what should I send over to Iraq prior to deploying?

From what I've heard from deployed friends...

Bring LOTS of moisturizing things. You'll be getting there right when it starts to get hot...and even if you're on a nice FOB with a well stocked p/x, things you'll need will sell out quickly.

Bring:

lotion

lip balm

sunscreen

hair conditioner

good shampoo

hair ties.scrunchies that match your hair color

baby wipes

LOTS of undies & socks

a comfy pillow

powdered drink mixes

snacks

entertaiment items: books, magazines, crosswords, dvds, etc

You may want to check the site below as well...to see what deployed service members are asking for now.

And thank you for your service to our country!

Why bother sending anything, if you are Air Force you will only be there 6 months. Besides, all the pouges in supply will just loot your footlocker for goodies before you get there.

Just kidding, some paperback books, magazines (no porn) and an Xbox with Halo would be the ticket, your fellow Wing Wipers will appreciate it, and you can leave it there for the next bunch of zoomies.Don't send anything you can't live without though, an unwatched footlocker will soon give up it's contents.

must be nice in the AF, i only got to take what i could carry. Its a good thing I'm a Marine and can carry a lot. Unfortunately i also had to bring all my CIF gear. I have yet to use any thing but my cold weather gear and flack and Kevlar. the rest was a wast of space and ill be glad to mail it home instead of trying to carry it again. I had a full combat load, two sea bags-full, and my civilian backpack full of my electronics. I thought i was going to die holding all that while waiting for my flight to this base.

If your living with the Marines on this base your going to, I'm going to guess Al Asad, you will have good accommodations in Marines standards. AF standards will leave something to be desired but you will have access to the PX wear you can buy any thing you could want.

I recommend sending over what ever you dont want to carry and can do with out on the way to where ever you are going.

Don't take too much stuff. Your space will likely be very limited, and you don't want to have to deal with lots of excess stuff around Marines, who are known for travelling light! Also, don't take anything of particular value. Close quarters, SHARED quarters, and shift work means things have been known to walk away... sadly enough!

I recommend you just pack a few things in the foot locker, and send for the things you might find you need, once you're there. Mail service is very fast between here and there.

Don't send anything prior EVER. You never know what will happen prior to you actually getting there. Your deployment could get swapped with someone else, you could get hurt before you go and end up not going, CENTAF could end up changing your location. I've seen it happen, and have had it happen to me. Bring everything you'll need for 45-60 days...anything else that you'll need that the local BX/PX doesn't carry, you can have someone from home send it to you.

Have any other members of your unit deployed over there previously? If so, ask them... they'd be more likely to know what you might want to send.

you should put what you think you need in it and once you get there have some one send it to you. if you send it befor hand and you don't pick it up you will more than likely get it sent back home befor you can get to it.

OR IT WILL WILL DISSAPEAR SADLY

I don t know but thank you and God Bless!