How to Write to Someone in the Military and Send Care Packages

For those serving in the military receiving mail, even if it is from someone they don't know, can be an enormous morale boost. Letters can provide a much needed connection to the familiar that is important for soldiers that spend many months living thousands of miles away from home and family. A letter shows that people care. Luckily, sending mail to overseas military, even if you don't personally know someone in the military, is very easy.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pen
• Paper
• Envelope
• Stamps
• Box
• Sunblock, chapstick, jolly ranchers etc

1. Find someone to write to. If you don't know someone in the military, this can often be the hardest part. Consider asking friends if they have family or other friends that are serving in the military that you could write to. If you are still unable to locate the name and address of someone to write to, consider contacting an organization like Any Solider, is a non-profit which will directly connect you to a US service member. For military care packages, try Operation Military Pride which has a long list of suggestions for care packages as well as information regarding restricted items such as alchohol.

2. Introduce yourself to the soldier. It can be difficult to come up with things to talk about with someone you don't know, particularly if you are not in the military and they are deployed. Although there are restrictions as to what you can send, there are no restrictions as to what you can write. Be open. Tell the service member about yourself. Where you live; who your family is; what your hobbies are; consider telling the service member anecdotes about your day to day life, something that will remind the military member of home.

3. Ask lots of questions. You may not get a reply back from the soldier, but it's always good to ask questions to show that you are interested. Ask about the service member's life back home; who does he have waiting for him? Ask about the service member's unit; Ask if there's anything in particular that you could send from home that the military member might be missing such as a particular type of candy.

4. Include your address if you would like a response. Write the return address in the body of the letter, just in case something happens to the envelope. Mail service is free for most deployed units in the Middle East, but you could consider including a SASE just in case.

5. Mail your letter. First you will need to make sure that the letter is addressed correctly. DOD regulations no longer allow mail to be addressed to "any soldier," or similar. There must be a name (the Any Soldier program will always give a specific name for you to correspond to). You don't have to include a rank, but it can be helpful, to make sure it gets to the recipient quickly. You will also need to include the soldier's unit number and APO address. Then simply take to the post office and pay the APO rate. If you are sending a packages, you will also need to fill out a customs slip.

Tips & Warnings

• If your care package contains anything that could potentially leak out, make sure you place in a ziplock bag so it won't leak out.
• When putting together a care package remember pressurized items such as shaving cream.

Resources

• Any Soldier