Marines and Sailors living at OP's ( Out Posts) are not located near to any facility such as a mess hall on base. They live daily on MRE's ( Meals Ready to Eat) which are freeze dried packaged meals provided by the military. We recently purchased 21 electric water pots. These coffee like 2 qt containers will boil water in a few minutes. Most of these OP's have limited electric. The goal is to send as many of these devices along with food products that only require hot water, such as Ramen Noodles, instant oatmeal, grits, EZ Mac & Cheese etc..
We must send MANY MORE of these electric water pots AND small microwaves-- along with ready to eat foods that they can easily heat with either of these appliances. Most of these desolate OP's do have small generators.
Our Marines and Sailors are trained to live on MRE's and rarely complain, however can you imagine how great it would be to have access to some "normal" types of food?
A few things we take for granted: Toilets--- are not available when you're in a remote Out Post. Toilet seats which are placed on a 5 gallon bucket are needed. Sorry to be blunt folks but these are items that are needed. These young warriors deserve these small comforts!
Showers: No showers in Afghanistan unless you live on a base. Our Grunts in remote Out Posts don't shower for months! They use baby wipes as their only source of hygiene. With the hot weather just upon them , temperatures will rise well over 120 degrees! They need solar showers desperately, they are sold in 5 and 10 gallon sizes. WE need to purchase as many of these showers as possible. I reiterate they deserve these items.
Cool neck ties: which cool down their body temperatures, we need thousands of these.
To have these items at their disposal will be greatly appreciated!!!
MOM 4R MARINES recently began sending items of support to the FET's ( Female Engagement Teams). Although the female Marines do not engage directly with combat they are equally active with their missions. We must also send our love and support to these brave and wonderful Female Marines.
Here is a response from a Female Marine sent to me recently:
The Fuji Instax cameras are continuing to be a hit with the locals. Recently the FETs visited the schools to give the teachers a class photo of them and the students so they could display them on the school walls. And
we've been able to provide many mother's pictures of their children for the first time in their lives. One lady was so proud that she was going to send it (albeit there isn't a mail system here) to her family in Pakistan. We are
down to about 20 packs of film, so if anyone wants to send film we will be happy to have what we can.
These are only a couple of MOM 4R MARINES endeavors for 2010. We Need your support!
Without all of YOU our past missions would never have been so successful. We are only the middle man YOU are a very crucial part of our organization.
These young warriors are giving so much of themselves they must see visually that we back home will never forget them and continue to send items which will lift their morale!
God Bless all our Military past and present.