I heard today (5-5-08) on the radio that new rules had been put in place such that you could no longer send packages to individual soldiers anymore that are in Afghanistan & Iraq due to security concerns (evidently they are worried some A-hole will send a bomb or poisoned food). Apparently your only option is to sponsor a package that the USO will send, but not necessarily to the person you stipulate.

Seems too cumbersome for even our government to come up with. I can think of a several safe work-arounds, if they would or do allow it.

Can anybody confirm this and is there a work-around?

Thanks!!

Carolina Riot
www.carolinariot.com

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"When you're in command, command!"-Vice Admiral William F. "Bull" Halsey Jr. (WWII)

I am not sure where you heard that or how true that is but I always received packages directly from friends and family with no problem at all. Again that was back in Sept 07-Jan 08 so this could be something new but if it is I am pretty sure I would of heard about it by now. I know that there are several organizations that do such things as sending care packages much like the USO does. Programs like America Supports You. Now I have heard that they want you to becareful when you send things because of the reason you stated above. Like dont miss-spell names or addresses. Even to be careful with over postage and leaky fluids.

Strength in numbers only means more for me to kill.

Been in Afghanistan for 15 months and still to this day receiving packages sent directly to me!!! So I'm throwing the BS card on this one!!!!!!! (Oh ya Im an MP and the Mail handeler too so I would know about this one) LOL

Nix has a package.. Dont inspect it...

Do you guys really open every package?

Blackhearts
Engineer @ Large
"Creating complex solutions to simple problems"

Hey, I was just repeating what I heard on the local talk radio. Sounds like the USO is trying to build up its importance.

Carolina Riot
www.carolinariot.com

Proudly Sponsored by SC Army Surplus
www.scarmysurplus.com

"When you're in command, command!"-Vice Admiral William F. "Bull" Halsey Jr. (WWII)

Not an authority on the issue..... but I believe what they are refering to is the regulation that bans the practice of labeling a package as "any soldier".

A lot of folks used to send generic packages to "any soldier", "any male soldier" and "any female soldier", but they stopped accepting mail addressed that way sometime in 2004 while I was over there, due to security concerns.

You now have to specifically address the package to someone on the command, or it will not be delivered. The way around this is to work though AnySoldier.com

The organization will put you in touch with local base representatives & you can send the packages to them, with "Attn: Any Soldier" in the address. The local representatibve distrubutes the items to the folks who want/need the materials.

Hope that helps.

That's probably what they were talking about--Thanks for the info!!!

Carolina Riot
www.carolinariot.com

Proudly Sponsored by SC Army Surplus
www.scarmysurplus.com

"When you're in command, command!"-Vice Admiral William F. "Bull" Halsey Jr. (WWII)

Yeah if I received a package while I was out there with "Any Soldier" on it.... I may be a little concerned and would never open it lol.

Strength in numbers only means more for me to kill.

nope- thats not it either.

we get ANY MARINE, and ANY SOLDIER pkgs all the time. i open them... it might be a bomb... but it also MIGHT be girl scout cookies... i'm aware of the risk. =)\
individual mail still arrives as usual too- so i'm not sure what they're talkin about. our only safety concern with mail is the address labels. we burn them.