From Military site on packages

[Dee]

IMPORTANT - sending pkgs to troops (please read)...

My husband who is an AF Officer received this e-mail from DOD regarding "care packages, etc... to troops" please read:

 

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.

>

> On Oct. 30, 2002, the Department of Defense (DoD) suspended the

> "Operation Dear Abby" and "Any Servicemember" mail programs due

> to force protection concerns. Although these programs provide

> an excellent means of support to friends and loved ones

> stationed overseas, they also provide an avenue to introduce

> hazardous substances or materials into the mail system from

> unknown sources. Unsolicited mail, packages and donations from

> organizations and individuals also compete for limited airlift

> space used to transport supplies, war-fighting materiel and mail

> from family and loved ones.

>

> Recently, DoD has become aware of organizations and individuals

> who continue to support some form of the "Any Servicemember"

> program by using the names and addresses of individual

> servicemembers and unit addresses. These programs are usually

> supported by well-intentioned, thoughtful and patriotic groups

> who are simply unaware of the new risks facing deployed military

> forces. Some individuals and groups publicize the names and

> addresses of service members, ships or units on Web sites, with

> good intentions. The result, however, is a potential danger to

> the troops they wish to support.

>

> DoD cannot support creative and well-intentioned efforts that

> defeat force protection measures, but can instead recommend

> alternatives to mail and donation programs. To show support to

> troops overseas, the following are recommended:

>

> * Log on to the following Web sites to show support, to include

> greeting cards, virtual Thank You cards and calling card

> donations to help troops stay in contact with loved ones:

>

> http://www.defendamerica.mil/support_troops.html

>

> http://www.usocares.org/home.htm

>

> http://www.army.mil/operations/iraq/faq.html

 

 

 

[Guest Guest]

Thank you for posting this Reci.

 

I guess there were too many of us with good intentions, (a good thing) but it makes me sad that we can't reach the soldier's without strong family support, or whose families don't have the means to send them care packages.

 

However, right now, those soldiers in Iraq are on the move, and are carrying heavy packs as it is. They probably don't have room for alot of extra supplies.