BostonBlonde:

Yikes! So many of the female soldiers ask for hairspray, fingernail polish and remover, perfume, body sprays for the odor after a long day, etc. I wish that AnySoldier would either distribute that list of yours or edit these items out of the soldier requests.

AnySoldier has a lot of info about what to send and not to send (check out the FAQ page, as well as the What to Send page) but they also expect we the supporters to follow the rules of the USPS, which they have no control over.

I suggest you talk to the Post Office you'll be using most frequently and ask them to go over the rules with you, since that's where their rules will be enforced, and their interpretation of the rules may be different than another Post Office. And my rule of thumb has always been: When in doubt, leave it out! So if there's something you're unsure about sending, don't send it.

It is definitely a challenge to find non-aerosol products, but it is possible.

Good luck!

The post office I have been using is getting VERY fussy about any liquid including soup!  I always label the package in two spots  LIQUID: original container, double bagged (label at their request)  I'm thinking of trying another post office ha ha.

I noticed that batteries are listed as a "no-no" on that list as well, and I know those are often requested, and I have often sent them.  It also says no to finger nail polish and perfume.  Any idea whether "perfume" includes body sprays, etc?

According to the list that I read, regular household batteries are okay, as long as they are shipped separate from whatever they are to power, but certain lithium batteries are prohibited, and I am not educated on that subject.  Anything considered flammable, corrosive, or explosive, toxic, etc. are prohibited, so many things that contain alcohol are included.  If the body sprays have a considerable amount of alcohol, they may be included.

Gran

If you're just filling out a special care package Trader Joe's carries a honey mango w/ aloe & vitamin E shaving cream that is non-aerosol.  It's about $3 or $4 for the 8 oz tube so buying a bunch would be expensive, but it's wonderful stuff. It lasts me for quite a while and it's great on the skin and smells good.

Just wondering if anybody has thought to send shaving bars and a small brush? One shaving bar will last a very long time, they rich and creamy, and small. My husband and I both use these instead of the other now. I  haven't thought to send them over there but it wouldn't hurt to try. You can get the cheap bars at Walmart but you can order the homemande on E-bay (homemade ones are great and you choose the scent).

When we don't have shave cream at the hospital. I just lather them up with the liquid hand soap that's available. It seems to work very well it you use enough.

We just sent some of what AllTravelSizes.com calls Shampoo/Shave Gel/Body Wash in a 2 oz. size to one of the units for hospital patients that is less than $1 for the 2 oz. travel size, and they have free shipping for $20 and ship to APO addresses.  But we also got their 0.85 oz. tube of Shave Cream also that was $18.96 for 24.  I'm too lazy to figure the exact price for each, but it's good when you get free shipping with it. 

Gran

Didn't know shaving creme was forbidden so I have on occasion sent it enclosed in a empty plastic drink mix can that had a lid. One day I left the box behind my car (intending to put it in the trunk later when I had my keys). Yep, I forgot the box was there, rushed out to jump in the car and get to the post office before it closed and drove right over the package! OK, most of it was destroyed but by golly, even tho the aresol can of shaving cream exploded, the mess was nicely confined to the plastic drink can!

Oh, last word on  'must never ship'; I was supporting a soldier last year at a very remote base in Iraq (not thru this site). He kept begging me to send protein foods since all they got to eat were MREs. He specifically asked for small canned hams. I told him that was forbidden to send and he replied, "everybody else is getting them from their families!".

Zippy

I wanted to give my take on this post. My son is stationed in Anaconda and he just told me he has more than enough. "I don't know how I am going to pack all this stuff," he said.

Shaving cream - I kept hearing that canned shaving cream is not allowed. But he said everyone gets them. I told him I bought shave soap, shave brush and got a plastic mug from the army recruiters with the Army logo for him to put his soap in. He said that he only has a few minutes to prepare and making lather takes too long. He said if I can't send the shave cream to forget it he has been using body soap. I am going to try and send the gel shaving cream.

Other stuff - Well I read how hand sanitizers, bug repellent and others are prohibited. Well, I didn't know that. I sent him several bottles of alcohol based hand sanitizers, Off deep woods pump spray, and lens cleaner which I know contains some alcohol also. We sent body soap and stick deodorant. Funny, I asked him what scent he wanted and he said it doesn't matter he is not trying to impress anyone over there.

Post Office - I live in a small rural town in north Florida. I always use the flat rate military priority mail boxes they supply at the USPS. The post master many times is the one working the counter. He is very pleasant and has never asked me what is in the box. He told me to prepare it home and seal it so it will be easier for me. He gives me the customs slip to fill out myself and has told me to put just "toiletries and food" on the slip. He said I don't have to elaborate on what I am sending.

I went out and cleared out the Publix shelves of all the Gatorade powder and Propel powder I could find. Man those things have gone up in price. Is it the economy or are they capitalizing on our soldiers? Anyway, my son told me yesterday in an email not to send them because they get that stuff over there all the time for free. He said that's all they drink and he is tired of it.

 I sent beef jerky, teriyaki flavor which is his favorite and he loved it. I am going to take the gatorade out of the box and fill it with beef jerky instead. He has a PSP and wants games, and movies.

Also keep in mind that when they come home for the holidays they have to take everything with them. If they have too much they may not be able to take it all. My son is running into that problem. I told him to share and give away to his buddies if he has too much. Anything he can't carry back when he comes home for Thanksgiving he can give away to anyone staying behind. We will have him for only two weeks and then he has to go back. I am not sure that letting them come home for a short time is a good idea. I know it will be heart wrenching for me again to see him go! My wife and I have done a lot of crying in the past few months. Now I have my youngest enlisting next month. That means we will probably have the two of them there at the same time. More packages and more crying!

I wanted to share this with everyone to give an idea of what one soldier is saying about his likes and dislikes. I think there is also a disparity over there on who has what available to them and restrictions. I know that the pork product thing is because of the muslims not eating pork. The same goes for sending Christian literature. They don't mind personal religous literature for one soldier but they prohibit Christian literature in bulk for many. That really makes my blood boil. Anyway, hope this helps.

One thing that is certain is that nothing is certain in every situation in the war zones.  Some places have shortages of any and everything, especially the remote areas - they have to depend on someone sending packages one way or another to them for resupply, *usually*.  They are either swimming in gatorade, or have no access to it - the same with sunscreen.  That is one of the reasons that we normally send what they ask for, and don't vary too much from their lists.  When we find a medium sized unit in a remote area, we can know that they can use almost any item we have to offer.

Gran

 I just wanted to share that I found non aerosol shaving gel (maybe an 8 ounce container?) at either Dollar Tree or 99cents only.  I also found some peppermint scented foot cream (gel?) at a family dollar store.  I did not try it but is smelled pretty good.  I know these items vary a lot from one store to another, but I find it pays to check them out.  (And now I remember I failed to check ingredients for alcohol...)

The PO regs that I've read tell you what is restricted/forbidden by country ie:pork, alcohol for consumption, etc.. If you type in the zip code you're sending to on the postage calc page.   Don't think shaving cream is included.  It's the container - aerosol anything is restricted by U.S. airlines - has been since the 70's or 80's as in no hairspray cans far as I know - and no flammables.  So if it says flammable on the warning section in the back, I don;t send it.

daschultz:

 I just wanted to share that I found non aerosol shaving gel (maybe an 8 ounce container?) at either Dollar Tree

Our dollar tree has the same thing so I get the shaving gel there all the time and haven't had any complaints so far unless I have a unit that specifically asks for something for sensitive skin and then I look for Nivea, Netrogena cream/gel or something like that.

Hope this helps,

Ann

I found it also at the Dollar Tree for $1.00. I bought 6 of them. I only sent two tubes to my son since he is coming in a few weeks I figure he won't need that much for now. It is called On the Go Men's Products, Freeze Shaving Gel with Aloe and Vitamin E, 5.0 oz.

 I have sent that brand many times.Unfortunately, haven't gotten any feedback.