What does a soldier in Afghanistan need?

To come home and let those mutts duke it out.

I volunteer for an organization called Packages from home here in Arizona and what we usually send in the boxes are as follows: soft toilet paper, dryer sheets (used to keep fleas out of boots and clothes) travel sizes of body wash and shampoo. Baby wipes for when they are on water rations. (It will be their only way of cleaning up) Socks, lots and lots of socks. They can wear through a pair in a day sometimes.

In the food boxes, they really like to get individual packets of crystal light or koolaid (the water is a not wonderful over there I guess)

We usually send over small cans of tuna or chicken, and they really seem to like the baggies full of condiments we send. Kind of livens up the food sometimes.

We send lots of hard candy, jerky and sunflower seeds.

Whatever you send, make sure you send plenty because everybody shares.

Hope that helps. God bless your son and your family. Thank you from a grateful American

My son loved getting anything and everything. I sent special occasion boxes before the holidays. He always loved getting those. Some ideas....4th of July...I sent him a box full of decorations and fun things for him and his buddies like water guns. Even included a a couple of inflatable pools and a volleyball set. They had a great time on their day off and he said it made them feel great. I loved getting the pictures.

Everyday boxes...make sure everything is unscented. Flea collars, they wear them around the boots. snack foods that he always like at home. Zip lock baggies to store stuff in. Get different sizes. Pictures from home. Those scented sachets envelopes, their living quarters start really stinking after some time plus it smells like home and they really like that. My son's wife got one of those picture frames that you can record a message on. She record....Sleep well angel I love you!" He played it right before falling to sleep at night.

Get creative, have fun, send silly stuff. They will enjoy it!

The other stuff posted is great too. I just wanted to give more options!

I just wanted to second the individual serving powdered drink mixes that go into a bottle of water - my husband asks me to send them all the time. Any "local" items that would remind him of home.