[tet68]

All my hunting packs have camel back bladders in them,
drink while you move and.......#1. they don't slosh!

[Professional Engineer]

Hand held laser pointers have been popular for troops expecting to get ambushed. The laser pointer makes it easier to show where everyone should shoot. Sounds crude, but it works, and has worked many times. It also proved popular for raids as well.

Interesting. HHD troop ping

[mystery-ak]

The boots might be a good idea...I know Mike has been through several pairs....as far as the battle axe, well, I'll leave that one alone.

[Old Sarge]

USO Canteen Useful Troop Gifts PING!

I'd like to underline several of these:

In many units, the Gerber multi-tool has replaced the bayonet. The multi-tool has been popular with troops for years. About the same size as a bayonet, the multi-tool includes needle nose pliers, a wire cutter, a drop point knife blade, screwdrivers, a can opener, a bottle opener, among other things. The troops love this stuff.

Either a Gerber or a Leatherman, goes over big-time. I've yet to be in a unit within the last four years, where every other troop had one or the other. They're just too damn useful.

Hand held laser pointers have been popular for troops expecting to get ambushed. The laser pointer makes it easier to show where everyone should shoot. Sounds crude, but it works, and has worked many times. It also proved popular for raids as well.

These lil' buggers are cheap - I've seen them as low as $8, and made as part of a key chain - and dead useful in field or garrison jobs.

Canteens are considered so 20th century. Today's trooper wants a camel-back hydration system (a bladder of water carried on your backpack, with a tube that allows you to sip water as you need it without having to use your hands to get the canteen out.)

Two reasons why I'd opt out on these. One, they're still expensive - $40 and up, last I checked. Two, Camelbacks are issue items for almost every unit going to The Sandbox.

The army issued GPS receiver (the PLGR) is old and put to shame by newer GPS equipment. The 82nd Airborne division went out and bought Rhino GPS units for all the troops. This unit was lighter, smaller, got more time out of the batteries, and picked up the GPS signals faster than PLGR. Many troops had already bought the Rhino (spending about $200 to do so), and similar models. But many troops are stuck with the PLGR and would appreciate something better.

Any avid sports guy might have a Rhino, or a Garmin, or a Magellan. My Guard company made a local purchase on three; blew some training money, but our surveillance guys needed them. I echo the commentary on the PLGR: if you have nothing, then they're great. If you can get hold of better, do so.

Only thing I could ever add to this wish list: A cheap-o digital camera! One that you can quickly upload the pics to a laptop - and laptops are becoming the equipment of choice in almost every unit - purge the camera, and shoot some more. I've got one we found for $20, and my new laptop will be mated up to it soon.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Package hints.

And Happy New Year to you and yours.

[AgThorn]

This is a great suggestion list ... a keeper. A couple of other items we are shipping along with the regular beef jerky, licorice, etc. Just had eBay ship my son an Arabic language course refresher, per his request ... Pimsler's a good company, he wanted casettes instead of CD's and stayed away from Egyptian Arabic and got it for under $20. This is probably not the every day gift for the average soldier but my Iraqi based son went to language school and admits he is getting rusty and wants to sharpen his skills.

Power converters, 12 volt to 110/220 are also popular. My Navy son picked one up that had a cigarette plug as well as dual alligator battery clips and two 110 outlets. I think he paid too much but we are sending that off to Iraq this week as well. I know you can get them (sans the battery clips) at Fry's for about $30-35. Not telling what rediculous price my Navy kid paid for it at Radio shack but he wants to send it.

I'm throwing in some as well small Cuban cigars I picked up overseas - hope I don't get him in trouble!!

[Prodigal Son]

Buy one bottle of Pine-Sol. Empty bottle. Clean out bottle thoroughly. Refill with single malt whisky. Send your favorite soldier his much needed 'cleaning supplies' along with other care items.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

ping

[Cannoneer No. 4]

ping

[Calpernia]

Thanks for the ping Sarge. Cannoneer pinged me to this article on Sunday, http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1047691/posts

We started collecting items for care packages Sunday night. We should have a nice size care package ready to go after the New Years.

[demlosers]

Yup, those desert boots do wear-out fast. Mine did in 3 months in Saudi.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

CLICK HERE for 03/22/03 Department of Defense
Press Release.
TROOP SUPPORT MAIL POLICY STRESSED
To bolster force protection, the general public is urged not to send unsolicited mail, care packages or donations to service members forward deployed unless you are a family member, loved one or personal friend.

Please DO NOT post any military snail mail addresses on
public internet message boards, forums etc.
This puts Military personnel at risk
and often causes them problems
receiving packages from their family and friends.

[M Kehoe]

Bttt.

5.56mm

[armymarinemom]

Boots and custom packs.

US cav sells several brands of boots. Altima and Danner.US Cav

Tactical Taylor. Reqested by youngest for pouches, camel backs, gloves etc.Tactical Taylor

[TrueBeliever9]

The new dessert boot is the worst - my son informs me! He thinks it could have only been ordered by someone who sits behind a desk at the pentagon all day everyday!

[EverOnward]

Bookmarked

[nutmeg]

bump