Military Care Package Ideas to Celebrate Memorial Day

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Pinterest
Digg
Reddit
Tumblr
Skype
Email

Many families already have plans on how to observe Memorial Day this year. If you are still scrambling for an idea of what to do, you can simply send some thoughtful gifts to family or friends in the service. We’ve listed some military care package ideas you can consider sending out to soldiers at home or even those serving in faraway places.

 

 

Military Care Package for Soldiers Stationed At Home

Memorial Day is meant to pay tribute to our fallen brothers and sisters but it would be nice to celebrate the ones still standing. Any soldier will be happy to get something on Memorial Day or any day for that matter. In fact, you don’t need an occasion such as Memorial Day to send care packages or gifts to our brave troops. It’s the least we can do for those who risk life and limb to keep our nation safe.

If you know a soldier stationed here in the United States, you can send them military care packages to show that you, well, care for them. You can also send care packages to retired personnel. Many of them need help and this is a good way to show your appreciation for the sacrifices they have made.

How to Safely Celebrate Memorial Day At Home

 

Tips on Sending A Military Care Package Overseas

If you plan on sending military care packages to troops overseas, there are some things you must consider. First, it’s too close to Memorial Day so just tell the recipient it’s a post-holiday present. It shouldn’t matter that much to them anyway since they’ll be delighted to receive a care package from back home.

Find out what you can and cannot send them. There are limitations to what you can ship such as illegal substances, alcoholic beverages, aerosol can products, flammable items, and explosives. Adult magazines and other offensive materials should also be avoided. Fruits, vegetables, and live plants are also not allowed.

Items that may spill should be sealed properly. Wrap lids with tape to keep them from being dislodged while in transit. Pack them in zip lock bags or any leakproof container. Soaps and other items with strong odors should also be kept in separate bags. This will help keep food items from smelling like soap.

Use bubble wrap on breakable items. If you prefer to be more environment-friendly, which you should be, use shredded paper. You can also wrap them in clothes or towels.

Check the allowed size and weight of your care package. You may also want to know the fees first. The bigger and heavier the package, the higher the shipping fee. So this will depend on how much you’re able to shell out.

Finally, secure your care package. USPS offers the Military Care Kit, which includes flat rate boxes, tape, labels, and customs form envelopes. The boxes are printed with the phrase, “America Supports You,” which is a nice bonus. Make sure to wrap the whole thing with tape, especially if you’re using regular boxes. Don’t forget to write down the name and address of the recipient. The more accurate the information the better.

If you don’t have a relative or friend in the military, you can still send a military care package to a random soldier. You can opt for someone serving overseas or a soldier in the homeland. The latter is the better option if you have budget constraints.

 

Military Care Package Ideas

Food Items

Fresh foods like meat and produce are not allowed. Send non-perishable foods instead. Canned meat, meat jerky, and protein bars are great military package ideas. Soldiers need protein to repair and strengthen muscles while also giving the body a boost of energy.

Healthy snacks are great but you can also send not-so-healthy munchies. Nuts, chips, cookies, crackers, and pretzels will do. If the recipient has a favorite snack, send some by all means. Just make sure to avoid bags that may pop or burst. It would be better to transfer the contents in Ziploc bags.

Candies and gums will be highly appreciated, especially if they have a sweet tooth or are trying to quit smoking. Chocolates are also nice but you should probably skip them if the soldier is deployed somewhere with a warm climate.

Ask the recipient if it’s okay to send Meals Ready to Eat or MREs. If you’re not familiar with MREs, they are self-contained complete meals normally issued by the military to its personnel, especially those on the field. Soldiers will likely prefer other kinds of food but extra MREs won’t hurt, especially when they’re stranded somewhere and can’t enjoy a hot meal at the base.

If MREs are not permitted, you can send meal enhancers instead. Condiments like ketchup, mustard, hot sauce, salt, and pepper are available in easy-to-use packets and will add a little more taste to otherwise bland MREs.

One particular product that’s gaining quite a following is Tactical Bacon. It’s pre-cooked bacon with a shelf life of 10 years that you can add to MREs for a more flavorful meal. You can also eat it on its own. Bacon-flavored seasoning salt also does the trick.

 

Drink Mixes

It’s not allowed to ship alcoholic beverages to soldiers in deployment. Go for coffee, tea, and hot cocoa instead. You can also send lemonade, powdered juice, iced tea, and other drink mixes.

 

Toiletries and Other Personal Care Products

If you’re looking for more practical military care package ideas, you should include toiletries. Soldiers need to take care of their personal hygiene, too. Basic items such as shampoo, soap, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, hand and body lotion, razor, and shaving lotion are safe bets. 

Other personal care products that can fill up space in your care package are lip balms, body wipes, hand sanitizers, eye drops, and face towels.

Our troops are always wearing boots so foot care products like Moleskin, athlete’s foot ointment, and foot powder will be appreciated.

Men and women in uniform have balls, figuratively and literally, in the case of our male soldiers. It goes without saying that it gets really damp down there, especially in hot climates where our troops are often stationed. Ball powders and deodorants are therefore some of the most thoughtful military care package ideas you can think of.

Our lady soldiers will need feminine care products. Aside from the usual feminine pads and napkins, you can also introduce them to menstrual cups and period panties if they haven’t tried them yet.

 

Medicines and First Aid Items

The rough conditions can take a toll on our soldiers’ physical health. They can get hurt or sick anytime. They have their medics and field hospital but, for minor injuries and illnesses, they should be able to take care of themselves. Of course, they have to report to their superiors if they’re not feeling well.

Soldiers are provided first aid kits but they can always use extra band-aids, pressure gauze, compression bandages, and adhesive tape. They will also need pain relievers, antibiotic ointments, and other over-the-counter medicines. Again, check with the soldier if they can receive such items.

 

 

Survival Items

You want your brave soldier to come home in one piece. Help ensure their safety by including some survival items in your care package. Aside from medicines and a first aid kit, you can also pack some water purification tablets and a personal water filter. These two will help ensure they always have clean water to drink.

Mylar blankets are also useful when you’re out in the field. They can bring them during their missions so that they’ll have a better chance of surviving the cold in case they’re stranded or lost.

 

Comfort Objects

When we say comfort objects, we usually refer to particular items that provide comfort. In other words, it’s a transitional object or security blanket. It may be too embarrassing to send them the old stuffed toy they snuggled with when they were still young. But hey! Who are we to tell you not to do so? If your service member will be happy with their favorite toy then send it by all means.

If you prefer something else, choose a more mature one that will remind them of home or make them feel at ease. Send them something like a nice pair of socks, new underwear, a copy of their favorite book, the latest edition of the comic book they love, a prayer book, or the lucky charm they left behind before being deployed. Don’t forget to include photos of the family and pet. Cards, drawings, and letters from the kids will definitely bring a smile to their faces. A DVD or flash drive with videos of family activities or even favorite shows is also great.

Pens, pencils, paper, sketch pads, notebooks, and journals will help soldier express their feelings through writing or sketching. Include envelopes and stamps, too, so they can write letters back home.

Phone cards are also in high demand among our troops. Obviously, they want to stay in touch with their loved ones. Anyone who’s forced to live far from their family will want to see or talk to their family any chance they get. Phone calls at the base are limited to 15 to 30 minutes. You also have to consider others when you use the computers made available to the soldiers. They can call home on or off the base using phone cards.

Since we’re talking comfort, include items that will provide warmth in their care packages. Send them hand and body warmers, thermal underwear, stocking caps, and gloves. They’ll be useful come winter or if they’re stationed somewhere cold.

 

Entertainment

Soldiers have their R & R time, which simply means rest and recreation. Help them enjoy this valuable time more by giving them something to entertain themselves with. Aside from books and comic books, you can also send them magazines, coloring books, and other activity books like crossword puzzles and sudoku.

Other forms of entertainment you can include in your care package are board games, jigsaw puzzles, playing cards, frisbee, and foam footballs.

Your service member will also love a portable media player so they can watch videos or listen to music in their free time. Handheld game consoles like the Nintendo Switch are also popular among soldiers. Don’t forget to fill it with games and other content. A portable solar charger will also come in handy. Pack lots of batteries in your package, too. Lithium-ion batteries are not allowed, though.

 

Memorial Day Camping Must-Haves: Top Camping Gear For Your Weekend Getaway 

There are lots of other military care package ideas out there. However, you know the person best so get creative and send your service member something they will really appreciate. Of course, you can go with safe choices when you’re giving care packages to random soldiers, retired or otherwise. The important thing here is to let them know that they are not forgotten and that their job is all worth it. Check out Gentleman Pirate Club to know other ways to celebrate Memorial Day and our courageous troops.

 


Just a disclaimer – We have partnered with these companies because we use their products and/or proudly trust and endorse them – so we do receive a commission if you make a purchase or sign up for services. Often, we are able to negotiate special discounts and/or bonuses, which we will pass on to you via our links. We often get short notice on sale items available for 24-48 hours as we will pass these savings on to you.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

About Us

Gentleman Pirate Club aims to share valuable knowledge and tips on how you can prepare and survive emergencies and other dire situations. We think of different scenarios and show you the many ways you can survive them. We also believe in self-sufficiency as a way to prepare for whatever lies ahead. As our ship sails in these waters, we look for valuable treasures. When we spot one, we tell you where it is.

Product Categories

Recent Posts

Like Us on Facebook