Care Package Ideas!

When they first get to A School or first duty station, there are things that they will need that they can only get at the NEX; or even just want money for eating out with friends.  My son didn't want any of his old clothes either - he looked at enlisting as a new beginning, and I agreed! 

I think its safer just to deposit money in their bank account.  With a bank card they will ask for ID, if not then the bank is liable.

Good Morning All,

Very excited, will have Boots in the house tonight.

Thank you for all the info and have a Blessed Day

Hi all, I am new to this site and am wondering Thanksgivng is coming up, that was my sons favorite time. What exactly can be sent. I would like to surprise him with a little something from home from all of us. what are the restrictions and what is allowed? how can I find info on this. and as far as shipping it what is the best way? I am still waiting on a address from him, he is attending Great Lakes A School. Thanks Ladies.

Hello All,

Does anyone know how the medical works.  Say my Sailor needs to go to the DR. for Tooth ache or Sinus infection while he is home.  He says he has no medical cards from the Navy can he still us my insurance?

Chanel I was reading under Tricare because that is who the Health Insurance is under for them, he can download a medical or Ins. card if he has his info. Ask him to look into it. hope that helps.

Thank you.  I will have him do that. 

Question on care packages can we send monster drinks? will usps allow us to send stuff like that.

Phoenixmom, according to this USPS page Military Mail:  FAQ, "When mailing liquids, ensure they are properly packaged. Limit the quantity, use a leak-proof container, and wrap the articles in an absorbent material between the inner and outer containers." I would put them in ziplock bags to be sure they're leakproof, then cushion them like crazy.  No alcohol, of course :)

Understood thank you for your reply, Now can the Sailors in A school, receive packages at any time or is their a specific  time only? printed the list of things. I appreciate you thank you

I an only speak for what I know about the A School for future hospital corpsmen.  Most of them say they DON'T want care packages because 1) it's a pain to pick up at the post office and standing in line takes up precious free time; and 2) they have to either pack up extra stuff and ship it home at the end of A School, or haul it in their seabag to their first duty station.  So they prefer a "care package" in the form of Visa gift cards to spend at the NEX, or commissary, or wherever, so they can buy for themselves everything they want or need.  Care packages are great later on, when they get their mailing procedure established, whether that's an FPO (fleet post office) address or their own post office box.  

If there is a group for your sailor's A School, you can ask the members what the scoop is for your particular school.  Hope this helps!  I know moms what to start mailing stuff, but it's often best to wait till a little later on.

Thank you for that I will keep all that info close. I was leaning towards Gift cards myself and maybe some candy, beef jerkey.

Phoenixmom, that sounds perfect!  How long is his A School?  Again, i only know about HM "A" School, so your situation could be different.  My son wasn't into getting care packages in his school, so I joined the N4M group Molly's Adopt a Sailor and started taking part in their monthly efforts to learn how to plan for, buy and mail so I'd have some experience before his first deployment :)

I heard the same thing.  Is there a way you can wire/transfer money into to his bank account.  That is what I did

Moms,

I don't come here often but I'm hearing a lot of talk about A School. If any of your sailors are going to A School here in Virginia Beach, VA. or if they come here after A School, I'd like to let you know that my husband and I open our home on the weekends and invite Sailors to come over and enjoy some home cooked meals, play board games, watch movies and go to some of the activities in the area(re-enactments, mini golf, other historic places). We would love to invite your sailor over too! If you want to know more about us, just go to our page on this site. 

Yvonne and John

John and Yvonne that is so very sweet of you, It is nice to know that ones son/daughter will be able to enjoy what you give.

My son, Ryan, is going to boot camp on 12/6.

Welcome to all moms who are just starting the Journey of boot camp in Great Lakes. I am a grandmother and we just finished graduating there September 29th. Get on YouTube and put in Navy boot camp and you will be able to see a lot of things. Let me tell you mother it will be hard and probably harder on you than your sailor. First 72 hours or bad. Our granddaughter the first two times she called home did nothing but cry but you know what on graduation day I saw a young lady that had grown up and she looked radiant. They are taking a bunch of teenagers and making them into sailors.  Just letting you know don't let the tears shake you up expect them. Get connected with moms in your son or daughter's division because you will have so much in common and when you go for graduation you will have made friends that you will be so excited to meet there. Please keep us informed with any concerns

I forgot to mention the day they leave start writing letters and date them and keep adding to them so when you get their address you will be ready to send a letter and send one every day if only high it's been a busy day for me but I miss you and love you. My granddaughter said there was nothing like hearing her name called at Mail Time

Thank you Grandma D.  This is great information!

My son is leaving for BC on 12/14.  I read on the sample "form Letter" that the recruits cannot have any food items sent to them.  I am  just needing someone to verify this for me.  I was wanting to send enough cookies to share once or twice, but now think this won't be possible.  Can anyone help me on this?  Thank you

The best way to keep him from being seriously teased about it is to just send regular white computerized papers in simple white envelopes.  Nothing may be included in the envelopes beside the paper(s), not even perfume.

But . . . you can go online and copy pictures or local newspaper articles from the internet to paste onto the regular white computer paper.  I copied and pasted a lot of squirrel pictures holding machine guns, etc.  One I found was a bomb on a forklift where the forklift rolled off of the concrete deck and it stayed intact.  It gives them something funny to laugh at and lets them see what is going on in their local home town newspapers.  Look online for your local newspaper.  I sent him a letter every single day for a total of about 90 pages for the 7 weeks.  The others were shocked how many letters he got, sometimes several a day.

His challenged brother forgot the rules and sent a homemade card in a red envelope.  When his boss was trashing him, he came back with "my brother is mentally handicapped" and he was left alone after that. 

They mostly love hearing what is going on with their family and friends.  Keep paper with you all the day and jot down like a diary anything that is going on even what seems meaningless.  It makes them feel connected.  They don't hear about news such as weather or anything else going on in the country.  If you send cookies, they will throw them away.  NO BOXES.

After boot camp graduation I flew to Pensacola his first station and was able to spend more time with him.  This meant a lot to him. 

I also sent him a schedule of what they would be doing each day.  One recruit told mom to not do that because he wanted to learn it when the others did.  My son liked it.  They know nothing about Ricky Heaven which is a small fast food court and very little about battlestations where they work together to pass the final test on a makeshift ship.  Research this before he goes.  Good luck.  PS When you find out the section he will be in for graduation, go to the balcony and sit in the section next to the one in front of him so you will be able to take pics from the side.  The most fun is when they come back from deployment.  Flags, signs, fun, fun, fun.  But with all of this, remember they have to be Navy Ready and they still have watch to do so don't get frustrated if you get only a little time with them.  That's why I went to his first station.

I numbered my son's letters on the back so he would know what order to open them. 

My son told me in NO WAY send anything that would single him out.  Not even a stick of gum in an envelope.  I did cut and paste photos, and after BC he told me for every letter with a photo, he had to show his Chief for approval.  

Welcome Amanda. You have joined a very large family. Number one do not send anything to your son at boot camp except letters every day. My granddaughter told me don't send anything with sparkles on that they get on the floor cuz we have to clean them up haha. Once your son is there and you find out what group piece in or division you can actually join the group from his graduation date and then you will be meeting all the moms and dads that you will be meeting at graduation. I suggest when you go to graduation you book your rooms at the Navy Lodge they are really inexpensive and everyone is there.

So when do care packages get sent?  I thought only cards and letters should be sent to boot camp.

tmdtwins, care packages are generally sent to deployed service members in order to send some love and cheer from home, as well as sending items that may not be easily or readily available.  

Hi everyone!

I found a company that can send a care package for free to your sailor if you are short on money or you don't have time to shop and send something to your sailor.  

The company is www.operationgratitude.com

I am out of job and I ask for a care package for my son and I got a package sent to him and I also got an email saying that they will be glad to send packages to the other sailors in the unit. 

This is what I received from them (short version of the  emial) and I want to share with all of you. 

Respectfully,

Kelly South

Senior Manager Military and First Responder Engagement

Phone 424-488-6079 Monday - Friday 9 am - 4 pm PST (West Coast)

www.OperationGratitude.com

I called Kelly and she said that I only need to get the First Initial of the sailor and the last name in order for them to receive a package, with the understanding that they are in the same unit because all will be in the same address, she said also that she does not need the rank (for privacy factor).

Feel free to reach out to them if you want your sailor and his unit receive something unexpected :) 

Ask your sailor for their shipmates info and this organization will do the rest.

Hope this info can help!

Welcome Kelley and all new members!  What are you packing & sending these days?

I know about the USPS large Priority boxes but was wondering if that is the best way to send larger items to A school? My daughter has asked me to send her pillow and a favorite blanket. Would appreciate any recommendations. Thanks!!

PocornFan those are actually the biggest boxes they have, when I sent my Sons civilian clothes I sent two boxes. it was a little pricey but I folded then so tight so I did get shoes jeans and shirts.

Our son was deployed. The first week he was there, he sent us his address for care packages. Immediately, we mailed one to him. Into his second week of deployment, he informed us his address had changed! Ugh! Does anyone know what happens to a package that is mailed to an incorrect address? Do they forward it? Or is it returned to sender? (His last deployment the packages reached him within 3-4 weeks.  He said with this deployment it might take 4-6 weeks??!)

Has anyone else had problems receiving the Military Packs from the Post Office?  I have order two times now, (the first time August 23) and have not received and boxes yet.  It is very discouraging.  I have checked the tracking numbers, and Status is not available.  I am beginning to think that this is a scam.

Good Morning Bandmom, I had the same problem, I ordered twice and then when I called the Post office they said they never received anything so I went down, very inconvienence but I had them give me a Bunch plus tags.

Even though My Son isnt deployed I still have to ship everything to the Carrier. It is a Hassle because he doesnt get the stuff right away it takes like 2 weeks or more.

Regarding the post office packages of mailing boxes, tape and labels- I live in Liberty County, Texas.  My mom and I both ordered two packages a piece and we received them all as scheduled. However I passed the 1-800 # on to a fellow military mom who lives 30 miles away and she never received them and had nothing but confusion with post office.  I have not had to mail anything over seas just yet, but I will tell you i saw no price break using the priority military boxes and had the same experience using my own put together boxes wrapped in brown craft paper. I saw no advantage to using them at all!

You are so right I have paid up to 40 bucks to ship packages to my Son. they are not a flate rate at all.