Christmas Care Package Aussie Soldiers Overseas

[FJ Steve]

Received this info via a friend, yesterday. Once I read it, I thought of two things....I've got to do this for some poor guy/girl who won't be home for Christmas, and I am sure PSB could really make someone's day (over there) in Afghanistan.

So.......I present:

Christmas Care Package Aussie Soldiers Overseas

We appreciated the care packages in Vietnam, and now we can give them the same support.

As you know, the Festive Season is quickly closing on us and I ask that you spare a thought for our soldiers serving our country in harm's way in Afghanistan.

Perhaps you may wish to send a soldier a care package. The idea behind this is that some troops over in Afghanistan may not have family who are able to send them packages with things they may need or things that make their time over there just that tiny bit easier. There may also just be a soldier who is finding their time over their difficult and just needs a bit of cheering up. It'll get given to whoever needs it most.

To send a care package to an Australian Soldier in Afghanistan, you need to purchase a "BM" size box (weighs 175g itself) from Australia Post, they cost $2. They'll give you some customs forms which you will also need to fill
out. The address you need to send the package to is below. Make sure you seal all the edges of the box with packing tape. If the box after being packed weighs less than 2kg, Australia Post will send it for Free.

"An Australian Soldier"
Op Slipper
AFPO 13
Australian Defence Force
SYDNEY NSW 2890

To give an example of what can be sent, a care package could be:

1 x Lynx Shower Gel Travel Size
1 x Pack of Schick Disposable Razors
1 x NON-AEROSOL Shaving Cream
1 x Lynx Role On Deodorant
1 x Small Baby Powder (Talc)
1 x Chap Stick (SPF 30+)
3 x Bags of Allen's Lollies (NOT CHOCOLATE)
1 x Beef Instant Noodles
1 x Pack of Scotch Finger Biscuits
2 x Canned Tuna (Pull Ring Style)

But don't limit it to this let your imagination do the walking.


If you want you can also include a self addressed envelope and a letter. I include my email address as well just in case they want to contact me or have something specific they want me to get for them.

Things not to send:

Alcohol
No Clothing, Except socks
Aerosols
Cigarettes
Pork
chocolate (melts)
Magazines with naked people.

You can also send a female specific care package, including feminine deo, perfume sample sachets, girly mags. All you need to do is when addressing write "An Australian Soldier - FEMALE".

For those of you that are animal lovers, you may wish to do the following: I have sent care packages to our Explosive Detection Dogs (EDD) with the following items included:

1 x box dog biscuits
1 x beef bone (not fresh)
3 x "greenies"
1x toy
1 x tennis ball
and don't forget a couple of packets of lollies for the handler.


The dogs do a magnificent job under very trying conditions and to date, four have lost their lives serving their country.

The address is:

"An Australian EDD Handler"
Op Slipper
AFPO 13
Australian Defence Force
SYDNEY NSW 2890

[QuietLil]

Thanks FJ Steve for the information. My "Orphans Christmas will definitely include a couple of these.

[Fastgirl]

Awesome idea...will definately be sending something out to the boys n girls

[mark_r]

A blog post with a bit of background to the message you would have recieved FJ Steve:

Ocean, Sky and Khaki: Richard Sharpe Guest Post

Also has addresses to send packages for ADF members in East Timor, or just to send postcards or other messages.

[lo1ux]

i reckon i might get in on this sounds like a great idea.

[ashmo]

what a fantastic idea i'll be sure to do my bit

[TRENTO43]

cheers for the heads up Fj steve. Awesom idea. Im on my way to Coles now..., one question. Would they have a need for Things like batteries, postage stamps, envelopes. Christmas cards to send back home etc?

[FJ Steve]

I wouldn't provide batteries. They could get them from their own logistical superrmarket. Plus....batteries may be a no-no through their postage system.
Xmas cards and envelopes is a great idea.

[mark_r]

They won't need postage stamps, as mail they send home is managed/paid for by the ADF.

http://www.defence.gov.au/defencemag...1/jlg_post.pdf is a decent article about Defence Post as managed by the Joint Logistics Group.

[D'Artagnan]

Well done Steve. A project for the kids in the next few day I think. Cheers

[wendylee]

Steve
what a wonderful Idea

I have printed this out and put in the lunch room at work, each person has a list to take home and make a box up from our company.

[Kytty]

This is a great idea What better way to spread the love to people stuck in a place full of hate over the Xmas season. This is now on my list of things to do this week during the kids craft night.

[RB 2 11]

I did a stretch in Saudi (Gulf War 1) while on exchange with the USAF and was supervising the arrival of 2 crews from my Home Base. One of the incoming females (young, cute & inexperienced) agreed to carry a care-package in for a bloke already there. His wife had made it up.

Of course, the Muttawa (aka religious police with no real authority other than "their strong faith"), accompanying the MP's doing customs clearance wanted to rifle through the incoming girls kit and get their mitts amongst her knickers - and they made her open the Care Package.

On top was a Penthouse magazine.

Took us 4 hours to clear her and have her removed from lockup.

Great idea Steve. My mob wanted to "donate" a goat to a needy family over that way. We'll be doing something else now.

Follow his advice peeps - don't think it can't hurt to slip in a little something risque. You never know...

[wendylee]

Steve

what is the final date to take to the post office to get to the Aussies for Christmas??

Just to let everyone know how much time they have left



Ta

[mcmurray]

Thanks for the info Steve.

[cowasaki]

Got the office organising stuff for a few boxes

[FJ Steve]

Steve

what is the final date to take to the post office to get to the Aussies for Christmas??

Just to let everyone know how much time they have left



Ta

No idea....sorry. Best to get it done sooner, rather than later.

[RB 2 11]

Sent my two (one for a bloke, one for a girl) off this morning. Local post office had never seen such an address - so they rang someone in Post Ops who told them "no charge."

Just hope they get there in time...

[Dazza996]

I also got an email about this so forwarded onto my contacts and some of them in Defence force in Canberra and a reply came back see below: sorry folks but this is a no go


From: VVAA National Secretary [mailto:VVAA.sec@bigpond.com]

Following representation from the VVAA Qld President John Smith I contacted the Department of Defence regarding my earlier distribution of details, supposedly supported by the RAR Assn, to forward care packages to troops in Afghanistan

Below you can see the official policy of the Department of Defence, therefore I would ask that all branches disregard my earlier email and apologise for any inconvenience caused, the best suggestion I can make at this stage is pray for their welfare and safe return.

Ken Foster
VVAA Secretary

***********************************************
From: Wickham, Benjamin MR [mailto:Benjamin.Wickham@defence.gov.au]
Sent: Friday, 20 November 2009 4:42 PM

UNCLASSIFIED

Dear Mr Foster,

Thank you for your call earlier today.

With regard to the e-mails circulating, asking people to send care packages to Afghanistan I can provide you with the following information:

Thank you for your consideration and support for ADF members serving overseas over the Christmas period, but for a number of logistic management and security reasons, we would prefer that you do not encourage your readers to send “care packages” to deployment service men and women.

Mail that is sent via Defence postal arrangements is restricted to official military and personal mail only, and must not be used for any other material.

Defence postal services utilise the same air transport resources used for the movement of vital stores and equipment in support of ADF operations. The movement of large volumes of mail have the potential to affect the transportation of important stores and equipment needed for the safety, security and continued operational success of our people.

Humanitarian Aid, which attracts normal international rates of postage, is not authorised to be sent through the Defence Postal Service. There is no entitlement, or requirement for Humanitarian Aid to be sent to Australian Service personnel

Kind regards,
Ben

Ben Wickham
Public Affairs Officer
Public Affairs Operations Centre
Department of Defence
R1-5-A043 | Russell Offices | ACT 2600
• (+612) 612 71969 | ( 0419 259 606
• (+612) 626 56946

[Hudo]

Pretty much on the money guys

-Chocolate will be fine atm, it will be snowing there atm and will survive.

-anything homebaked will be greatly appreciated

-luxury goods like canned tuna, oysters, salami and other non perishable stuff is great
-lollies and junk food is always good too.

-bbq shapes etc are all good and cant be bought overseas

-some of the best morale is from the school kids pictures letters etc ie some guys have had mates who are teachers send over a class worth of stuff.

-send a self addressed envelope if you want to hear back, grunts inherintly mean well to reply but sometimes a little lazy and need some prompting

- People have sent things for the local kiddies like aussie branded pens, small keyring style toys, or deflated soccer balls. these are priceless for the kids who have nothing a pen is a great gift for them the lads and girls will make sure they get out there.

-remember to keep it under 2kg per package and the size does matter too,

-try not to send liquids that may leak ie cordial

-Porn is ok if it gets through but may get confiscated prior to arrival ( say if a forklift runs over the package or if a cordial bottle leaks and the packaging disintegrated)
-grog is an australian thing, they get it on special occasions in very limited amounts, and they cant stop you sending it but the end recipient may get an arse kicking if caught with it. very un-australian but that is the way of our risk free and anal society.

all is appreciated great and small, if you want to target a specific group just write it in the title area and it will get there.
Postage time will vary but may take up to 4 weeks or more usually 2-3 is the norm

Pm me if you would like any more specific details.