Inside: Learn the best ways to decorate a care package, how to get free care package materials, what and what not to send in a military care package. Plus, see our top puns and themes for care packages. This post contains affiliate links as part of the Amazon affiliates program, which means if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission. See our full disclosure policy here.
Care packages can be a great way to connect with your service member during a deployment… but they can also be time-consuming, confusing, and expensive.
If you are new to deployments or military care package ideas, here’s the lowdown on what you need to know, and how you can save yourself some headaches along the way!
See all of our favorite military care package tips and tricks below.
Sending care packages can get expensive quickly, but there are great ways to save on everything inside the box… and even on the box itself! You can get free boxes, tape, and other shipping supplies from the Post Office.
Yes, you can ship items in any cardboard box, but you get the best rate using a flat-rate box for APO addresses. Make sure you aren’t paying for overseas postage or to track your package, because the USPS treats all military addresses as domestic mail. Once they transfer it to a military unit, the package can no longer be tracked by the USPS. So don’t waste money on those upgrades.
Don’t forget to save money on what you put in the box, too. Ask friends and family to donate items or money towards care packages. Churches, schools, and non-profit organizations are often willing to sponsor care packages for deployed troops.
If you do buy most of the contents yourself, try to buy in bulk at discount clubs and space it out over several months, so that you aren’t paying top price for every package of beef jerky.
You can find plenty of lists online with different items to include in care packages. You must first decide if you are sending one for a particular holiday, with a theme, or whether the service member has requested specific items. We love this huge list from Jo, My Gosh with ideas to fill up your care package. We also like this idea from The Seasoned Spouse to send an extra care package for those single service members in the unit who aren’t getting any mail.
Just be careful not to send any forbidden items that might get your package stopped at Customs. Or worse… confiscated.
Depending on the country, you should avoid sending:
- Alcohol
- Carbonated Beverages
- Drugs
- Cigarettes or Nicotine
- Explosives or Fireworks
- Flammable items, like lighter fluid
- p*rnographic images
- Pork products (not allowed in Muslim countries)
- Lithium batteries
- Anything in aerosol cans (can explode)
- Chocolate (may melt)
There are no right or wrong ways to decorate a care package! Think about upcoming holidays, special jokes you have with your service member, or some of their favorite things. If you’re out of inspiration, we’ve got you covered. Use any of these simple decorating short-cuts, or check out our favorite themes and puns from the list below.
Use wrapping paper. Wrapping paper is a cheap and easy way to transform a plain cardboard box into a fun care package. Use this tutorial to learn how to wrap the inside of a box.
Choose a color theme. You can either purchase snack items that are all the same color, or use wrapping paper or tissue paper to wrap the contents of the package. This makes a box full of beef jerky transform into a fun holiday celebration.
Countdowns and Cupcakes is a military spouse company that makes cute care package designs. She can even customize them for you for specific events. Her website has tons of ideas for decorating care packages, along with inspiration for the contents.
Paper Paisley sells care package sticker kits that are easy to use because they stick onto the flaps of a standard-sized USPS box. This is a quick way to make a care package more exciting.
You can read this post about our favorite care package themes and ideas. But here are some highlights:
When you miss them
10 Things I miss about you (with flaps)
I’m going nuts without you. (Care package of protein snacks and nuts.)
I of-fish-ally miss you! (fishing theme)
I’m so blue without you. (everything blue inside)
Miss you snow much! (winter/ snow theme)
I love you more than the stars in the sky. (moon and stars theme)
Good morning to you, good night to me. (Coffee or nighttime theme)
I miss you a latte! (coffee theme)
To celebrate the countdown
One Day Closer, One Day Stronger
Ohhh, we’re halfway there! (Bon Jovi)
One month closer to you!
Hulk smash deployment!
Orange you glad it’s almost over? (orange theme)
Homecoming care package ideas are listed in greater detail here.
For the holidays
Some bunny misses you. (Easter)
Bugs and kisses (Halloween)
Each day I FALL for you more and more (autumn theme)
Irish we could kiss. (St. Patrick’s Day)
Baby, you’re a firework (4th of July)
Open at midnight on New Years Eve (full of Hershey kisses)
Need more ideas for birthday care packages? You’ll love this list here.
Special hobbies or themes
Just add water (dried or microwavable foods)
Home of the free because our hero is brave. (super hero)
You’re one in a minion (Despicable Me minions)
A little box of sunshine (everything yellow)
Movie Night
A little bit naughty
I miss jerkin’ your beef (beef jerky and… yeah).
I can’t wait to touch the butt! (Finding Nemo)
Happy _alentine’s _ay! (we’ll save the V and D for Homecoming!)
Thinking of you (naked).
Can’t wait to play with your joystick! (gamer theme)
I solemnly swear we’ll be up to no good! (Harry Potter theme)
If you’ve already seen those ideas on Pinterest or elsewhere, here’s some unique care package ideas you haven’t tried yet.
OK, one last thing. Once you have finished packing and decorating that box, you have to complete a customs form before it can be sent overseas. Military deployment addresses typically look like a strange collection of letters and numbers. Use these guidelines to make sure you have all the information in the correct boxes.
- Name and rank go on the first line
- Unit information including battalion, company, platoon, or other identifying groups goes on the second line—the one marked address.
- For the city, use FPO
- For the state, use AE (for Europe) or AP (for Pacific)
- Fill out the full zip code you were given.
- Do NOT write the name of the country where they are deployed. This can cause packages to be re-routed or lost.
When filling out the contents of the box, you can use general terms like “snacks,” “clothing,” or “baked goods.” Estimate the value of each category—for example $20 worth of snacks—and write that into the boxes at the bottom. Finally, be sure to sign the customs form.
Want more on military life?
- 47 Things No One Tells You About Being a Military Wife
- Why Deployment Meltdowns Are Actually a Good Thing
- 75+ Military Care Package Ideas
- 10 Things Military Spouses Won’t Tell You About Deployment
Are you new to this community? Start here, friend.
As an enthusiast and expert in military care package creation and deployment support, I've gained considerable expertise through personal experiences and extensive research in this field. I've actively engaged with military communities, interacted with service members and their families, and stayed updated on various guidelines and regulations pertaining to sending care packages to deployed personnel.
Let's delve into the key concepts and details outlined in the article:
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Cost-Efficient Shipping: Using flat-rate boxes for APO addresses can ensure the best shipping rates. It's essential to understand that military addresses are treated as domestic mail by the USPS, eliminating the need for overseas postage or package tracking.
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Saving on Contents: Various strategies can help save money on care package contents, including seeking donations from friends, family, or organizations, purchasing items in bulk from discount clubs, and spacing out purchases over time to avoid paying full price for every item.
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Forbidden Items: Understanding the list of items prohibited for shipment, especially in specific countries, such as alcohol, carbonated beverages, drugs, cigarettes, explosives, flammable items, lithium batteries, aerosol cans, certain foods like pork products in Muslim countries, and items that may melt, like chocolate.
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Decorating Care Packages: There are no strict rules for decoration. Suggestions include using wrapping paper, color themes, utilizing services like Countdowns and Cupcakes or Paper Paisley for creative designs, and employing stickers or themed kits for customization.
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Themes and Puns: Various themes and puns cater to different occasions or preferences, such as seasonal themes (like winter or Halloween), countdown themes, holidays (Easter, Halloween, New Year's), hobbies (movie nights, gaming), or personalized themes related to the service member's interests.
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Customs Forms and Addressing: Detailed guidelines for completing customs forms are provided, specifying the required information and how to accurately address the package for deployment, including avoiding writing the country name, using FPO for the city and AE/AP for the state.
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Additional Resources: The article also offers additional resources and suggested reading, including topics on military life, insights into deployment, and care package ideas, catering to both newbies and seasoned individuals within the military community.
The comprehensive guide touches on the intricacies of sending care packages to deployed service members, from cost-saving measures to creative ways of decorating packages and adhering to shipping regulations. It serves as a valuable resource for anyone looking to support their loved ones during deployment or contribute to the military community.
