Written by  Kaye S.

Halfway Boxes & Mail Drops

A "halfway box" or "halfway package" is taken with the ship when it leaves home port.  The sailor gets to open it on Halfway Night, which is usually a night of fun to celebrate being halfway back home.

A "mail drop" occurs when personnel or supplies are taken to the ship while out, and personal mail is allowed to go with.  The sailors open these items when received.

Each sub's Ombudsman will give you the rules for either of these.  In the past, I've been allowed to fill a shoebox, or a gallon ziploc bag, or sometimes only an 8x11 envelope which had to be flat.

The Ombudsman should tell you the restrictions, her deadline for receiving it, and the address(es) to which it may be sent.  Be cautioned though, sometimes she won't know what's possible until too late for moms out-of-state to get it there (has happened to me twice).  You might be able to work a deal with her where you send her a pkg now (with non-perishable treats, etc.) that she'll hang onto until it's needed.  Then you can replace that pkg with another for the next time.  But, that depends on her ability to store them, how long she'll be the Ombds, etc.

Idea:  An easy, convenient way to get your sailor cruise goodies is to send him a gift card to the NEX.  You pay no shipping and he'll get just what he wants.  PX stores (Army / Air Force) and NEX stores are run by AAFES - go to their website, http://www.shopmyexchange.com/.  In the blue band at the top of the page, place the cursor on "Community," then click on "Support Your Troops."  You'll find the page for ordering calling and/or gift cards redeemable in any NEX worldwide.

Suggested Items for Halfway Boxes

NOTE:  Always send items that are individually sized and/or wrapped, when possible.  Check with your ship's Ombds before sending chocolate; some Commands do not allow it on board.

15-in-1 game set

Air fresheners (Stick-ups, F'breeze, etc.)

Altoids or mints

Baby wipes

Batteries (AAA, AA, and D)

Beef jerky & Slim Jims

Board games 

Boot socks

Candy (Twizzlers, gummy items, Skittles, Sour Patch, jaw breakers, jelly beans, & stuff that little boys like!)

Canned air to blow dust out of electronics 

Canned chicken salad

Canned microwavable foods

Cereal bars / granola bars 

Chap Stick / Carmex

Chewing gum (guys tend to like fruit flavors)

Coffee singles

Cookies (anything little boys like!)

Deodorant 

Dice and dice games

Dips in individual-sized cans

Disposable shower towels 

Dominoes

Drink mix, sized for one bottle of water (Gatorade, Crystal Light, etc.)

DVD movies 

Favorite TV series on DVD

Flashlights (small, penlight size)

Foot massager

Foot powder 

Hacky-sack foot bags

Hand lotion

Hand warmers

Hard candy, wrapped (Jolly Rancher, Werthers, Life Savers, etc.)

Hot chocolate

Stick-on heating patches (Icy Hot, ThermaCare, etc.)

Inflatable seat cushions 

Ink pens, retractable, NO CAPS (Zebra F-301 Originals, black ink, are highly prized & about $2.00!)

Instant oatmeal packs

Knot-tying book & two 24" lengths of rope

Koozies (the kind that flatten – to keep cans cool)  

Little Debbie snacks

Magazines (must not have sexual content) – cars, sports, woodworking, photography, music, etc.

Non-refrigerated microwave food (pasta bowls, Spaghettios, chili, soup, etc.)

Microwave popcorn

Mouthwash

Muffins

Music CDs

Newspapers (just send the section he likes)

Notepads of paper (5x7 legal pads are good)

Nuts

Paperback books (or send a gift card for his electronic reader)

Peanut butter

Pillows (camp sized in a stuff bag or inflatable)

Pillowcases (nice when homemade, with fabric chosen especially for your sailor)

Playing cards

Poker (electronic handheld)

Pop Tarts

Pringles chips

Puzzle books (Crossword, word search, Sudoku, etc.)

Ramen noodles 

Razors

Rice Krispy treats

Sewing kit 

Shoe laces for gym shoes and boots 

Shower-to-Shower body powder

Smoked oysters and sardines (in cans)

Snack mixes (Gardettos, Chex Mix, etc.)

Spices (crushed red pepper, steak season, etc.)

Squeeze butter 

Stress relief squeeze balls 

Sunflower seeds

Toothbrushes & toothpaste

Tootsie Pops & Tootsie Roll midgets

Trial sized bottles of shampoo or shower gel

Underwear 

Video games (know what system he has)

Vitamins

Ziploc bags (for keeping things airtight, watertight, and fresher)