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Join groups! Browse for groups for your PIR date, your sailor's occupational specialty, "A" school, assigned ship, homeport city, your own city or state, and a myriad of other interests. Jump in and introduce yourself! Start making friends that can last a lifetime.
Link to Navy Speak - Navy Terms & Acronyms: Navy Speak
All Hands Magazine's full length documentary "Making a Sailor": This video follows four recruits through Boot Camp in the spring of 2018 who were assigned to DIV 229, an integrated division, which had PIR on 05/25/2018.
Boot Camp: Making a Sailor (Full Length Documentary - 2018)
Boot Camp: Behind the Scenes at RTC
...and visit Navy.com - America's Navy and Navy.mil also Navy Live - The Official Blog of the Navy to learn more.
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Follow this link for OPSEC Guidelines:
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Care Package Ideas!
Information
Themes, recipes, all kinds of ideas plus mailing tips and tricks. It's fun to have them here in one place, so come get ideas and share yours!
Members: 1295
Latest Activity: Oct 28, 2024
Carla: I am a moderator for Navy moms on Yahoo, but also through the years have done troop support for all branches. I also have started and maintained hometown troop support, and send from our little community in Spirit Lake, Idaho - that has been very very cool. So, if you have ideas you want to share, bring it on and read and enjoy and use! My email is crlstrt5@msn.com if you have any questions or comments. Feel free to share these in other groups or with friends.
Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom: I'm co-admin and been sending care packages since 2008! The best method is using the flat-rate priority boxes from USPS. There's a two-dollar discount when sending to an APO/FPO address and you can send up to 70 lbs - that's 7.7 bricks! You can order a free carton of 10 or 25 of the large-size boxes to be delivered to you at USPS APO/FPO flat-rate boxes; or call them at 800-610-8734 and request the "military pack" of six assorted boxes, customs forms, tape and address labels. It can take two weeks or more for mail to arrive, and much longer if your sailor is deployed.
Tips: To save space, remove things from original packaging and put them in Ziplock bags. Don't pack fragrant items such as soap or fabric softener sheets with food as the odors get absorbed. Use clear tape or USPS priority tape to seal. Put a copy of the address IN the box. Storage space is limited so send accordingly. Notes from friends, children, anyone saying Thank You for serving on deployment are passed around and treasured. Per a Navy survey on Facebook, the top two items that Sailors ask for are cookies and beef jerky. Send enough to share! More info at USPS military mail FAQ.
For your sailor, two great checklists for deployment planning are the Single Sailor Deployment Readiness Checklist and Pre-Deployment Checklist for Family Members, prepared by JAG.
Just how does your care package reach the ship? Watch! Video: Underway replenishment
And if you've got the bug and would like to do more, please consider joining "Molly's Adopt a Sailor" (MAS) here on Navyformoms.com. Every month they adopt a deployed ship or unit and send the service members themed packages. It's a super-fun and friendly group and you'll make great friends while sending much-needed and appreciated love and support from home. I learned how to send care packages by joining the MAS group before my corpsman was first deployed!
Discussion Forum
Submarine
Started by Proud Mom. Last reply by Bandmom Mar 2, 2020. 1 Reply 0 Likes
Submarine
Started by Proud Mom. Last reply by Proud Mom Feb 25, 2020. 2 Replies 0 Likes
Care Package theme ideas
Started by AngiePNMx2. Last reply by Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom Mar 8, 2017. 16 Replies 17 Likes
Comment Wall
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Comment by Susan mom to Niko on November 8, 2010 at 1:50pm
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Join us in the Molly's adopt a sailor group! We know our kids are getting care packages from their moms... but so many (often 1/3 of a ship) do not get any support from home! The Molly moms adopt a different deployed group every month to send letters and packages to!! Is wonderful fun and the notes we get back are just awesome!!
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Comment by Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom on November 4, 2010 at 3:02pm
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Maussie, I'm taping up the media box now! If you pm me I will send to her, otherwise will use Diego Garcia ddress at MAS.
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Comment by maussie64 on November 4, 2010 at 2:22pm
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I sent birthday cakes in a jar and they were a big hit. Pumpkin bread is next on the list. What are some things others have sent this way? I could use more ideas.
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Angie, the form is attached to the box when you mail it, so I imagine it can be viewed en route by whoever handles it. You can generalize and use terms like snacks, games, books, DVDs, personal hygiene items, and estimate the value for each category. Does that help?
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Here you go - not a link but a .pdf you can print. The Naval Supply Systems Command's (NAVSUP) Postal Policy Division mail-by dates for pre-Dec. 25 delivery of holiday cards, letters and packages ~NAVSUP pre-12:25:10 delivery mail-by dates.pdf
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Comment by walk6776 on October 27, 2010 at 9:56pm
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I thought I remembered seeing the Christmas mailing deadlines on here and now I can't find them. Does anyone have the link? Also, anyone have an idea regarding how long it takes for a package to get to Kuwait? We thought my brother-in-law was headed to Afganistan, but instead he is headed to Kuwait. We want to send something for Thanksgiving, but not sure when we need to get it out by.
Thanks!
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Marcy, Funny you would ask that. I have a box of books ready to send there right now. But, there was a 4" x 4" space left in the box so I have to fill it with some goodies for my daughter. LOL
When I asked her before I put the box together and she said she would give some to the RP to make available on her ship and put some in the island library. So, I'm sure they would appreciate more books. It's a very small island and there is not a lot of entertainment options there.
p.s... my name is Marci too 8)
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Holy moly, I just looked at it on Google Earth, a tiny dot indeed! I have a batch of books that need sending, I was going to send them off to the base on Guam. Would DG be a good place?
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I was just hoping to create a "piece of home" for her. We used to eat the soft PBJ sandwiches when she was young. But the Ritz might make a good substitute. She does like them. Thanks for the suggestion.
I send care packages to Diego Garcia, a very small island in the Indian Ocean.
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What's interesting is that the sailors tell about their favorite care packages they ever received, so it's not about "Halloween treats." I just picked that one 'cause it's so funny ;)
I never cared for RCTs myself so can't help you. Where are you sending, to a ship or oversesas/the sandbox? How about sending Jif and jelly plus a box of Ritz crackers instead? (and a few plastic knives!)
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