In case anyone wants to send something to the troops in Iraq here is a good way to do it.

Rather than send stuff that they may not need or want you can send Gift Certificates that they can use in the base PX.

The website is: http//thor.aafes.com/ics/default.asp

This is the military exchange web site...not some private run “rip-off†place.

You can send certificates to specific individuals or to “any-soldier.â€

Rick

Ooops!

Just noticed that the URL I posted had a colon missing.

A better, and shorter, URL for this site is:

http://www.aafes.com/

Rick

Rick, this is a good idea.

I've seen so many scams.

This is a good way to make sure the gift gets to the intended person and allows them to pick what they need/want.

DaMan,

The biggest problem with “gifts†is that people are still sending stuff that the guys don’t really need now that they are not living out of, and under, their vehicles out in the desert.

You can send phone cards...gift certificates, etc from this site and know that the guys will get them and that you aren’t being ripped off by some scumbag trying to make a fast buck.

Rick

Rick,

Good info, the baby wipe thing has just been overused, just adding some items you can never go wrong with some socks, green t-shirts, Jerky and Gatorade Powder.

sapper,

The “hot†deal on tee-shirts are the Under-Armor models. The guys love em.

As for socks...Brigade Quaretermasters sells a British made boot sock from the company that supplies the British military and they are GREAT. They are a wool/cotton blend and are as soft as a baby’s ass. I sent my son 10 pair because his issue GI socks were wearing out so fast.

The other thing I found that has become a big hit with the guys in my son’s outfit are the little 8x or 10x monoculars you can find at Wal-Mart or just about any sporting goods store. Certainly not “precision†optical instruments...but they work really well and you can get them for under $20 bucks most of the time.

The other thing they have asked for is the Citronelia patio candle buckets to keep the skeeters away.

I’ve been having a ball supplying my son and his guys with “toys†and those little extra things that make their time over there a bit easier. I normally send out a “care-package†every other week and it has been taking about two weeks to get to him. I’ve found that packing stuff inside those platic GI style ammo cases works great. Not only does it protect the items in the box it also gives the guys a handy container to hold all the stuff.

As a gesture of support for the troops my local UPS mailbox store gives me a 15% discount on the shipping for everything going to an APO address.

quote:

Originally posted by Rick 0311:
In case anyone wants to send something to the troops in Iraq here is a good way to do it.

Rather than send stuff that they may not need or want you can send Gift Certificates that they can use in the base PX.

The website is: http//thor.aafes.com/ics/default.asp

This is the military exchange web site...not some private run “rip-off†place.

You can send certificates to specific individuals or to “any-soldier.â€

Rick

Hey folks,
Don't overlook "anysoldier.com" if you desire to send something. Socks are a great idea as the garden variety issue ones are guarenteed to shrink 50% the first time they're washed! I have yet to wear a pair out, rather they're tossed. They don't make good gun cleaning rags -leave too much lint, that's what old t-shirts are for.

Buckshot,

I bought my son some of the British Army issue socks that Brigade Quartermasters sells and they are far better than anything else out there. The company that makes them has been supplying the British army for about 100 years or so. They are a wool/cotton blend and also much cheaper than Thor-Lors or the other "high-tech" socks you will find.

The other item that I have sent to him that the guys love are the little Winchester brand 8X monoculars that Big-5 sporting goods carries. They only cost about $20 bucks and they are small enough to wear around your neck. They are rubber armored and even come in OD green.