- 1). Decide what you will send. According to Boots on the Ground, an organization that helps military families take care of issues related to deployment, the most requested items are those soldiers use to keep in touch, such as cell phones, phone cards and digital photo frames. Soldiers also want items that help with stress and can be used in the field such as video games, books and LED flashlights. Also, remember the little things that make life more comfortable: a favorite lotion, soap or homemade cookies.
- 2). Package the items properly. Anything that can spill, such as lotion, should be placed in a sealable plastic bag. Put the homemade cookies in a sealable plastic container to prevent them from being crumbs by the time they arrive. Fill any empty spaces in the box with packaging material such as bubble wrap.
- 3). Put a sheet of paper with the mailing address on it inside the box before sealing it with packaging tape (not string or transparent tape for gift-wrapping). Military packages arriving in Iraq can be opened and searched for security purposes. Having the address inside lessens the chance of items becoming lost during inspection.
- 4). Address the outside of the package with the exact address containing the appropriate Military Mail Acronyms. For example: APO (Army/Air Force Post Office) and FPO (Navy and Marine). Do not include the name of the city or country. Military mail is handled strictly within its own mail system, not by local mail services. Fill out the Priority Mail label and U.S. Customs forms included in your Mili-kit.
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