Something that makes me wonder

[siercia]

I've heard a number of people talking about supporting troops overseas by sending them care packages, and I think it's certainly on of the best things we can do to show our feelings of support. Today, following a link that cranapril posted on TIM, I found a list of suggested items, and I'm more than a little confused.

Some of the items on the list make a lot of sense - current magazines, candy, girl scout cookies. You know, typical care package kind of stuff. But some of it, I look at, and can't figure out why it isn't being supplied for them - things like tampons and pads, soap and shampoo, toilet paper, sunscreen? These aren't little luxuries, they're necessities. If units are in a position to still be receiving mail (i.e., they're not completely unreachable in the middle of combat), why aren't these being supplied to them like their food and uniforms?

It seems that most of the things on the list seem to ride the middle of the line - food items like granola bars, ramen noodles and hot cocoa aren't needed, since we do, generally feed our soldiers. But I'm sure they make life a lot nicer, since I doubt army food is all that great to eat. Anything that makes you feel closer to home has got to be good when you're so far away.

If this just reveals some essential ignorance on my part as to how the Army operates, well, feel free to smack me with a clue-by-four

Comments

[khaosworks.livejournal.com]

I don't know about the US Army, but when I was in the Singapore Armed Forces, toiletries weren't standard issue (toilet paper, yes, but that was communal), except for talcum powder. There isn't much scope for bathing or showering in the field anyway, so when we were on exercises we usually did the "powder bath" thing by powdering ourselves down to keep us free from sweat and rot. When we were in camp, we provided our own shampoo, soap and even shavers. I have no direct experience with sanitary pads, so I can't comment on that.

[siercia]

Fair enough. I can see a number of reasons why that might be, but I still can't help feeling that if we're sending people far enough away from home that they can't purchase supplies for themselves, that the army should be doing something to make them available. Who knows. I can hardly pretend to be a military strategist or planner =)

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I'm with you. I think it's really irresponsible that we would send people into the /desert/ without sunscreen or chapstick.

[siercia]

Yeah. I mean, even if it weren't supplied free of charge, I would think we should have SOME mechanism in place where it could be purchased or ordered when the supplies brought from home ran out. How hard could it be to evaluate the necessities of an operation like this and plan for it?

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

You would think that with all of the money they're trying to levy for this war, they could use a fraction of it to get our soldiers the necessary supplies. It's not like the US has never been there before. It's not like they don't know what's needed.

It just seems like there's /no/ regard for anything in this. :(

[metalliman502.livejournal.com]

I too, agree with you. it seems that we spend billions of dollars each year and building the most up to date and hi tech equipment. why can't the freaken government fork over a few bucks for sanitry supplies. of course i'll never see the government point of veiw cause as the old saying goes " i can't see things from your point of veiw cause i can't get my head that far up my ass!!!!!!!!" have a good one sis

[magnummom.livejournal.com]

As someone who's lived on far too many Army bases, I can assure you the troops would probably much rather have care packages of even basic supermarket toilet paper compared to what the Army would give them. ;)

But yes, care packages should be for little luxuries and goodies, not for basic items for tending to health and hygiene.