Hikersupply.com goes to the Sandbox!

[Twofiddy]

I had a few orders for Jet Boil stoves come in from APO addresses. The last order, I figured that I would toss in a few bumper stickers, and bribe the recipiant with a few XXX mags to place a few ads (bumper stickers) on some of our country's finest equipment.

Well here ya gohttp://www.thesleepforum.com/sandbox.jpg

I dont know exactly what that vehicle is called, but the equipment inside, and the guys that drive it clear the road side bombs and IEDs. These guys are in danger every day.... Anyone who wants to send them a few titty mags, a lb of coffee for their jet boil stoves, or a backpacking meal or two to cook in the jet boil, the APO is...

xxxxx xxxxxxxxx
xxxxxx xxx xxx xxxx
xxx xxxxxxxx
xxx xx xxxxx

CONTACT TWOFIDDY FOR ADDRESS

PS, these guys love hot sauces, and other unique spices etc to spruce up the ramen that they normally cook in the stoves.

Let show em what the hiking community calls trail magic!!

[Blissful]

Not sure why you are asking to send our guys those kind of mags ---????
but I honor what they are doing for sure and hope there are other things better to send them literature-wise. Thanks for listing the other items.

[max patch]

Not sure why you are asking to send our guys those kind of mags ---????


Alcohol, pork, and porn were specifically prohibited to be mailed to the troops last time I checked.

[Appalachian Tater]

Not sure why you are asking to send our guys those kind of mags ---????
but I honor what they are doing for sure and hope there are other things better to send them literature-wise. Thanks for listing the other items.I doubt that the xxx mags are to satisfy their need for literature, they want to look at pics. No doubt they have sexual frustrations and it is very unlikely that there is much dating with the local women like there might be in a non-Muslim country. They could look at porn on the internet but wouldn't have any privacy while doing so.

Women's brains respond differently to nude photos of potential sexual partners so it is difficult for them to understand why men like porn. it is a very interesting subject.

[Jack Tarlin]

Oh, for heaven's sake, folks, let's get past the remark about periodicals and focus on the big picture: Fiddy's doing something very nice for some of the troops, and I hope some folks here are inspired to help him out with this.

Way to go, Fiddy.

[Lone Wolf]

I doubt that the xxx mags are to satisfy their need for literature, they want to look at pics. No doubt they have sexual frustrations and it is very unlikely that there is much dating with the local women like there might be in a non-Muslim country. They could look at porn on the internet but wouldn't have any privacy while doing so.

Women's brains respond differently to nude photos of potential sexual partners so it is difficult for them to understand why men like porn. it is a very interesting subject.

he's an expert on porn, soldiers and women's brains now too. christ :rolleyes:

[Frolicking Dinosaurs]

My grandson-in-law is in Iraq and porn & alcohol are items the armed forces has asked not be sent. Pork is served on the bases so I doubt it is a problem. I have not seen pork listed as an item not to send.

[Alligator]

I'm not trying to add any more rain to this parade, but should a soldier's address be posted like this? I was personally told by a civilian working overseas to be tight-lipped about this type of information.

[StarLyte]

If someone put my bumper sticker on their machinery like that I think I'd be jumping up and down and they wouldn't be able to shut me up for a year. :banana

I'm going to mail him and his friends a real sweet package.

Thanks for posting this...it made my day.

I'm from a big military family and they appreciate it too.

Love to all :sun

[theinfamousj]

Not that I'm advocating breaking the rules or anything, but when my boyfriend was over in the sandbox (Iraquistan as he calls it since he was deployed to both fronts), he said that folks from home would frequently re-cover adult magazines with Popular Mechanics or Newsweek covers.

For those not understanding why XXX are being requested to be sent: they are a form of currency. And the way he explained it is that at least the females in the magazines know that they are going to be oggled by the masses. I'd suspect that the wives/girlfriends/etc who sent risque photos of themselves to their SOs did not know that those would be passed around as well. And he assures me that they are. (Mind you, I did not take kindly to the invasion of privacy that he was informing me of.)

[River Runner]

Great idea to send on some 'sandbox' magic. My son-in-law was over there, and I know one thing he appreciated was energy drink mix (the individual sticks that come in a box of 10 or so and can be added to a bottle of water).

I won't be sending any XXX magazines, but will try to get together a box of drink mixes and a few other things. I donated some things to go to the troops at Christmas, but it's about time to express my appreciation again. Thanks for the reminder.

[Panzer1]

Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles are a family of armored fighting vehicles (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armored_fighting_vehicle) designed to survive IED (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Improvised_Explosive_Device) attacks and ambushes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambush). IEDs cause the majority (63%) of US deaths in Iraq.[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRAP_%28armored_vehicle%29#cite_note-0) There is no common design; there are several vendors, each with a competing entry.[2] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRAP_%28armored_vehicle%29#cite_note-1) Brig. General Michael Brogan (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Michael_Brogan&action=edit&redlink=1) of the United States Marine Corps (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps) is in charge of the MRAP program, for which the Marines are the lead service.[3] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRAP_%28armored_vehicle%29#cite_note-2) The Marine Corps had planned to replace all HMMWVs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMMWV) in combat zones with MRAP vehicles, although this appears to have changed.[4] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRAP_%28armored_vehicle%29#cite_note-3)[5] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRAP_%28armored_vehicle%29#cite_note-4)[6] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRAP_%28armored_vehicle%29#cite_note-5)[7] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRAP_%28armored_vehicle%29#cite_note-6) As armored vehicles are considered an "urgent need" in Iraq and Afghanistan, this program is primarily funded under an "emergency war budget". On 2007 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007)-05-08 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_8) Defense Secretary Robert Gates (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Gates) stated that the acquisition of MRAPs are the Department of Defense (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Department_of_Defense) highest priority, [8] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRAP_%28armored_vehicle%29#cite_note-7) so for fiscal year (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiscal_year) 2007 US$ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_dollar)1.1 billion is earmarked for MRAP .[9] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRAP_%28armored_vehicle%29#cite_note-8)
Several criticisms of the MRAP program have been its lack of a common design, which presents a wartime logistical challenge, the vehicle's inability to withstand EFP attacks (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Explosively_formed_penetrator), and the relatively few number of units which have been delivered to Iraq and Afghanistan, despite large orders.[10] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRAP_%28armored_vehicle%29#cite_note-9) However, some analysts see the diversity of MRAP vehicles as an advantage.[11] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRAP_%28armored_vehicle%29#cite_note-10) Other criticisms include the vehicle's weight and size, which severely limit its mobility off main roads, in urban areas, and over bridges.[12] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRAP_%28armored_vehicle%29#cite_note-11) Its heft also restricts several of the vehicles from being transported by C-130 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C-130) cargo aircraft. Although three MRAP vehicles will fit in a C-17 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C-17) aircraft, airlifting is extremely expensive at $750,000 per vehicle, estimated by the U.S. Transportation Command.[13] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRAP_%28armored_vehicle%29#cite_note-12) For comparison, sealifting costs around $13,000 per vehicle, but takes between three and four weeks for the vehicle to arrive in theater.[14] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRAP_%28armored_vehicle%29#cite_note-13)[15] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRAP_%28armored_vehicle%29#cite_note-14) For these reasons, in December 2007, the Marine Corps reduced its request from 3700 vehicles to 2300.[16] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRAP_%28armored_vehicle%29#cite_note-15) The Army is also reassessing its MRAP requirements in Iraq although there is no sign that they intend to reduce the number of vehicles it intends to procure as additional vehicles may be sent to Afghanistan where commanders are requesting them.[17] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRAP_%28armored_vehicle%29#cite_note-16)[18] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRAP_%28armored_vehicle%29#cite_note-17)

[Skidsteer]

Temporarily closed until we can figure out if it's cool to publicly list addresses of service people.

Anybody that wants to send care packages can PM Twofiddy for the addresses. Sorry for the hassle.

[SGT Rock]

Yes, I hate to rain on the forum, but DoD policy is to not have soldier's addresses made public for security reasons. Here is what I suggest:

1. Change the original post to say "contact me via PM for his address"

2. Re-open the thread. If someone wants to get the address they should say something like: Twofiddy, check your PMs for message sent.

This solution is similar to how we handled it when I was over the last time.

As to shipping items. Alcohol is forbidden, so is porn. Pork is discouraged, but you can get pork all you want over there these days. In fact, you can get almost anything over there these days - candy, food, gear, clothing, etc. It isn't like OIF 1. My recommendation is to find out what the specific soldier wants or needs. I got lots and lots of general care packages full of candy. Luckily I was an advisor to the Iraqi Military and they love candy so it helped me get wasta.

I'll also say that if you send a guy porn or alcohol and he gets caught - he can get into big trouble depending on his chain of command. Be very careful if you plan to violate this as I am sure you wouldn't want to get anyone in trouble.

[Jack Tarlin]

Thanks, Rock for clearing this up, and thanx also to anyone who follows thru and contacts Fiddy and sends along a package.

[SGT Rock]

Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles are a family of armored fighting vehicles (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armored_fighting_vehicle) designed to survive IED (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Improvised_Explosive_Device) attacks and ambushes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambush). IEDs cause the majority (63%) of US deaths in Iraq.[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRAP_%28armored_vehicle%29#cite_note-0) There is no common design; there are several vendors, each with a competing entry.[2] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRAP_%28armored_vehicle%29#cite_note-1) Brig. General Michael Brogan (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Michael_Brogan&action=edit&redlink=1) of the United States Marine Corps (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps) is in charge of the MRAP program, for which the Marines are the lead service.[3] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRAP_%28armored_vehicle%29#cite_note-2) The Marine Corps had planned to replace all HMMWVs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMMWV) in combat zones with MRAP vehicles, although this appears to have changed.[4] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRAP_%28armored_vehicle%29#cite_note-3)[5] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRAP_%28armored_vehicle%29#cite_note-4)[6] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRAP_%28armored_vehicle%29#cite_note-5)[7] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRAP_%28armored_vehicle%29#cite_note-6) As armored vehicles are considered an "urgent need" in Iraq and Afghanistan, this program is primarily funded under an "emergency war budget". On 2007 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007)-05-08 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_8) Defense Secretary Robert Gates (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Gates) stated that the acquisition of MRAPs are the Department of Defense (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Department_of_Defense) highest priority, [8] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRAP_%28armored_vehicle%29#cite_note-7) so for fiscal year (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiscal_year) 2007 US$ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_dollar)1.1 billion is earmarked for MRAP .[9] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRAP_%28armored_vehicle%29#cite_note-8)
Several criticisms of the MRAP program have been its lack of a common design, which presents a wartime logistical challenge, the vehicle's inability to withstand EFP attacks (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Explosively_formed_penetrator), and the relatively few number of units which have been delivered to Iraq and Afghanistan, despite large orders.[10] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRAP_%28armored_vehicle%29#cite_note-9) However, some analysts see the diversity of MRAP vehicles as an advantage.[11] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRAP_%28armored_vehicle%29#cite_note-10) Other criticisms include the vehicle's weight and size, which severely limit its mobility off main roads, in urban areas, and over bridges.[12] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRAP_%28armored_vehicle%29#cite_note-11) Its heft also restricts several of the vehicles from being transported by C-130 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C-130) cargo aircraft. Although three MRAP vehicles will fit in a C-17 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C-17) aircraft, airlifting is extremely expensive at $750,000 per vehicle, estimated by the U.S. Transportation Command.[13] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRAP_%28armored_vehicle%29#cite_note-12) For comparison, sealifting costs around $13,000 per vehicle, but takes between three and four weeks for the vehicle to arrive in theater.[14] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRAP_%28armored_vehicle%29#cite_note-13)[15] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRAP_%28armored_vehicle%29#cite_note-14) For these reasons, in December 2007, the Marine Corps reduced its request from 3700 vehicles to 2300.[16] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRAP_%28armored_vehicle%29#cite_note-15) The Army is also reassessing its MRAP requirements in Iraq although there is no sign that they intend to reduce the number of vehicles it intends to procure as additional vehicles may be sent to Afghanistan where commanders are requesting them.[17] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRAP_%28armored_vehicle%29#cite_note-16)[18] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRAP_%28armored_vehicle%29#cite_note-17)
Yes, and given that this guy is Navy and is in an MRAP I will assume he is EOD attached to an Army route clearnance team. I trained some of these guys up last summer in Wisconsin. They are doing some crazy dangerous stuff.

[TFin04]

You may not be 'allowed' to send it but it is one of the most requested items. Wrap the mag in another cover and stuff it into a box with other stuff. It may or may not get there. Not that I've ever sent them or anything.......

Good on hikersupply.com for taking care of the men and women who are fighting for our freedoms.

[Micky]

Thanks for thinking of our troops over there. It's a great job they do.
My son is supposed to be on his way home for an 18 day leave. He was to leave yesterday and said it may take up to a week to get home.
Thanks agian
Micky

[Bulldawg]

Tell your son Thanks from me and my family Micky!

Thanks to you as well Rock. I for one appreciate what you and many others have done in defending our freedoms here at home.

[TFin04]

Tell your son Thanks from me and my family Micky!

Thanks to you as well Rock. I for one appreciate what you and many others have done in defending our freedoms here at home.
Let him know that there are men and women all over who want to thank him for his service, regardless of what our liberal media says.

Shake his hand and cook him a good BBQ dinner for me. ;)

[TwoForty]

Do you have to send the fuel by boat? How long does that take?

[sarbar]

Titty Mags is such a klassy way to put it. :rolleyes: Nice way to talk like you are oh...13.

You do realize that personal toiletries and food is appreciated as well? When I worked for the Asian importer we often sent care packages. And we followed all rules. Look, the rules are there for a reason. How about following them????

[Jack Tarlin]

Sarbar:

Without be-laboring this argument, I've sent a bunch of packages overseas at one time or another......and I've talked to plenty of guys who've been on the othe end.

Toiletries and food is of course appreciated. As are other things, including assorted periodicals, and to pretend otherwise is to ignore reality.

But let's let this thread serve it's original purpose: Twofiddy has done a good thing by starting this thread; Rock did a good thing by re-opening it. I urge everyone to read the original post, take a few minutes, and send along a Care package. Instead of bitching on the Internet about the content and appropriatenes of various magazines, let's remember what this thread is all about.

To those who take part in this effort, thank you.

[Lone Wolf]

Titty Mags is such a klassy way to put it. :rolleyes: Nice way to talk like you are oh...13.

You do realize that personal toiletries and food is appreciated as well? When I worked for the Asian importer we often sent care packages. And we followed all rules. Look, the rules are there for a reason. How about following them????

spank mags

[Mags]

spank mags

At first I was wondering: "What the hell did I do ?!?!?!".

Then I thought, upon reading the posts aboves: "That sentence sounds like some movies they sell in stores with curtained windows".

I further thought: "I'm gonna shut up now".

[TFin04]

Titty Mags is such a klassy way to put it. :rolleyes: Nice way to talk like you are oh...13.

You do realize that personal toiletries and food is appreciated as well? When I worked for the Asian importer we often sent care packages. And we followed all rules. Look, the rules are there for a reason. How about following them????

I've got a lot of respect for your sarbar for what you do for the hiking community and WB, but these men and women have volunteered to put themselves in harms way to fight an enemy that has vowed to kill every American man woman and child.

If they want to look at a playboy every now and then they have every right on this planet to do so. It's a little thing called 'Freedom.'

I have plenty of close friends and relatives over there. They have more toilet paper and toothpaste than they know what to do with.

[senache]

Who defines porn? To me, tittie mags aren't porn. It has to get pretty hard core before I think it crosses the line. Some people even figure Playboy is porn!
I'm a vet and if it hurts anything or anybody, why they don't have to look. Nobody's treing them down and forcing them to look. S

[SGT Rock]

The Army defines porn for purposes of screening. FHM = not porn. Playboy or harder = porn.

[Appalachian Tater]

As to shipping items. Alcohol is forbidden, so is porn.

I'll also say that if you send a guy porn or alcohol and he gets caught - he can get into big trouble depending on his chain of command. Be very careful if you plan to violate this as I am sure you wouldn't want to get anyone in trouble.


And we followed all rules. Look, the rules are there for a reason. How about following them????Sounds like good advice to protect the soldiers. It would be a shame for one of them to get into big trouble because somebody they didn't even know decided to do them a "favor".

[SGT Rock]

Thanks Tater, that is what I am hitting at.

I don't claim to be "clean" as I like my porn and adult beverages and even had some contraband myself. But, if you are trying to support a soldier... Well getting him into trouble ain't good. Some soldiers have already figured out the angles that are going to want to figure out the angle. If you are not a pro at it, please don't risk getting Joe or Jodie into trouble.

[Wise Old Owl]

ohh this is sad - who cares about this argument, I don't - send the folks what ever you can without breaking too many rules. folks get over it, many of you don't understand what it is like to be somewhere for 4 years and then come back.

Clueless.


Do the best you can for our freinds & family over there.

[oops56]

Thanks Tater, that is what I am hitting at.

I don't claim to be "clean" as I like my porn and adult beverages and even had some contraband myself. But, if you are trying to support a soldier... Well getting him into trouble ain't good. Some soldiers have already figured out the angles that are going to want to figure out the angle. If you are not a pro at it, please don't risk getting Joe or Jodie into trouble.

did you know your web site been down for over a week

[jesse]

Titty Mags is such a klassy way to put it. :rolleyes: Nice way to talk like you are oh...13.

Languague and banter that may not be offensive when around a bunch of guys, really doesn't belong on a boys and girls public forum.

[jesse]

Who defines porn? To me, tittie mags aren't porn. It has to get pretty hard core before I think it crosses the line. Some people even figure Playboy is porn!

everytime the subject of porn comes up sombody is going to make this stupid arguement.

[ScoutingFamily74]

O come on Rock, Don't be so hard. I wouldn't recommend anyone violating a federal law by sending alcohol through the mail to a soldier, but if you want to go ahead they will greatly appreciate it, I know I did!

Oh and porn, the wives do it all the time!

[sarbar]

I've got a lot of respect for your sarbar for what you do for the hiking community and WB, but these men and women have volunteered to put themselves in harms way to fight an enemy that has vowed to kill every American man woman and child.

If they want to look at a playboy every now and then they have every right on this planet to do so. It's a little thing called 'Freedom.'

I have plenty of close friends and relatives over there. They have more toilet paper and toothpaste than they know what to do with.

I have many friends who have served in Iraq. I grew up in a Navy town. My Father In Law is a retired Colonel who served for many years in Vietnam. So as one might see I didn't grow up in the turnip patch when it comes to military. I like so many appreciate what our soldiers do even when we do not agree with the reasons behind it.
But lets put it bluntly: our gov't has told us these things are NOT allowed. This isn't the Vietnam era where hard core mags, bottles of booze and cigarettes were ok. The soldiers in Iraq have a different set of rules to avoid insulting the locals.
Muslims do not appreciate porn (be it tasteful or hardcore) nor do they approve of drinking. And that is life. So be it. The soldiers can celebrate "freedom" once they get back home and read or watch all they want of it (and drink beer like crazy).
No one ever died from a lack of boobs. :rolleyes:
My buddy T. said that what he loved getting were the dorky packages. Things like the X-Mas stocking that I helped his girlfriend sew that was filled with candy. Dumb things that brightened his day. He survived without the other items (including beer) for 13 months of his life.

[sarbar]

spank mags
Lol!!!! When I lived in the Navy town the city had banned adult stores so all the c-stores sold them. Nothing like picking up a candy bar, a 7-Up and perusing the magazine rack - all but maybe 10 titles were hard core. The other 10 were gun and hunting magazines. And maybe Hot Rod. :p In the days before the Interwebs life was pretty entertaining.

[IceAge]

Go Navy!

I think your hunch is right Sgt Rock, looks like a Master EOD insignia above his pocket, pretty good for an E-6.

I tried getting into EOD when I was active, but the schools were always full. Hard to believe there are so many people willing to run TOWARD explosives, guess I'm not the only crazy one out there.

Cheers,
BU2 (AW) IceAge
Seabees Can Do!

[IceAge]

I should clarify for any Navy vets confused by the BU2 (AW) thing, I was an AO for quite a while and earned my EAWS then, I switched to the Seabees in the reserves.

[bfitz]

The thing my brother requested most was preparation H wipes. In his words, "those things are money".