Sending a Military Care Package or Letter

Military care packages deliver a welcome piece of home to your service member while they’re away. They help both of you stay connected despite distance or duty.

Check out these ideas for sending care packages to your service member.

Quick tip: If your service member is at boot camp, skip the care package and send them a letter instead.

Care package ideas

Sending mouthwash and granola bars may seem like a small gesture to you, but can mean the world to a service member who might not have immediate access to a store or familiar brands.

Show your appreciation and love for your service member and all they do for our country by sending some of these items:

• Toiletries for skin, hair or dental care, including razors, toothpaste, shampoo, lip balm and lotion.
• Shelf-stable snacks, including protein bars, nuts, cookies, beef jerky, nonmelting candy and trail mix in packaging that isn’t easily crushed. Drink mixes in single-serving packets are also a good addition.
• Homemade foods, like cookies. Ensure your food is nonperishable and packaged to keep for weeks, if needed.
• Medical care items, such as basic pain relievers, sunblock, hand sanitizer, a first-aid kit, contact solution, tissues or feminine hygiene products.
• Wearables, such as socks, underwear, sunglasses or flip-flops for the shower.
• Games, such as playing cards/poker chips, crosswords, puzzle books or sports ball.
• Stationery is a must if you want to receive any letters from your service member. Send paper, envelopes, address labels and pens. Skip the stamps — they won’t need them.
• Photos, handwritten notes or children’s artwork are a good way to show your support or share what’s happening at home.
• Seasonal items, either decoration or food, to help them celebrate their birthday or an upcoming holiday.
• Relaxation items to help them recenter, such as a blank journal, adult coloring book set, stress ball or a novel in their favorite genre.

Packaging a care package

Once you know what you want to send, follow these tips to make sure your military care package arrives in good condition.

• Seal everything. Individually seal items in plastic bags with zip locks, if possible, to protect items from the elements or to keep them from leaking out.
• Use sturdy packaging. The best packaging is a free Military Care Kit from the U.S. Postal Service, which includes priority mail boxes, tape and address labels.
  Note: The packaging is free, but the postage is not.
• Provide accurate shipping information. Include your service member’s unit, last and first name, title, DPO/FPO/APO and full ZIP code.
• Take advantage of reduced postage for military mail. Provide standard domestic postage on mail going to an APO or FPO address to get the same shipping costs for mailing in the continental United States and overseas.
• Complete the customs forms. You’ll need to fill out customs forms for any shipping outside the United States. Customs forms can be found on the USPS website or at the post office.
• Consider shipping time. Delivery time can vary, typically taking two weeks. For holidays, allow about five weeks for delivery.
• Consider military operations. Although your care package may make it to the desired location, a service member might not receive it immediately due to deployment or other circumstances.
• Be careful what you send. Check the post office’s prohibited items list. Don’t send valuables or irreplaceable items — sometimes packages get lost.

During boot camp, letters are better

When your recruit first left for basic training, they took only a few things with them. This is because the military provides everything recruits need during boot camp, from meals and housing to basics like toothbrushes or socks.

Duplicate items from home are stored and retrieved after graduation. This is why most service branches discourage care packages during boot camp.

Tips for sending a letter during boot camp:

• Use a plain piece of paper and an envelope.
• It’s okay to send photos.
• Don’t decorate the envelope.
• Plan on two weeks for letter delivery.

So, while your recruit is at boot camp, send only letters. Save the packages, texts, digital cards or email for after they finish basic.

Extra support while away from home

Care packages and letters are always good, but sometimes a service member may need more support than you can provide.

Whether they need help with stress, taxes, fitness, relationships or want to live chat with someone confidentially, Military OneSource offers a range of individualized consultations, coaching and other services.

Learn more about Military OneSource’s free services >>

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