Care pkgs for deployed military

[MeganNY]

Hi

I have a few friends deploying soon for Iraq - some MDs, PAs and a couple of RNs

I am making a list of care pkg items to share with friends, family and coworkers.

But I am not sure if the medical corps has more access to comfort items than soldiers do (for ex., razors, deoderant, shampoo, foot powder) and Internet/phone access.

Can anyone shed any light on this?

We want to make the packages useful and fun, if possible.

I have seen some sites where water guns are suggested as gifts. What a great way to cool off!

If anyone has suggestions, please pass them on

We realize that the entire crew in this hospital is of varying ages and interests, some in their 30s and some approaching 40, and of course, many who are just out of their teens.

So we are looking at treats that cross the age spectrum.

Thanks!

Megan, disabled RN/BSN. soon to be MT (ASCP)

[patrick1rn, MSN, RN, NP]

OK here goes, I have two combat tours and this is my opinion about care packages and sending them to MDs, PAs and RNs.

Most physicians only do a 3 month tour, they live in very nice areas, they have access to a nice post exchange and dont really nice a care package. If you really want to make a someone feel good, send an care package to a total stranger , some poor enlisted guy who doesnt have access to a vehicle to drive around camp with, who is the doing the grunt work for the war. Dont send ETOH, im sure they have plenty at their nice cozy hospital already..Contrary to popular believe not everyone in the military likes nascar or duck hunting. The nice people who sent used books overseas was cool, so a library was started. If your going to send a care package to someone and you personally know that person, tailor make that care package. I am a litte biased because during my last tour, we didnt have a Px at our FOB and the only niceities were from if we could get it locally or if someone send it to us from the states.. and the mail sucked where we were at, stuff would arrive months later all moldy and wet all busted... So if your MD is going to be gone for 3 months, its time to suck it up a little bit...

[Gennaver, MSN]

OK here goes, I have two combat tours and this is my opinion about care packages and sending them to MDs, PAs and RNs.

...snip

... So if your MD is going to be gone for 3 months, its time to suck it up a little bit...

Hello,

Regarding the ETOH, I agree, do not send it, it is a major violation and wrong.

About the MDs, PAs and RNs, what I know is that the reason MDs only do a three month tour is due to the loss of skills they may aquire by being in theater, so, they must return in order to brush up and re-hone their skills. I do not know but, the PAs may have a similar reason. As for RNs, the ones that I know are doing 15 months right now and prior were doing 12 right along with the units they are assigned to. You didn't know this?

Gen

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

Hey, Gen, congratulations on your commission! I'm proud to have you defending our constitution.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

Oh, another biggie, SUNSCREEN!

[Gennaver, MSN]

Oh, another biggie, SUNSCREEN!

Hello Suesquatch!

I'm so glad to have the chance :)

You are right, sunscreen!! and how about some of those powder packets of flavor to go in water too? Bug spray?

Gen- in Texas

[patrick1rn, MSN, RN, NP]

Hello,

Regarding the ETOH, I agree, do not send it, it is a major violation and wrong.

About the MDs, PAs and RNs, what I know is that the reason MDs only do a three month tour is due to the loss of skills they may aquire by being in theater, so, they must return in order to brush up and re-hone their skills. I do not know but, the PAs may have a similar reason. As for RNs, the ones that I know are doing 15 months right now and prior were doing 12 right along with the units they are assigned to. You didn't know this?

Gen

I dont know about losing skills while in theater, but I was told that MDs only do a 3 month tour because the dont get paid as much being in the military as they do in their civilian jobs and it would be hard to retain physicians if they had to spend longer tours. Good or bad, It makes sense to me. As far as RNs and some PAs are concerned, my heart does go out to the PAs that spend a year in some isolated FOB with limited amenities out in the middle of no where having to practice medicine with limitied resources. A nice care package is always appreciated. As far a RNs go, the length of the tour isnt the issue, i never even mentioned that. My issue is when someone has a super big post exchange to go to where they can get all the nice things to eat and stuff. SO YEA, I DID KNOW IT...

[Gennaver, MSN]

I dont know about losing skills while in theater, but I was told that MDs only do a 3 month tour because the dont get paid as much being in the military as they do in their civilian jobs and it would be hard to retain physicians if they had to spend longer tours. Good or bad, It makes sense to me.

...

While it may be easier for you to believe the negative "they only have to do three months because they are greedy rats..." It isn't what we are being taught in AMEDD OBLC. The instructors explicitly have stated that the MDs want to stay with their units but must return to avoid "Skill Degredation". So, possibly your bias needs an adjustment.

As far as RNs and some PAs are concerned, my heart does go out to the PAs that spend a year in some isolated FOB with limited amenities out in the middle of no where having to practice medicine with limitied resources. A nice care package is always appreciated. As far a RNs go, the length of the tour isnt the issue, i never even mentioned that. My issue is when someone has a super big post exchange to go to where they can get all the nice things to eat and stuff. SO YEA, I DID KNOW IT...

If the RNs going the length of the tour wasn't this issue, "yea, you did know..." then it wasn't easily deciphered from your letter because you lumped them in with the MDs, PAs and then immediately stated that your issue was the cushy three month tour and the posh exchange. However, I relate to your wishing they were on the line as many nurses I've met face to face have expressed the wish that they could be up there. However, they cannot as their equipment to care for the soldier is back just a bit further and they need those supplies and the "cushy" supplies in order to send them forward anyhow. So, I empathize that you are blaming RNs and MDs for having it so good, relatively, yet, just how far forward do you think they could bring their level of care and equipment? Also, just how far removed from supplies do you want them to be when it is the supplies they use to care for the soldiers? Think, before you reflexively want to blame medical people for "having it so good." They are there to care for and save the soldier, would you have them do it with no supplies?

Gen-proud to care for soldiers

p.s. you "do" know that you are grumbling about Military nurses ON a Military Nurses forum, right?

[patrick1rn, MSN, RN, NP]

While it may be easier for you to believe the negative "they only have to do three months because they are greedy rats..." It isn't what we are being taught in AMEDD OBLC. The instructors explicitly have stated that the MDs want to stay with their units but must return to avoid "Skill Degredation". So, possibly your bias needs an adjustment.

If the RNs going the length of the tour wasn't this issue, "yea, you did know..." then it wasn't easily deciphered from your letter because you lumped them in with the MDs, PAs and then immediately stated that your issue was the cushy three month tour and the posh exchange. However, I relate to your wishing they were on the line as many nurses I've met face to face have expressed the wish that they could be up there. However, they cannot as their equipment to care for the soldier is back just a bit further and they need those supplies and the "cushy" supplies in order to send them forward anyhow. So, I empathize that you are blaming RNs and MDs for having it so good, relatively, yet, just how far forward do you think they could bring their level of care and equipment? Also, just how far removed from supplies do you want them to be when it is the supplies they use to care for the soldiers? Think, before you reflexively want to blame medical people for "having it so good." They are there to care for and save the soldier, would you have them do it with no supplies?

Gen-proud to care for soldiers

p.s. you "do" know that you are grumbling about Military nurses ON a Military Nurses forum, right?

Hey Gen, good morning and congrats and passing your boards, but lets get a couple of things straight ..

1. I know this is a military forum for nurses...

2. I have no issue with Rear Echelon care what so ever, during the war, I was so happy to send my wounded soldiers back to the rear for more intensive care.

3. Lets not make this a personal issue, have you ever serviced in a combat zone ?

4. I have done to combat tours myself, I know what I am talking about and I am still in the military.

5. I say personalize a care package for someone in the desert, their is plenty of suncreen, insect repellent and a ton of baby wipes in Iraq and Afghanistan already.

6.I have no bias towards any MD that does a 3 month tour. It is what it is.

7. I am also a RN, working on my masters degree to be a Nurse Practitioner and I am still a combat medic on the side, so i know the best and worst of both worlds.

8. I never blamed anyone for having it so good. Did I ? No.. All I said was that the rear echelon bases normally have PXs or more MWR stuff than the foward operating bases do.

[BULLYDAWGRN, RN]

i think this post is getting far off from the original question asked. now we are taliking about who has what tour length and why and what fob/camp has a superwalmart. well anyway thanks meganny for thinking about the troops and trying to organize a treat for them..it's always nice to get things from home.

[Gennaver, MSN]

Hey Gen, good morning and congrats and passing your boards, but lets get a couple of things straight ..

1. I know this is a military forum for nurses...

2. I have no issue with Rear Echelon care what so ever, during the war, I was so happy to send my wounded soldiers back to the rear for more intensive care.

3. Lets not make this a personal issue, have you ever serviced in a combat zone ?

4. I have done to combat tours myself, I know what I am talking about and I am still in the military.

5. I say personalize a care package for someone in the desert, their is plenty of suncreen, insect repellent and a ton of baby wipes in Iraq and Afghanistan already.

6.I have no bias towards any MD that does a 3 month tour. It is what it is.

7. I am also a RN, working on my masters degree to be a Nurse Practitioner and I am still a combat medic on the side, so i know the best and worst of both worlds.

8. I never blamed anyone for having it so good. Did I ? No.. All I said was that the rear echelon bases normally have PXs or more MWR stuff than the foward operating bases do.

Okeee dokee,

Gotcha then,

Gen

[navynurse06]

I just got back from deployment, and getting packages from home were always nice! I haven't read all the post so I might be repeating some things.

Food: Stuff that doesn't melt or crush. Pringles don't ship very well...they end up all crushed. Dried fruits, beef jerky, trail mix, protien bars, the big packages of peanut butter crackers or whatever flavor. Crystal Lite single serve drink mix (the ones that you can just put in a bottle of h20 and shake up).

Other stuff: Magazines (those where so nice to get), puzzle books, newspapers (it's just nice to see what's going on back home...afn isn't always the best source for news), books.

I was on a ship so it wasn't as easy to buy things b/c the ship store didn't have a wide selection. However, for those deployed some where on land they have access to the NEX, PX and stores. But it's still nice to get packages, cards, and letters from home. It lets the service member know that they are special to someone and that they aren't forgotten about.

ENS PM

[prmenrs, RN]

If I was to send a care package to an anonymous someone in Iraq/Afghanistan, how would I do that? As in, how would I address it?