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Care Packages

Within this section you will find advice, tips, and ideas for sending care packages to our troops, as well as some useful info. Fell free to add your own ideas and tips.

Care Package Ideas | Care Package Tips | Holiday Mailing Deadline | Mailing Restrictions

The following are some guidelines and FAQ for sending mail to a Service Member:

Mail to overseas posts and individual service members is processed through the Military Postal Service Agency (MPSA) and is routed through an APO (Army/Air Force Post Office) or a FPO (Fleet Post Office). Mail addressed to one of these two locations is considered "domestic" mail for postage purposes and handling with limitations applied. Some of the APO/FPO ZIP code locations have restrictions as to what can be mailed and may even required custom declaration forms to be attached to packages.

Q. Can I send mail free to a person in the military?
A. No. The free mailing privilege only applies to military service personnel and designated civilians in specially designated areas with limited postal support. In other words, it is only free for those deployed personnel in designated overseas locations identified by The Department of Defense(DOD). This program is not for their loved ones, family, or friends back home.

Q. Does it cost more for mailing overseas to military service personnel?
A. Regular domestic postage rates apply for mailing overseas. There are no additional charges for mailing from the U.S. to overseas APO and FPO addresses.

Q. Are there size restrictions on a package I may wish to send?
A. At times, some military units may have additional restrictions imposed by the unit commanders, such as those on size and weight, to ensure logistics support can handle the mail along with other necessities. The maximum length of a package in any category is 72 inches. In addition, Military ZIP Code restrictions may change as military units move to different locations. All applicable restrictions for about 3,000 overseas military ZIP Codes are entered into the U.S. Postal Service computer terminals and published in the Postal Bulletin.

Q. Does USMC Hangout have military members addresses to send care packages to?
A. We just started a new program. You can find the addresses of service members that you can write to in our Forums Section. You will have to be a registered active member of the forums to view and add records. This is done for added security. If you are not considered an Active Member and still want to list your service member so he/she can receive letters of support you can contact us and we will add the information. You will need to e-mail the following information for the record to be added: Service members rank, name, complete mailing address, branch of service, service members e-mail address (if you wish for them to receive e-mail) your name, and your relationship to the service member. All of the preceding information is required for a record to be added. By submitting this information to be added you are agreeing to the Terms of Use. **This program has been suspended as we revamp the section**

Q. What is not allowed to be included in care packages to deployed military?
A. The following items are PROHIBITED:
Illegal substances
Alcoholic beverages
Explosives, including fireworks.
Offensive or obscene materials, including photos, drawings or any other material which may have the potential to offend members of the opposite sex, members of another race, background, nationality or ethnicity; anything which would make uncomfortable, someone who is deeply religious, conservative or modest

Q. What Should I include in my care package to those members serving overseas?
A. Here is a list of the most requested items:
Toilet paper
Toothbrush/toothpaste/mouthwash/dental floss/breath strips
Soap with case/shower gel/anti-bacterial hand soap/hand sanitizer
Nail files (emery boards)/nail clippers/tweezers
Q-tips/cotton balls
Toothpicks/matches
Baby powder
Shampoo/conditioner/hair gel/hairspray (pump)
Lotion/Avon skin-so-soft
Eye drops (moisturizing) /saline mist nose spray
Travel size Kleenex
Deodorant
Combs/brushes
Contact lens cleaner
Disposable razors/shaving cream/aftershave lotion
Baby wipes/Clorox wipes
Writing paper/envelopes/black ink pens/mechanical pencils
Lip balm/chapstick/sunscreen (bottle & roll on kind)/BugOff & bug repellent spray
Bath towel/wash cloth (dark colors)
Bandanas (desert & woodland cami)/swimming goggles
Mini fans
Batteries (all sizes especially AA)
Band-aids/Neosporene/Hydrocortizone cream/Calamine Lotion
Sewing kit/Sunglasses/small flashlight
Motrin/Tylenol/Dayquil capsules/cough drops/No Water Excedrin (mint)/Sinus Meds/Benadryl
Imodium AD/Pepto/Tums or Rolaids (all pill forms)
Blankets/Standard bed pillow/pillowcase/single sheet sets
AT&T Prepaid Global Calling Cards
Ziploc Bags

Women:
Feminine Hygiene Products
Hair bands/hair clips
Nail polish
Body sprays
Perfume

Food Ideas
Instant Oatmeal/individual box cereal
Jello snack packs/Hunts Snack Puddings
Presweetened Kool-aid/Presweetened Lemonade Mix
Powder Gatorade/Crystal Lite Powder Drink Mix
Kraft Handi snacks
LifeSavers/Certs/Tic Tacs/Chewing Gum/Lollipops/Tootsie Rolls/Hard Candy
Snack cakes/Rice Krispy Treats/cookies
Cups of Soup/Noodles
Milk & Cereal Bars/Granola Bars/Power Bars
Peanut butter & crackers
PopTarts/PopTart sticks
Marshmellows
Frito Scoops/Pringles/Doritos (snack size packs)
Snack Crackers
Individual snack size chips
Trail mix/Chex Mix
Tuna snack kits/canned chicken/Sardines
Slim Jims/Beef Jerky/summer sausage
M&Ms/Skittles/Chiklets
Dried Fruit/individual applesauce/canned fruit with pop tops
Canned & instant soup
Nuts/Raisins (individual bags/boxes)
Individual packaged pies
**No Pork Products/by products can be sent!**
**No fresh meat, fresh fruits or vegetables**

Dice
Disposable Camera
DVDs & VHS Movies
Music CDs
Electronic Hand Held Games
Frisbees
Puzzle Books/Mad Libs/Joke Books/Comic Books
Newspapers/Magazines/paperback books
Jump rope/stress ball
Travel Board Games/Mini Etch-a-sketch
Playing Cards
Crossword Puzzle Books
Blank Greeting Cards (for soldiers to send home)
Stationary/journals/return address labels (or SASE)
Radio headsets
Drawing pads/construction paper

Or put together a Military Survival Kit.

Q. Do you have any packing tips I should follow?
A. Use plastic bags with zip-style closures for everything. They keep out sand, they keep out rain. Resourceful Marines are re-using them for all sorts of things. Quart size are great to keep their wallets and personal photos with them, in one of their many pockets, and they stay dry. If you're shipping a liquid (shampoo, eye drops), or items that are likely to melt or drip (Chapstick, deodorants, chocolate) be sure to pop it into a tightly sealed plastic bag first. That will help keep the rest of the items from getting gooey or ruined, just in case. For more tips see our Care Package Tips Page.

Q. Where is a good place to get shipping supplies?
A. I found using Stamps.com very useful. During deployemts is great, I can print postage right from my computer. And I think they are offering a free trial. Click on their button below to visit them:

Also the best way is to use the postal services flat rate box. They are the perfect size (get the shoebox type one) and they provide the boxes and labels to you for free! You can put as much stuff as possible with unlimited weight (as long as the box stays the shape, in otherwords you can't overstuff it so much that the box no longer fits together as it is suppose to) and only pay one flat fee! You can order the boxes and labels as well as custom forms from the usps.com website. We have made it a little easier here is a list of what the Owner of USMC Hangout uses (all free):

Shoebox Flat Rate Box

Customs Forms

Priority Mail Address Labels

Or you can order a Military Care Package Kit from the USPS:

Since Priority Mail® service supplies are the packaging of choice for families preparing care packages for service members overseas, the USPS® has created a "Mili-kit" based on the items most frequently requested by the military.

The kit contains:

Three (3) each of flat rate boxes O-FRB1 and O-FRB2
Two (2) each of Cube boxes OBOX7
Address labels - Label # 228 8 each
Address labels - Label # 106-A 1 each
Customs FORM 2976-A 8 EA.
Customs FORM 2976-E 8 EA.
The kit may be requested by calling 1-800-610-8734 (Packing Supply) and:

Choose your language (1 is English, 2 is Spanish).
Choose option 1 (it states it is for Express Mail® service, Priority Mail or Global Express Guaranteed®).
When you reach a live agent, request CAREKIT04.
Please allow 7-10 days for delivery.

Note: These are free supplies, postage must be affixed.

Do's and Don'ts of Military Care Packages for Soldiers
By Sarah Smiley
Jun 7, 2006, 07:31

Sending a care package to your loved one deployed overseas seems so easy, doesn't it? You just box up some cookies, attach a sweet card, and it's ready to go, right?

If only it were that easy.

Sending mail to ships/units overseas is tricky for many reasons (slow processing, mail limitations, etc.) but one of the most confounding is this: unless you've been deployed yourself, it's hard to know exactly what a Soldier or Sailor might want.

After two deployments (and a picky husband), here's what I've learned about military care packages.

Try Not to Embarrass:

You might think sending a life-size portrait of your toy poodle dressed in a ballet skirt is hilarious, but chances are your husband won't be laughing when he has to carry the cumbersome "pooch" back to his room and past all his friends. You never know where your spouse will open his package, or whom he'll be with. If you think he'll be humiliated for anyone to know you sent him pink boxer shorts, either don't send them or give him a heads up about the contents of the box. Similarly, if you're sending something that might embarrass YOU (uhmmm....pictures), make sure you don't surprise your beloved, or he might unknowingly cast your photos to a group of nosey friends peering over his shoulder as he opens the box.

Don't Douse the Box/Envelope with Perfume:

Women think this is wonderful, to spray perfume all over a man's gift or letter. And honestly, our men probably like to receive the smelly treasures too. But when your husband has to carry that letter through three hallways and up four ladders back to his room, he may not be thrilled dragging a cloud of feminine perfume behind him. Remember, the military is notorious for issuing its members "call signs" or "nicknames" at their weakest, most embarrassing moment. If you don't want your husband to be called "Christian Dior" for the rest of his career, go easy on the scents.

Steer Clear of Chocolate:

When you send something via an FPO address, you never know where it will wait in transit before it gets to its destination. Your carefully prepared box of chocolates may wait onboard a ship in the Persian Gulf before being delivered to your spouse -- if you don't want that package to be a big, melted, gooey mess, don't send chocolate (or anything else that can melt).

Keep it Small:

Keep in mind your loved one may not have much personal space in his overseas accommodations. Chances are good he has no place to store the giant smiley face pinata the kids made for him, and it will end up being a burden rather than a pleasure. Things that can be stored easily (small drawings and pictures, travel game sets) and things that can be consumed (food, toiletry items) rate high on most Soldier's and Sailor's lists.

Keep it Personal:

Remember your loved one has not been home for a really long time -- what might seem silly or boring to you (an audio tape of the children fighting over the Nintendo) will be like a little piece of home for your spouse. Send things to remind your Soldier/Sailor of the things he loves (his children, family, favorite foods, taped reruns of his favorite TV shows).

Make it Fun:

Deployed Soldiers and Sailors are working almost non-stop and with little new scenery or change of pace. They don't have the option to go to Barnes and Noble for awhile to "get out" and see something new. So bring the fun and the new to them. My husband always likes getting DVDs, CDs, books, and sports magazines. He's also pointed out that it is hard to get a "real" American newspaper when he is deployed, so the local paper from home is always appreciated (especially the Sports section). Remember these Soldiers and Sailors are living without many of the comforts and conveniences of home. Therefore, mail call is a welcomed opportunity to receive something new and different to look at....things they can't get on the ship.

Make it Frequent:

Mail Call can be the highlight of the day for any deployed man or woman. Even something as small as a crayon drawing from a two-year old can bring joy to your loved one! Make it a point to send something....even if it's just a letter....as frequently as you can!

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