What are the best things to receive while in boot camp?

Question

So my Boy of 3 years go to boot camp in april, what are things that soldiers enjoy getting while away from home? If you have ever been in the military what were your favorite things to receive and why? Also whats the best way to let them know you support them without comming right out and saying it?? Thanks in advance!!!!

Answer 1

OK.
Any packages recieved druing basic training are shared amongst the platoon, so if you send something send stuff that can be shared.
Traditionally people send big zip lock bags of home made cookies. This is VERY sweet, but what you get is a big zip lock bag of cookie crumbs. Unless you can pack better than the post office can break, avoid that.
A big bag of candy is often good, but be careful about chocolate. Chocolate can melt. He'll still eat it, but you wind up dealing with very strange goo. If he likes jerky or slim jims they work a little better. Pringles sometimes work because they are packed in a tube, and thus harder to break. Those big tubs of Planters cheesballs work really well. They are easy to share around and and even the post office can't seem to destroy them.
Sports magazines are good. You get pretty much ZERO exposure to the outside world while you are in basic, so they are a good reminder of the outside world. Pictures of you are good for that too.

Do NOT send anything that would get him trouble. No booze, no porn, no drugs, nothing like that. He will NOT love you for getting his buttox called up before the Commanding Officer for having contraband.

These days almost everyone has a portable DVD player. Even if he doesn't have one, he will know someone who does. Sending DVDs is cool. (Though in basic he won't have a lot of time to watch them.) A small paperback book he can fit in his cargo pocket might be a better choice.

Don't send anything that makes a mess. He has enough cleaning to do allready.

The best thing to send is phone cards. Prepaid phone cards.

Something to look forward to would help too. Make reservations for something special on a day you know he will be back, then send him a copy of the reservations, or the tickets (Do NOT send the real tickets... way to easy to loose) or whatever with a little pocket callendar. Something where he can go "I'm one day closer to ........" or "In 19 days I'm going to be ....."

And as for your last question, that's easy, give him a big kiss

Answer 2

First and most important of all is to send stuff, lots and lots of stuff, at the very least a letter. I cannot tell you how lonely it feels to be one of a very few who sits there during mail call, and not receive a letter.

Secondly remember that if you send something while in bootcamp, ie: a package, the drill seargents will have him open it in front of them, and usually every other soldier standing in formation for mail call. They do this to endure the recruit is not receiving any contraband products like tobacco, porn magazines, etc..

Send a care package that has cookies, and snacks. Remember however that during training it is all about the unit as a whole, so sending just a few snacks, cookies, or cakes will not do. It will be tossed out. You must send enough so that every soldier can share in this package, that way it does not get tossed out. Other things are helpful, like Baby wipes which are wonderfully effective at removing camoflage paint from there faces, and hands. Picture's of you, are highly encouraged too. Money is always a huge help. Soldiers in training often are taken to the local PX, or shoppette to restock on items they need or use, and soldiers are not paid very well today.

The most important thing is to just send something, anything, and often.

EXCEPT FOR A DEAR JOHN LETTER!!! If for any reason you decide to leave him or break up with him, for god's sake wait to tell him until after he is done and do it face to face with him.

Take care

Answer 3

keep in mind they are taken away from sweets and junk food, they cannot receive care packages at all in boot camp. Just letters from home is a nice treat at the end of a hard day.

Answer 4

honestly... letters. i had a boyfriend years ago who went to boot camp and the only thing he really wanted was letters to let him know that we hadn't forgotten him and still cared about him. thinking back on it i didn't write him nearly enough letters. just general "guess what happened today" kind of stuff. also current pictures of goings on so he can feel like he's not being left out.

Answer 5

Weirdest package anyone received while I was in basic, was one guys sister sent him a box of rubbers, he never did find out why she sent them, and no, he never did live it down..lol

In my flight, the DI read anything written on the outside of envelopes to the entire flight, so a friend of mine who's girlfriend was in a sorority, had all of the sorority girls write letters to him and me everyday and write really sexy things on them. It took the DI about two weeks to figure out, that the same girls were writing to both of us.

Who says you cannot have fun in basic !!!!!

Answer 6

the men like to hear from home with pictures of the family & friends, letters, cards, cookies, snacks, personal things. And why not tell him that you support him and his troops. That is the best way to support them and also let them that you LOVE THEM & STAND BEHIND THEM!!!!!!!!!! Wish him LUCK for me.

Answer 7

I went to Marine Corps boot camp, we weren't allowed to receive anything other than letters and pictures. If he is in Navy boot camp, try sending him some lipstick or rouge.

Answer 8

My neice and nephew in the service liked phone cards and my neice also liked stamps. Baked cookies were a hit but make tons since they'll have to share with everyone.

Answer 9

cards, pictures, letters

phone cards, cookies (send enough to share with the platoon) use pringles' cans to pack in to keep them from getting broken.

My favorite were pictures of family and friends, cookies and phone cards.

Answer 10

letter's from home, phone cards