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Need help

(35 posts)

Started 3 months ago by Aunt Salad
Latest reply from Aunt Salad

Aunt Salad

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My son is in southern Afghanistan - I am expecting him home sometime this summer. We are hopeful for a smooth pull out of troups, but right now at his remote FOB (forward operating base) they have already started by not providing breakfast at all for the soldiers. There is a very small USO there where they have a crockpot and they are able to make hot oatmeal - enough to feed 10 troups each morning. They are asking for items that can get them through:

From their USO FB page " As for questions about donating, you can certainly send things for breakfast and snacks to us here. In addition to the oatmeal we can also use foam cups (we are now the only place to get hot coffee in the AM), sugar, creamer, hot cocoa, a big coffee urn, disposable tablecloths, papaer twoels napkins, raisins, brown sugar, microwave meals, packaged soup mix and any and all snacks, crackers, cookies, candy, jerky, etc. Thanks a million everyone!"

I suspect it will get harder as the pull out continues - by not serving lunch etc. If anyone is inclined to participate in getting items over to them, I would be so grateful for our soldiers - a small gesture means so much to them over there. You can reach me at sally rocks at rocketmail dot com place and thank you all in the community!

Posted 3 months ago #
biophile87

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This is completely outrageous. What possible reason can there be for not providing for our troops? Aunt Salad, I'd like to repost to my facebook. May I?

Posted 3 months ago #
phoo

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WTF about not feeding soldiers!! It's not cool to treat them worse than animals that get fed multiple times a day.

Do you have a regular schedule where you send a big package off? Is it ok to send things that are already open (like sugar, rice, pwd milk, etc), as long as it doesn't spill?

Posted 3 months ago #
biophile87

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Phoo, new is probably better, considering travel time and temperatures.

Posted 3 months ago #
phoo

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Some things age, but sugar or rice/grains aren't much affected. However, some folks won't accept opened food even if it is perfectly good or fresh.

Posted 3 months ago #
Mondoman

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I suspect that what AS means is that they are no longer providing a *cooked* breakfast instead of the MRE's or whatever they call the packaged stuff these days. I would guess that remote FOBs in Afghanistan are *much* more primitive than what we civilians usually think of as a "base".

That said, I'm glad AS reminded us that our troops there have needs and I'll be contacting her to offer some help.

Posted 3 months ago #
Aunt Salad

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They can have MRE meals only for breakfast there right now - so the small USO spot is it for anything hot in the morning. Biophile is correct - new is better - I swung by the PO and got a bunch of flat rate boxes to box things up. I always put things in plastic just in case too.

I suppose it is just the way they do things over there - we may not understand why, but your support is huge!!

Here is where you can send it if you want to do it on your own:

If you want to ship us some supplies, please send to DJ Stanhope, Center Manager USO FOB Sharana APO AE 09311. And thank you!

or if you all want to meet here and we do a group hug to the troups - we could meet here at my house this week

Posted 3 months ago #
SmartsyArtsy

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AS count me in to bring some supplies and pack with you.
What other kinds of things are good to sent. Powered eggs?
Do they have any way of baking muffins?
I suppose soups would be good. Nothing like soup for breakfast according to me.
energy bars?

Help with other ideas. Edit: sorry I got so pissed I didn't read the whole post.
I echo the outrage; it's making me tear up.

Posted 3 months ago #
crownhiller

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Huh - that seems like a mighty goofy way to run things, but then leave it to the military to cut corners in the least sensible ways - geesh!

A lot of what you list is available in bulk from places like Costco, especially all the paper product/cup type stuff. AS - do you have a friend with Costco membership? if not, I have one and would be more than willing to help out, though it would have be next week because I'm trapped in some work stuff all this week.

Posted 3 months ago #
Alonzo Neighbor

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This is really outrageous! Would it help to let the local news media know about this?

Posted 3 months ago #
Chickster

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In addition to Aunt Salad's list, here's another list with some the best stuff to send to the troops...

http://www.give2thetroops.org/items.htm

And a quick internet search brings up more info related to the change...

http://www.washingtonguardian.com/not-so-hot-breakfast

The Army has stopped serving cooked breakfasts to some of the U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan as part of its drawdown, a move that prompted troops to write home asking their families and friends to send care packages with cereal, breakfast bars and other foods.

The Army told the Washington Guardian the current cutbacks began Jan. 1, and affect about 2,700 soldiers deployed in forward operating bases in more remote areas of Afghanistan.

Officials said the reduction of cooked breakfasts and midnight meals is not related to the U.S. budget crisis, but rather is part of the effort to begin closing down U.S. operations in the affected areas and transition them to Afghan troops. The affected soldiers are being given packaged meals known as MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) as substitutes for a cooked breakfast, the officials said.

"As a part of the responsible draw down of operational forces serving in Afghanistan, my staff examined ways to reduce our footprint and set the conditions for the reduction of forces,” explained Col. Joe Wawro, an infantry commander for the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat team.

Wawro said military and civilian leaders collaborated on ideas and “estimated that by changing the meal cycle, they would reduce their overall operations by 40 percent” if breakfast and midnight snacks were converted from cooked options to MREs.

“After carefully examining all these inputs, I decided to modify the meal cycle as described above. This has absolutely nothing to do with the national budget and everything to do with our responsible reduction of forces,” he said.

Wawro said soldiers in the affected bases still get cooked lunch and dinners, and rely on MREs for breakfast and night snacks and that “most dining facilities have a variety of take-away items like cereal, milk juice, fruit, oatmeal, granola bars, etc. to augment the MREs.”

Bottom line: Thanks to the Obama drawdown, not budget cuts, U.S. troops will indeed be unable to get a hot breakfast while serving in Afghanistan and will instead be served packaged MREs.

Posted 3 months ago #
Aunt Salad

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I appreciate all your comments. We do what we can to help - I have a Costco card and I am thinking of sending my hotplate and some pans or even a toaster oven might be of use. Got a call into Amazon, will try Starbucks and Costco tomorrow at lunch to see if they can assist at all. I am afraid that this is what it was like in Iraq when we pulled out as well. They have to start somewhere I suppose. Our soldiers put up with a lot, but as a mom of a soldier it is hard not to do something!

Thanks for all your kind words and support!

Posted 3 months ago #
lakreitz

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Thank you for posting this request and I'd love to help out. I have a foodsaver and just got a bunch of bags. some of the suggested items might travel better if sealed, and when sealed, they take up a lot less space. I'll shoot you an email with my contact info.

Posted 3 months ago #
phoo

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If folks have produce they want to send, I have a dehydrator.

Posted 3 months ago #
Cate

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If they have a crockpot that makes oatmeal for 10, do they need another large crockpot as well? I would be happy to get them one if it would be useful.

Posted 3 months ago #
Aunt Salad

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I am waiting to hear back from over there if they need more crock pots - as you can imagine all the mothers of these soldiers who know about this will be sending a crock pot! I am thinking of down the road when lunch is next on the list - so maybe a griddle or toaster oven. They have a microwave.

Phoo - not sure about produce...will ask though

Posted 3 months ago #
SmartsyArtsy

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Just a thought... Are there current/voltage issues to consider in sending electronics?

Posted 3 months ago #
SmartsyArtsy

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Just a thought... Are there current/voltage issues to consider in sending electronics?

Posted 3 months ago #
phoo

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AS: Think dried fruit. Dried veggies and grains can be very helpful in making soup as well, but fruit can be used to spruce up oatmeal or eaten as a snack.

Posted 3 months ago #
Cate

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Aunt Salad - Would love to send a toaster oven to them, If I order it from Amazon will it get to them if I have shipped to the address you gave? (Oh, and since they are using crock pots I'm guessing the electrical issues are okay?) (Or would a large griddle be better?)

Posted 3 months ago #
Aunt Salad

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Cate, that is very kind of you - I am thinking a griddle - they could do eggs if they get some, pancakes, grilled cheese, etc. Amazon should be able to ship over there - let me know if you run into any issues with that. Thank You!!!

Posted 3 months ago #
Aunt Salad

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SA - no problems with voltage issues - they use what we do or converters if needed

Phoo - yes on the fruits, nuts, etc - think high protein but worried they might get sick of just oatmeal. Peanut butter, cans of chili or stew, beans, laughing cow cheese, etc.

Posted 3 months ago #
calliope

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AS-- I was planning on making a batch of granola this week - if you don't think it's too much like oatmeal, I can double/triple it and package it into ziplocks. If you have room, can I send it with some of your pkgs (or someone else)? I can drop it off later this week.

Sounds like they've got the coffee they need- but if starbucks is willing to donate I'd ask them to donate the instant kind. As a kayaker and camp coffee aficionado I've found this to be the most efficient method with limited resources (you can even make it with cold water in a nalgene in a pinch- if you like iced coffee or sometimes it's just about the caffeine).

Posted 3 months ago #
Aunt Salad

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Calliope - that would be great to have granola for them! You can get in touch with me if you see the first post. There is an offer for seal a meal bags that maybe we could use for the granola?

I got an answer that they have just gotten another crock pot, but if someone has a waffle iron that they don't need - they could use one. Also pancake mix (just add water) so they can have hot waffles would be great.

Posted 3 months ago #
phoo

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Don't forget - you can do eggs in a crockpot! You can make a sort of "omelette" or trifle (like an omelette but you layer bread and/or meat in it) in the crockpot. Works great to feed a crowd, just add a dozen eggs. :)

Posted 3 months ago #
michp

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I admire your enthusiasm and would like to point out it is not uncommon to go without eating or sleeping for days at a time in war zones. Hence why soldiers are given rations. In combat is not uncommon to go with no hot food for weeks at a time. Sleep is actually wanted more, eventually you get use to being hungry. Overly tired you make mistakes, sometimes lethal.

Posted 3 months ago #
iPlod

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You sleep better when you ain't hungry, michp.

Posted 3 months ago #
Cate

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michp - Our troops are not paid well and come home to an uncertain future after risking injury or worse. They do what is a physically demanding job in a difficult terrain and climate. Yes, I am pretty much a pacifist, but it is still clear to me that our troops deserve and have earned regular, hot, nutritious meals.

Posted 3 months ago #
allisonw

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Check your email, Sal.

Posted 3 months ago #
wally

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It's admirable that folks are helping out to get them hot breakfast, but michp was correct in noting that they are getting regular and nutritious meals via MREs. Just because that one meal a day isn't hot does not suddenly void all nutritional content. How many of you eat cold cereal most mornings?

And before y'all jump down my throat, I realize that MREs are monotonous and not very tasty. But that isn't the same as being deprived of a nutritional breakfast.

Carry on.

Posted 3 months ago #
Aunt Salad

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Thank you all for your good and positive thoughts and for getting in touch with me. I have at least 3 boxes of items for the USO there between you folks and my neighbors.

One of the things that helps a soldier carry on with their duties is the fact that folks back home care enough to send letters, and packages. It gives them something to look forward to and helps keep moral up in a bleak situation and poor conditions.

Thank you.

Posted 3 months ago #
Cate

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Aunt Salad - Estimated arrival date Feb 20 - March 04.
(There were 651 electric griddles on Amazon and being obsessive I read the details on over a hundred - I now consider myself an expert on griddles!)

Posted 3 months ago #
Aunt Salad

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Cate - you are a sweetie pie! I will pass it on! Thank You!

Posted 3 months ago #
Mondoman

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Amazon.com -- the United States' secret weapon! :)
Good job, Cate!

Posted 3 months ago #
Aunt Salad

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Just thought I would share a bit of my son's email to you all:

"We used to get 50 supply trucks a day, now we are getting 20 a week since we stopped protecting them and the Afghan army is protecting the trucks, they just run away when they get attacked. Be sure to thank the neighbors."

The need is still there! I got an email from my son earlier in the week and he said they are only eating one meal a day - now I know why.

Thank you to all who have gone out of your way to help - even if you don't believe in the efforts over there(trust me, many of us don't) but you believe in our soldiers - thank you. My e mail is in the first post if you would like to contact me directly.

Posted 2 months ago #