By guest blogger, Captain Scott McLearn, U.S. Army.

 

 

Having served two tours in Baghdad, Iraq, I can attest to how important electronics are for a soldier who’s eager to connect with family and friends back home, especially over the holidays.

Thankfully, following a sixteen-month tour which overlapped with the last two holiday seasons, I will be home this year to celebrate with loved ones. This makes me very happy. However, I will be sure to reach out to those currently serving and, thanks to technology, it is easier now than ever before. I encourage you to do the same.

Here are four simple ways to reach out to a soldier to let them know you are thinking about them:

1. E-mail – this may seem impersonal but a simple e-mail – even general e-mails from complete strangers – can really lift a soldier’s spirits.

2. Digital photographs – it is so nice to see photos of friends and family and it is so easy to share via e-mail and cell phones. Plus this gives the soldier the sense of being back with you and not missing out on so much, as is often the feeling while deployed.

3. Digital videos – again, this is a great way to show your support and it is an excellent way to keep us in the loop with family and friends.

4. Skype/Video conference – Hook up your webcam and call us from your computer. This way we can hear you and see you in real time. So cool. There are several other programs which offer this same service such as; Windows Live, MSN messenger, and AOL. You both will need computers, internet connections, webcams, microphones and some sort of speakers or headphones but the personal feeling of a meeting of this fashion is well worth it.

If you’d like to send a care package, be sure to check out the 2008 Military mail holiday mailing dates and here are a few suggested gifts that any soldier would appreciate:

1. Headphones or ear-buds – These are often the first thing to break or get lost over there and it’s hard to find replacements.

2. Headlamp/reading lamp – You may have seen these (elastic bands with a light mounted on top) in the store and thought to yourself who would ever want one of these strange contraptions. Well a person with limited or no electricity who likes to read or move around at night loves these.

3. Pocket flashlights – Yep similar to the aforementioned but slightly different variety. These items are also at a premium over there. They are slightly more useful for actual operations and slightly less comfortable to read with, but much appreciated all the same.

4. Movies or television shows on DVD – while easy to watch back home, the new releases are often never heard of in some regions of the world. Also a favorite television series back home is something that most soldiers have to do without for the duration of the deployment. Either of these gifts not only will lift the spirits of the soldier but it will make them very popular with others deployed with them.

5. Reading materials – Though not a gadget, definitely worth a mention are gifts of magazines and books as a way to keep in touch with the happenings of the outside world or completely taking a break from it.

If you are currently deployed serving our country, be safe, thanks for your sacrifice and if you are interested in something for the holidays for yourself or for someone else talk to your Chaplain. Or if you are located on a large enough facility contact your local MWR. Both of these generally have a steady supply of gifts which they often have trouble distributing to soldiers who could use them.

 

 

 

 

Capt. Scott McLearn is the brother of CEA staffer Molly McLearn. Earlier this year Molly traveled to North Carolina to welcome Scott back from his tour in Iraq.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, December 4th, 2008 at 6:22 pm and is filed under Digital Photography, How To, Wireless Communications. Reply to this post, or trackback from your own site. Follow responses to this entry through the comments RSS feed.