Hi Djemge, I am a mom of one if the soldiers that have been there for the past 15 months. I am so sorry you are starting this ordeal. Although living conditions are better now. They have working generators and actual buildings to reside. One thing I can tell you your son will need is bug spray!!!!  Just make sure you send non-aresol, the aresol is flamable. If you have any mailing question I do work for the Post Office and would be happy to help.

I do agree with the back-up support I think they should have, but my son has never once complained about the danger only maybe the weeks between showers. Y ou are just going to be so suprised how strong your son is . You have to be proud. Stay Strong... With all my prayers and best wishes on a fast deployment    Teri       Fan091@msn.com

Terri,

I am so glad you wrote. Now that I have his mailing address I will get him out some bug spray ASAP. I was thinking of sending foot powder also. I know my son has needed this when he has visited home, and I'll bet he will need it even more now. Did your son help with building the actual buildings? Did he sleep in tents when he first got there?

Thank you for offering to help with post office questions. I appreciate having you as a source for this. I will send you a pm regarding a letter I received from my son's Battalion vFRG advisor. I want to send the best sized boxes from the USPS. I have in mind to order them, along with customs forms, and labels. A friend told me there is a care box or something the USPS has with clear tape and everything. How can I get several of these sent to my house?

I am proud of my son, he really has changed in a short period of time. He is a man now - that seems so strange to me. It seems like not that long ago he was just a boy. Where is your son now? Has any one from anysoldier.com sent him letters and packages?

Your new friend,

Donna (djemge)

Donna,

https://shop.usps.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductCategoryDisplay?catalogId=10152&storeId=10001&categoryId=13359&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=11820&top_category=11820

The MILI-FRB (APO/FPO FRB) is just the right size for hygiene stuff for two guys or a good selection of assorted snacks.  The FRB-2 is what I use to send 2 cartons of cigarettes, 2 rolls of dip and 2 cigars with some splat balls and magazines.  The FRB-1 is for my small snack or “betweens” package and the Flat Rate envelope is what I use for “I’m just thinking of you today” stuff. You can fit a surprising amount of stuff in a Flat Rate envelope.

This is the link to the 2976-A Customs form

…and the Priority Mail mailing label

jo

Donna,

I called this number, (800) 527-1950 for the US post office told them that I heard they sent mailing boxes to families of military, they asked for Christophers address and they sent me boxes, custom forms, custom slips, labels and tape for free.  They will give you a reference number, when you run out call give them the reference number and they will send more.

Angela 

Hi Teri and Donna, how fortunate that you have found each other on this forum, I'm sure Donna has a million questions for you Teri.     Please thank your sons from my family, as well as your families, for the sacrifice you are making for us all.  How proud you both must be.  

     Teri I hope your son received alot of support from the care packages, I know my contacts always shared whatever they received.  If you had any feed back from him that would be helpful for us to know I'd love to hear about it.   What things were most useful, what's not, etc.      Unfortunately we didn't get to hear much back from there for various reasons.   If there are things we can do to continue morale/emotional support when they get home please let us know,   after the last 15 months civilization is going to be a shock  . 

 Donna it would be great if you could pass along on the forum/pm/e-mail  ways we can better help our guys while they are there.    God Bless you and yours,     Anita 

Thank you Angela, Jo, and my friend Steve. I can't wait to call and order the mailers first thing in the morning. I will have to stop off at the post office to pick up a box and custom form to get Garrett something out. I am so excited that you shared that information. 

I work a lot lately at 3 different places so I can't post back until later in the evening. Because of my work schedule I have been missing Garrett's IM's. Luckily his father gives me a call and relays some things. I think I am obsessed. I practically run home just to log on and see if there are any messages from my son.

Hello Anita,

My son sent me an off line IM this morning requesting the following items: antipersperant, deoderant soap, hot weather sox - long ones for boots. He knows I plan to send him bug spray and foot powder and didn't disagree with those 2 items.

 Does anyone have an idea where to get this type of socks? Is there a link or something?

Thanks,

Donna

Donna,

The only socks that I've had requested by name from any of my contacts in the mountains are SmartWool Light Hikers.  They are expensive but (if you search hard enough) comparable in price with other high-end boot socks. They do not come in olive-drab. This is where I got mine last time but I ordered a dozen to get the best price and free shipping http://www.outmore.com/smarlighikso.html  It took about 10 days for my order to reach me, which I found very frustrating. I saw another place that had them for less but not in average-guy foot sizes,  http://www.coastlineadventures.com/Smartwool-Light-Hiker-Merino-Wool-Sock.html  and I've never done business with this company.  When it's time to buy items like socks, I google the brand name in search of the best price instead of returning to the same vendor every time.

Usually when someone requests hot weather clothing, they are referring to moisture wicking synthetics but I'm not a fan of synthetics and merino wool is naturally moisture wicking and very comfortable all year round. Wigwam also makes a good merino wool boot sock but it is heavier than the SmartWool. Two very popular moisture wicking synthetic fibers are CoolMax and Wick Dry. If you google 'boot sock moisture wicking' some very nice socks come up. Thorlo boot socks were a big hit with one of my contacts in Iraq last year.

On deodorant body wash - the 6 ounce containers of Dial Men's hair and body wash at Big Lots that Gran refers to in the Great Deals section will fit in the FRBs standing upright (even after taping down the lid and triple bagging). A product that packs well in an FRB is always a big plus.

Hi Donna, sent you a PM.     Anita

2LT Rodriguez posted today re  Plate Carriers, with a link to the kind they need.  Does anyone know which color   Coyote Tan or Olive Drab??    MARTY???

Thanks  Anita

Donna,

For the warm weather boot socks check out http://www.uscav.com/Productinfo.aspx?productID=9767&TabID=  They have black, desert tan, and "foliage". $7.99/pr.

Don't know if it is the best price but they provide tactical & miliatary gear.

Debbie

I will send a couple of these. But, I need to know what color to order and size. Do they already have the plates that go in them? Somehow, I thought that the military was providing protection for our guys now.

Ruth, Anita,

I will be ordering a couple in the ACU pattern today and will work on raising funds for some more.  Hopefully, if they needed the plates too he would have asked for them.

Anyone who is husky now, probably won't be for long.  They lose weight very rapidly out there, so they may need some that size but not many,

Junkies --

There's a whole nother thread on this very topic -- http://forum.anysoldier.com/forums/t/6873.aspx -- Lilly just ordered a couple plate carriers for LT Rodriguez, and is also working on raising funds.

If I may respectfully suggest -- it would be good to keep this to one thread -- only so we're not working at cross purposes, you know??? 

I'm not exactly sure WHAT to say -- maybe move this to the Plate Carriers thread?  or even start one under Special Requests for LT Rodriguez?

Thanks,

--Marilyn

Thank you Debbie. The $7.99/pr will be ok with me. I will definately take a look at the link. It will be good to see what else they have.

Donna