items.
Troops leaving for Iraq now have a good idea of what they need. They pack lots of (whatever) when they go. After all, Iraq and Afghanistan are no longer some sort of emergency, by now they are routine rotations.
What do they take with them? One of my (senior staff officer) friends told me he wishes he had brought more ink cartridges for his computer printer and more pens for marking on map overlays. His wife is mailing him whatever he needs.
So do you really think getting a package addressed to ‘Any Soldier’ filled with (I dunno) toothbrushes, Irish Spring soap and skin cream is going o really help? I do not mean to rain on the parade here, but soldiers are no longer low-paid draftees. Now we are a highly-skilled (and paid) elite.
Most anything a soldier in Iraq or Afghanistan wants he can get.
Right, and one of those ways is by asking his or her friends and family to send it. (The “if y’all wanna, this would be mighty nice” list from my friend last week had beef jerky on it, and apparently the vacuum-packs of lemon tuna are impossible to find?)
For those who don’t have friends and family to hit up, or who can’t expect much from them, I assume that’s what the church’s list was for?
If you really, really, need a pouch of tuna (as opposed to the kind the PX has), you can go tot the internet cafe on base and order what you need. It will be delivered in the mail in a week or two.
They’re still asking on anysoldier.com for things like tampons and tuna and black lady hair care products, though. These are actual soldiers in the field e-mailing the needs of their groups. Why? Are some people in areas where stuff like that is harder to get, or are they just trying to let people back home do something?
I dunno, to give you a one-word answer. Possibilities include:
I am wrong. Although I doubt it. Soldiers in (rear areas in) Afghanistan are getting rock concerts nowadays. The rear area is very well-developed (stop your snickering!) at this point.
The Anysoldiers.com service, as well-meaning as it is, has outlived its function. Frankly parts of the site read like a commercial operation. (I say this with regret. I am sure these are nice people.) The idea seems to be to provide mail to soldiers who do not seem to get much. That is nice, but does not indicate our troopers are going without any vital stuff.
Finally, even with Pangloss-like view of the world, I admit some soldiers in some places are unable to get some things. Still, those seem to be pretty minor things. Any Soldier is not designed to solve logistical problems.
So, send a package over there if you like. It is a nice thing to do. On the other hand, the answer to the OP is “No, not really,” barring some glitches, our soldiers are well-supplied.
Here is a nice article in this week’s Army Times about life in the rear area in Iraq.
It just seems like toothbrushes or tampons would be pretty basic things that the military would supply to keep the soldiers healthy. If a soldier weren’t able to get these things, its because of supply logistics, not inventory.
I’ve thought about sending toothpaste or toothbrushes. I like the idea of saying that I contributed so that “we might fight gingivitis over there so that we don’t have to fight gingivitis over here.”
And here I thought this was going to be about those US Army recruitment commercials featuring the soldier spying on the enemy through a high-powered rifle scope. “You had supplies for five days. It’s day 12. Do you have what it takes?”
Those ads make me wonder: is the message, “We woefully undersupply our soldiers! Come join us!” really the one they wanted to send? Because that’s the one I received…
The simple answer to your question is, once again, it depends. I am currently deployed to a Forward Operating Base (FOB) outside of the TV News coverage. I, as most soldiers, do not get issued soap or toothpaste. I have to buy it just like I would in the States. We do have a fairly small PX here, so there is one brand of most toiletries. I have family send me razors and soap, because I don’t like the brands that are carried.
I cannot make blanket statements about other FOBs. There may be some that don’t have a PX on the FOB. There are still some that have to burn waste, so there may be some where they cannot shop the PX. The other issue is finance. Not all FOB’s have regular access to cash, and not all PX’s accept credit cards, or checks. So even if your PX has your brand of products, you may not have access to the funds to purchase them.
Additionally, our PX cannot keep in stock the “nice to have” things. Sure, we can eat at the dining facility and have a healthy meal, but without the kindness of family and friends we would not have chocolate, jerky, current magazines or newspapers, recent novels, and the like.
I guess what I am getting at is that if you would like to contribute, please do so. From what I have seen, your gifts will be given first to those in need. If you do not choose to do so, then don’t feel as though you have to. Many people over here have someone to send them the comfort items. Those who don’t may be able to get a friend of a coworker over here to send something.
Just keep in mind, that many people over here are having many different experiences at many different locations so YMMV
Thanks for your first hand observations about a soldier’s life in Iraq. I hope you can stay as a permanent member, it would be a valuable perspective for our discussions.
That was an excellent reply and very much into what I was talking about. I did not realize that you weren’t issued soap and toothpaste. Since it’s basic human maintenance, I assumed that those sorts of things were provided to you when operating away from home – sort of the same as any business traveller having supplies issued by his company-paid hotel. It also doesn’t seem quite right that they expect you to buy personal products and also deprive you of the means with which to do so (as in no access to cash or other financial needs).
The Mrs. and I have sent a couple of boxes of -stuff- to a relative of a relative when she was stationed in a conflict area. We sent all sorts of things, mostly small items that were listed as niceties by her company web site. I always figured that what she couldn’t use herself, she could trade or give or swap with others or even give to the locals. You know, the “Don’t blow her up, she gives us kool-aid, she’s nice” kind of stuff.
In typical Army fashion, I imagine the soliders over there have more than can find space for , say, windshield de-icer or left-handed half-turn wingnuts, and not nearly enough of something like SPF 45 sunscreen or boot-length shoelaces. There’s an old saw about supplied clothing in the Army: there are two sizes–too large, and too small.
Logistics is the hardest part of maintaining a deployed force, especially in places where UPS doesn’t have regular deliveries.
Back when I did my service, the army could supply everybody with everything, as long it was the el-cheapo brand made by blind people and shipped in one variety packaged in olive-drab boxes. This is fine for things like soap but not so good for things like underwear. I imagine that as luxurious as the army has become, with its abundant supply of pogey-bait (commercial food and other goods), there are still people in places where, for one reason or another, the logistics are not so reliable.
Then of course there’s the possibility that some are using these goods as barter or gift materials to the locals, for either noble or not so noble purposes.
First, I would like to thank those who have supported the deployed soldiers. Your support is greatly appreciated by those who are serving over here. **Brain Wreck ** is correct, we do find a way to dissiminate the items that are sent. We have teams that go out on humanitarian aid missions and distribute things to the local families. Many times the children will recognize the HMMWV’s and run toward them awaiting whatever goodies we have. Again, there are some places that are overstocked and have access to full size PX’s and there are some that have more limited resources. Anything sent will be put to good use, and will be greatly appreciated.
