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"Hey guys! I got a package! Check out all of this stuff!"
-common words said by thousands of Soldiers every day overseas

Some of the best moments I remember from my deployments in Iraq were receiving packages that had my name on them. Some were from family, some were from friends, some were from complete strangers that were sending packages to everyone in our company. We would all gather around the boxes and see how much swag everyone got and then the puppy dog eyes would start for those that wanted some of the stuff inside.

If you have loved ones "downrange" or if you just feel like being nice to someone deployed - it's always great to send them random stuff every now and then, but here's some advice to help make the packages appreciated that much more:

Large quantities
Don't just send a dozen cookies. They won't last five minutes. If possible send about a gross (144) of them. That should tide over the unit for about a couple of days.

Avoid toiletries
I know that everyone thinks that Soldiers need razors, bar soap, shaving cream, tooth brushes, and tooth paste, but truth to tell there are thousands of these items just lying around Iraq. They'll be fine without them besides this will free up more space for cookies!

Magazines
If you know the person you're sending the package to send them some of their favorite hard-to-find magazines. The PXs in Iraq usually carry a good variety of periodicals, but some of the more obscure titles are not always available. Just getting an issue of "Rolling Stone" can make a Soldier's day.
WARNING: Do not send pornography. All Soldiers in the Middle East are forbidden to have any kind of pornography.

Newspaper clippings
If you're in the Soldier's home town send them a few clippings of local events. Reminding them of home will help them remember that they have something to come home to.

Books
Reading is one of the best ways to kill time in Iraq. Throughout the country there are books that are just lying around waiting to be read. When someone finishes them they drop them off and someone else can read them. Eventually, all of these books will be read so they need an influx of new works every now and then.

Pictures of home
These are always nice because it gives them something to look at every now and then. Pictures of family, friends, even pets are always nice to have around however avoid using the color beige in these pictures. EVERYTHING in Iraq is beige.

You can add anything else you like (and it never hurts to ask your loved ones what they'd like) to give it a personal touch, but just thinking about doing this will mean the world to someone that's thousands of miles away and sometimes forgets that their home even exists.

Learn more about this author, David Furritus.
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