By Kayleen Holder and Catherine Richard
Did you know that the US has more than 200,000 air, ground, and naval personnel deployed overseas? Key areas of deployment include approximately 5,000 in Africa, approximately 100,000 in Europe, approximately 10-15,000 in Southwest Asia, and more than 80,000 in East Asia (2024), according to the CIA’s World Fact Book which can be accessed online.
The World Factbook defines “deployed” as a permanently stationed force or a temporary deployment of greater than six months. Paramilitaries, police, contractors, mercenaries, proxy forces, and deployments smaller than 100 personnel are not included in these figures. The numbers provided are estimates.
With the 23rd anniversary of 9/11 and the beginning of the War on Terror having just passed and with the approach of Veteran’s Day, Americans can take this time of remembrance and support the service members that are currently serving their country.
There are a few programs in place designed to bring encouragement to deployed service members. Some organizations offer letter-writing programs, where personal letters can be sent in care packages to service members. Other organizations take donations and send out packages to either specific individuals or to an unspecified unit that requests them. Listed below are a few of these organizations.
For the Troops offers a letter program along, where donated handwritten letters can be shipped with a care package. To create these care packages, donations for are accepted at P.O. Box 12, Simi Valley, CA 93062 Headquarters: 2960 Cochran Street, Simi Valley, CA 93065.
The site has a “Troops Wish List” and suggests sending the following:
Hand Sanitizer, Small Size
Granola, Power Bars, Oatmeal
Dried Fruit, Raisins, Nuts
Tuna, Chicken, Chili, Stew
Gum, Hard Candy
Chocolate Candy
Presweetened Powdered Drink Mix (Individual Size)
Coffee or Tea, Individual Size
Cotton Swabs, Loofahs
Shampoo, Lotions, etc.
Beef Jerky (no pork), Snack Size
Trail Mix, Pop Tarts, Snak Items
Applesauce, Fruit Cups, Snack Size
Peanut Butter & Jelly, Individual Size
Dried Asian Noodles, Soup
Puzzlebooks, Small Games, Comic Books
Magazines, Newspaper Comics
Stationery Items, Pens, Greeting Cards
Feminine Hygiene Products
Tubes of Sunscreen, Dental Products Athlete Socks, Black or Brown
Additional items can be found on an Amazon Registry. For more details, visit forthetroops.org.
Operation Shoebox delivers care packages to deployed troops. Care package items such as non-perishable snacks, toiletries, games and books, can be donated along with handwritten encouraging letters. They also have a candy donation program, where extra Halloween candy can be sent to 8360 East Hwy 25, Belleview, FL 34420 (see website for candy donation form). For more details, visit operationshoebox.com.
Operation Gratitude sends out care packages to service members and gifts to the families. Packages can be sent to a loved one in the military. In their care packages, they include donated hand-written letters. Their website has downloads for coloring pages for children who want to send something as well Letters can be sent to Operation Gratitude 19748 Dearborn Street Chatsworth, CA 91311. For more information, visit operationgratitude.com.
These are just a few of the many organizations that have made it their mission to support troops who are serving a long way from their homes.