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By Alyssa, July 7, 2010 9:01 pm

Because I loved receiving mail while deployed, I try to send a couple military care packages off every year.  If you’ve never sent a package, there are a few key things you should know.  This list is for those military care package newbies.

1.  Who wants a military care package?  If you don’t have someone specific you’d like to send a package, check out these sites and find a military member that would love to receive a little gratitude in the mail.

Any Soldier- Created by a soldier.  They provide the mailing address, you provide the package
Operation Gratitude- Send in donations and they send off the package
Troop Care Pack- Send pre-packed items to soldiers

2.  What do I send?  As I detailed in my Christmas care package post, I loved getting:

Food: Drink mixes, beef jerky, trail mix, protein bars, gum, chocolate (Oct-Mar only or it melts)

Other stuff: Old magazines (no pornography please), quality ear plugs, bungee cords, chapstick, hotel-size hygiene products, baby wipes (in small containers), fly swatters or strips

Find out if your soldier is in the middle of nowhere or on a Forward Operating Base (FOB) and design the package around the service member’s current mission.

READ THIS:  Jot down everything you’re packing in the box before you seal it up as you’ll need that list for the next step.

3.  What are the postal requirements?  This is the only not so fun thing about sending care packages… custom forms.  Although letters don’t require a customs form, you’ll need one for a care package.  Hopefully, after viewing this guide, it will be easy-schmeasy.

Here’s a great outline for a customs form that I found:

Here’s my example form for my fictional Private Joe Snuffy care package (Nope, I never stay in those little hash marks with my letters and, yes, I always mix up the first name, last name part.)

Take a couple of these forms the next time you’re picking up stamps or running an errand by the post office and fill this baby out at home.  If you’re like me and you always mess up the first one (case in point above), it will be a lot easier to do it again without angry peeps in line behind you.  Also note that last checked box as it sends the package back to you if your service member moved or came home before the box arrived.

Oh, and just so you know, sending a box “Priority” or “Overnight” only means quick delivery to the port in the United States.  Once it gets into the military mail system, there is no such thing as priority.

4.  When do I send a package?  NOW!  O.K., if you can’t send one right this second, think about sending one this summer.  There really isn’t anything better than receiving mail when you’re deployed.  Packages need at least two weeks to arrive at their destination so plan ahead for holidays, especially Christmas.

Don’t think you have time to send a care package right now?  Send a service member a thoughtful email through USO (United Service Organization).  It only takes a few seconds to express your gratitude for our heroes.

Comment if you have additional questions or tips.  Happy packing!

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By Alyssa, July 3, 2010 11:15 pm

Take a break from the BBQ and fireworks to check out this site by veterans, for veterans!

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By Alyssa, July 2, 2010 4:04 pm

It’s that time of year again.  The celebration of our country’s freedom.  The 4th of July remains one of my favorite holidays and, yet, I have a confession to make.

I hate fireworks.

O.K.  Hate is kind of harsh.  I strongly dislike fireworks.  I’m not talking sparklers or the kiddy pack from Black Cat.  Nope, what I dislike are the “BOOM” or “Pop.Pop.Pop” fireworks that stop me in my tracks for a half-second as I survey my surroundings.  Many don’t realize that fireworks, a tool used to celebrate our freedom and those that fought for freedom, sound exactly like mortars and gunfire.

MORTARS AND GUNFIRE!  Oh the irony.  Let me first be clear to state that I’ve never faced direct gunfire or watched a mortar fall.  I spent my last deployment in Baghdad on a protected Forward Operating Base. Protected, but not sound proof.  There wasn’t a day I spent there that I didn’t hear gunfire or explosions. Some were close enough to shake my bed as I slept, while others were far enough to cause a slight pause before my next bite of chow.

A few months after returning from my last deployment, a new hospital only a half-mile from our house celebrated their grand opening with a surprise fireworks display.  I was in bed asleep, when BOOOMMM.  I sat up in bed.  BOOOOOM.  BOOOOM.  BOOOOM.  Tearing off the sheets I ran to our spare bedroom just as the crackle of the flares hit the sky.  As I reached the window and saw the massive display of color right above the house, my heart slowed back to its normal beat.  In that moment, I understood why veterans never flock to fireworks displays.  Fireworks stop my pulse for a brief second, but imagine the reaction of an infantry veteran when surprised by an unexpected explosion, a combat survivor when the rattle of a fireworks display takes him back to a fire fight.

Do I want all fireworks displays cancelled?  Fireworks banned in the United States?  No.  Continue to celebrate with bombs bursting in air on the 4th of July, however, please, please, only on the 4th of July. Respect veterans that fought for freedom by saving fireworks for the national holiday and only that day.  Oh and don’t worry about me on Sunday.  About the time the 1812 Overture plays, I’ll be snuggled on the couch watching it on television.  Happy Independence Day!

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By Alyssa, June 30, 2010 8:02 pm

I lost it Monday afternoon.  Lost it.  Fell back on my bed, rubbed my eyes and temples to ease a ferocious headache, and tried to convince myself that I was a good mom as both of my boys cried on timeout in their rooms.

Earlier that day my almost-two year old cried and screamed his way, out of the library, from the park playground to the car, and from the grocery checkout to the parking lot to our house.  Why?  He wanted and I didn’t want.  When he didn’t get what he wanted, his entire body crumpled limp to the floor, pavement, sidewalk forcing me to drag or football carry him to our next destination.

To add to the mayhem, my 4 and 1/2 year old decided moments before each of his brother’s tantrums to ask me every possible question he’d saved during our past two weeks (or maybe his whole life) apart.  ”Why is my car seat on this part of the seat, Mom?” “When do I turn 5?” “Why are we going here?” “Why?” “Where?” “When?”

I love my kids.  I love my 24-hour job staying at home with them.  I would be lying if I said that I love every single minute though.  I find when it gets really tough, I have to take one day at a time.  One hour sometimes.  Ask anyone about this concept on day one of a military deployment.  One day at a time.  Motherhood difficulties aren’t exactly on the same scale as deployment difficulties but the required patience applies to both.

Lying on my bed Monday afternoon I reminded myself that it would take a few days for the kids to calm from their “grandparent mania”.  I also reminded myself that it would take me a few days to adjust from my full-time Army routine.  I took a couple deep breaths, gathered them from their rooms, and apologized that mom lost her patience.  As they giggled a few minutes later sharing snacks, I sighed and thought, one day at a time.

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By Alyssa, June 27, 2010 7:43 am

Columbia State House and Strom Thurmond statue in the background

Bored at the Adjutant General (AG) Captains Career Course, I found myself alone in the hotel researching South Carolina’s historic areas.  I’m not on the east coast very often and wanted to see what the state had to offer.  I decided to use this information to coordinate a State House scavenger hunt for class physical training.  With over 30 memorials on the state house grounds, I enjoyed the tour as many of the clues including statues dating into the 1800s. I think my classmates enjoyed it also, despite the early morning humidity.

CLUES

Complete in order.

Clue 1- Find the monument dedicated to South Carolina’s fallen Law Enforcement Officers and complete 20 elevated push-ups using the ledge of the monument.

Fill in the blank quoting the inscription on this monument.  “Lest    ____    ____________”

Clue 2- Find the symbols that mark the locations the State House was hit by artillery on February 19^th, 1865 during the Civil War.

What is this symbol?    ____________________

Clue 3- Find the “Palm Tree” monument and complete lunges in a circle around the entire structure.

This monument honors what regiment that fought during the Mexican War? ____________

Clue 4- Find the tallest statue on the State House grounds and conduct 25 flutter-kicks at its base.

The monument was unveiled on what day? ________________________

Clue 5- Find the man carrying a rifle and complete 25 over-head claps in front of him.

What test did the South Carolina troops volunteer for according to the monument?  _____________

Clue 6-Find the monument with the broken cane and take a picture of each team member next to it.

Name the president holding the broken cane.  ___________________________

Clue 7-Complete 20 push-ups in front of the African-American monument.

According to the monument, slaves were transported from what four areas in Africa?  _____________________________________________________________________

Clue 8- Find the General on his horse and complete 25 crunches next to the monument.

What is the General’s name?   _________________

Clue 9… FINAL CLUE- To find the last clue, unscramble the letters below to name the Army officer and first person in United States history to win a major election by write-in ballot.  (Hint: A street on Fort Jackson is named after him.)

MSRTO MNTRDHUO                       ___________      ___________________

Once every member of your team touches this monument, you’re done!

Stars marking the cannon strikes during the Civil War

George Washington and his broken cane

My almost-thirty member class split into teams of three and completed the scavenger hunt in about 30 minutes.  We ran a couple flights of the State House stairs to finish off our physical training (PT).

Cut out the PT parts of the clues and I think anyone could complete this hunt.  The clue answers are located at the bottom of this post.  Check out the Columbia’s State House website for an interactive state house map and additional historic information.

Happy Hunting!

Clue 1:  ”Lest We Forget”
Clue 2:  Star
Clue 3:  Palmetto
Clue 4:  May 13, 1879
Clue 5:  Yellow Fever
Clue 6:  George Washington
Clue 7:  The Congo, Ghana, Senegal, Sierra Leone
Clue 8:  Wade Hampton
Clue 9:  Strom Thurmond