My daughter is talking me into sending a box or two to soldiers overseas. If anyone has sent anything overthere recently, I would be interested in your input. Can they have full size products such as deodorant, etc. or must they only be trial sizes. I looked on one site that said nothing cooked or home baked-just packaged, yet I hear of people sending home made cookies, etc. This site made it sound like someone might intercept the package and put something in it? I also have a few weird questions. Say you send hot chocolate packs,etc. Do you let them in the box or take out to save on postage? Anyone ever see those Johnson buddies soaps enclosed in a type sponge? I have been getting lots of those free and I used to sell them at yard sales. Since it is soap, do you think it would be too stupid to send some of them? I haven't sent a box in years, and then only to bases. At that time you didn't need to be so particular in what you sent because of terrorists, etc. Thanks for any input in what to send! These would go to Iraq and Afganistan.

Use the flat rate boxes for heavy items. They can have full size products they love time wasters like books, DVDs, handheld games, etc.
Gum, Jerky, Summer Sausage, Dried fruits, candy that is not chocolate although they don't minded melted chocolate just wrap it properly to not leak on anything else.
They love homemade fudge, brownies, cookies
Sunglasses, chapstick, premixed koolaid, etc (must be premixed no access to sugar)
Magazines (not supposed to send porn I send Maxxim etc they love it and it's just this side of acceptable.
Soap would not be stupid at all.
Don't bother sending phone cards unless you know specifically your person uses and needs them they have access to computer and phone.
I have been sending packages for over 3 yrs and not one has been intercepted (knock on wood although I have not sent anything forbidden)
I suggest getting a delivery confirmation.
Anything that would make them feel better, smell better, look better, etc is good. Nobody has ever said that was a stupid thing to send.

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We were sending packages on a regular basis to a dear friend of ours. But he didnt get half of what we sent. Lots of times he got a box that had letters and pictures but the goodies were removed. His wife sent him a cute tee shirt with their kids hand prints in paint on the front and their names written by them under their hands. he didnt get it but did see it , on a person who lives where he is stationed. so hopefully you will have better luck with it than we did. he emailed us and said to stop wasting our time and money cause he knew we wasnt sending him big boxes with just letters inside. we emailed him when we mailed stuff to him with a list of what was in it but most of the time, the box was opened and all items removed except letters and sometimes soap.
not sure if that is a problem all over or just where he was stationed. he said lots of the people there got empty boxes in the mail. all their mail is opened before delivered where he was at, even the letters. hopefully it aint like that for all of them.
good luck.

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Pads of writing paper
trail mix
silly string (you'll have to check the postal regulations on this) but they use silly string to detect land mines so love to get it

I used to send boxes to a marine, and he always got what I sent. He said they used a lot of hand sanitizer.
Granola Bars, peanut butter crackers, things that are small they can put in their pockets.

my grandson has been deployed 2 times and always got everything we sent!
his first deployment was in an area where the weren't able to bath or wash their clothing very often, so I sent baby wipes and white socks! he said your socks would only last about a week before they began to just rot off your feet!
also flea collars they put them in their bedding to keep out the sand fleas!
they love cookies and candies!I made monster cookies for 1 Easter and sealed them 1 layer at a time in my food saver and when they got there he said they were warm and just like they were just out of the oven! when ever I sent chocolate I made sure they were individually wrapped, he said they squeezed them out like tooth paste but when I sent peanut butter cups they ended up eating them paper and all!
I always used the flat rate boxes and could really get a lot in them!
they also like canned fruit that has the pull tab type top on them!

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The boxes that everyone is talking about are the 'Flat Rate Priority' boxes that you can pick up at the post office. Weight limit is 70 pounds (!) so whatever you can get to fit in the box that is less than that weight, will ship for the same rate.

This link has info on box sizes, etc.:
USPS - Priority Mail

In most cases, you actually want to use only the large FRB (flat rate box), either with the military logo or not. When shipped to a qualifying APO/FPO, the flat rate postage is $10.95 (vs. $12.95 to other domestic locations). The smaller FRBs are $9.80 to ship, so it's worth it to go with the large one to qualifying military addresses.

If you live in zone or one away to the FPO or APO, you need to make the analysis of whether it is cheaper to use a FRB or regular priority mail depending on what you're sending and how much it weighs.

As for what to send, it varies widely by location and condition and the MOS of the troop that you're sending to. Individually packages snacks and magazines of general interest can almost never go wrong to any location or until you know what the specific troop needs/wants.

cj/

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Thanks so much for all the answer! They are really helpful!

The people I have sent to told me this is not true and not to waste my money on silly string. I don't know if this is an area thing or what but I would ask before sending it.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.