Remembering Your Service Member During the Holidays

As the spouse of a deployed service member, remembering the holidays can be a difficult time. While I can't send a complete Christmas dinner in the mail, presents are always an easy choice to send, if you are able to get them in the mail early enough. A good rule of thumb is to send all holiday gifts to your service member at least a month ahead of time. While a nice Christmas sweater won't be of much use to someone in Iraq, or a pair of swim trunks aren't a good choice for someone stationed in Iceland, there are a few practical gifts that every service member will use and appreciate.

If ordering from an online retailer is easiest for you, there are a few that ship FPO/APO, but charge an outrageous amount of money in shipping charges. I personally recommend Figis and Books A Million. Some non-perishable items are available to order on Figis' website. They charge $1.95 extra in addition to the regular shipping costs to ship to FPO/APO addresses. I personally have ordered frosted cookies and they arrived to my husband in perfect condition. However, the best online company to send gifts from is Books A Million. If you order at least twenty-five dollars in books, and group your shipment to the same address, the shipping is free. I have used their service on several occasions, and the books arrive neatly packaged and damage-free. Should you choose to order from either company, I would order at least six weeks ahead of when you would like your recipient to receive their gift. This is especially important when ordering books, as sometimes they can be backordered.

Sometimes, it adds a more personal touch to send your service member a gift basket that you made up based on their needs. One thing to consider is their location. If you plan on sending a gift basket to someone who is stationed in a warm climate, there are a few things that are appreciated such as: sunscreen, Skin-so-soft to use as insect repellent, baby or personal cleansing wipes, and light colored clothing or a ball cap to wear during their free time. Service members stationed in colder climates can use hot cocoa mixes, a pair of winter civilian clothes to wear during their off time, and some vitamin C drops to help fend off a winter chill. Furthermore, everyone can appreciate a gift basket containing microwave meals in plastic cups, plastic cutlery, juice boxes, magazines, toiletries, and international telephone calling cards.

Finally, for the person whom you just don't know what to buy for there are e-gift certificates. If your service member has internet access, they make a great gift. If he or she has a favorite store, visit that store's online website and find out their shipping policies. Do they ship to FPO/APO addresses? If so, consider purchasing an e-gift certificate that will be emailed directly to your service member's email account. Then, they can select a gift of their choosing and have it shipped to their duty station or unit. To make the most out of your dollar, visit a site such as Military.com, and see which retailers are military-friendly. Many, such as Barnes and Noble.com, offer a six percent discount and free shipping link through Military.com's site.

Whatever gift option you decide for your service member, know that they will appreciate anything that you select for them. While Christmas dinner may be served on a ship, in a tent, or out in the field, there is no substitute to seeing the joy on a person's face knowing someone back home remembered them during the holiday season.