What to send soldiers in Iraq

[HMS_Irruncible]

I am looking for specific info on what to send this time of year to infantrymen working out of an FOB in Iraq as a morale booster. I am looking for near-firsthand information as possible if anyone has it. I have already found plenty of WAG’s by Googling but I am interested in specifics if possible (what are the known shortages, what are the known surpluses, what are the latest non-issue must-have super-polymer glow-in-the-dark military/outdoors goods for individuals, would 10lbs of M&M’s candy be good enough, etc). I don’t know if an FOB is located close to a branch PX… if that were the case obviously that would make a lot of items redundant.

[Cat_Fight]

anysoldier.com is the absolute best resource for this. They can even tell you how many people are stationed in each area and what they need (and what they definitely don’t need). An excerpt:

Things NOT to Send:
Illegal copies of anything. Period.

Flea Collars
See this. [a link]

Home-cooked anything.
Note: Due to concerns for the health and safety of the Soldiers, and as much as we don’t want to say this, please do not send home-cooked anything to Soldiers other then to your relatives or people who know you. Factory packaged only. Sorry. The Soldiers are told to throw away anything that is not in a factory package.

LARGE SHIPMENTS
Especially during the holidays. Send SMALL boxes (say under 10 pounds) and no more than 3 to any single address in the same day. Don’t be part of the log jam, be part of the solution. PLEASE read this.

Tips and Hints:
“As you might know, on occasion the Iraqi’s have no problem supplying movie DVD’s at a fraction of the cost back home. What you are not aware of is the fact that those movies are stolen off the bases and sold back to the soldiers. I recommend that when you supply that information to those who send packages and to the soldiers/Marines whom apply for items to be sent in, that they mark the movies to prevent unscrupulous individuals from benefiting from the unwary.” Colonel, USMC.
We strongly suggest that if you send any CDs or DVDs, use a permanent magic marker and simply put “AnySoldier.com” on both the cover and CD/DVD. It won’t take long before these won’t be a target anymore… -Marty

Remember the many women Soldiers there! If your package is intended for a woman, be sure to address the package, “Attn: Any Female Soldier”.

T-Shirts must be Brown for Army (Tan for the new digital uniform, the ‘ACU’) and Navy, Green for Marines, Black or Brown for Air Force. If the troops ask for t-shirts but don’t specify the color, write to them before you send any and ask them.

Marine boot socks are black. White athletic socks for PT and sometimes under the boot socks. Scarves are not authorized unless issued, but this is normally ‘command discretion’. Beanie caps are not issued but are often worn under a helmet at night, must be dark color.

14 April 2006: Hot note: Popular clothing off-limits to Marines in Iraq

ALL items which contain liquids and pastes (even in cans), put in a zip-lock bag, and a second one up-side-down from the first one. If an item can leak, it will.

ETA: As far as I know, M&M’s are sorely missed but will only arrive in a big, melted blob.

[Duck_Duck_Goose]

Cat Fight, where is that quote on their site? I’d like to read the link about flea collars, but I can’t find that text blurb under their “What Not To Send” info.

[Cat_Fight]

@Duck Duck Goose

Cat Fight, where is that quote on their site? I’d like to read the link about flea collars, but I can’t find that text blurb under their “What Not To Send” info.

Here’s a direct link (via ‘What to Send’)

[eenerms]

Baby wipes.

[dnooman]

Didn’t Warren Zevon answer this like forever ago? Send lawyers, guns and money Hyah!