Military Care Package Ideas for Deployed Women

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Unless you’ve deployed as a woman wearing a uniform, shoes and equipment designed for men, you’ll never know how heavenly it is to receive a military care package designed specifically for a woman.
As a female veteran, I do know first-hand how meaningful a military care package for women is and creating one is just as much fun to make as it is to receive.

open box with yellow interior and care package items in the box and on table

Veterans Day is on November 11th and November is National Military Family Month, so this is the perfect time to create a military care package. But there are also 11 other perfect months and 365 perfect days to create care packages for our military troops.

Not only am a female veteran and have deployed, but my father, brother, husband, 2 uncles and 4 cousins are all veterans, with most of them having deployed. You could say I know a little bit about sending care packages for troops, what is truly appreciated, what you shouldn’t send and insider tips.

When you’re deployed, you truly appreciate gifts from home. It’s wonderful to know that someone is thinking of you. The excitement of opening a gift and a military care package can lift your spirits for days.

Many of the most appreciated and needed items are the same for men and women, but there are some unique items you can include for a woman to thank her for her service and meet her unique needs.

Female military members are proud of their service and all that they achieve in a male-dominated career field. You’ll rarely hear a complaint from female military members. I will tell you that it really means a lot to receive a care package with items that are meant for a specifically for a woman. She will never forget her feminine side, even while wearing utility uniforms designed for men and working in a predominately male environment. It is a wonderful luxury to be able to feel feminine once in a while while deployed.

The purpose of a military care package is to provide items that are needed, wanted and will be a treat. Here are ideas of items to include for women in all three of those categories.

Military Care Package Ideas for Deployed Women

Personal Care Items for Deployed Women

Avoid products with strong scents, but do look for products designed for women. Look for fun colors and designs. When she is working hard every day and and living in an environment of camouflage, black, green and brown, it’s nice to have something bright and cheerful, designed for a woman’s specific needs and preferences.

Various brightly colored personal care items for a military care package for deployed women
  • Feminine Hygiene Products – Tampons and individually wrapped panty liners are most appreciated. It’s easier to carry individually wrapped items in the range of complicated situations she faces when deployed.
  • Tissues
  • Baby Wipes
  • Wash Cloth & Towel
  • Loofah with the Soap Already Inside (It’s the yellow loofah above with the little white pieces of soap. How cool is that?!)
  • Lip Balm – these Korean lip balms are an excellent choice
  • Lotion
  • Sunscreen
  • Eye Drops
  • Foot Powder
  • Nail Clippers and Emery Boards
  • Disposable Razors
  • Toothbrushes, Tooth Paste, Dental Floss

If you prefer to purchase a care package, there are many great options for both women and men. These CrateJoy subscription boxes can be sent just one time or on a recurring basis.

soldier in uniform in front of American flag with text about subscription box service

Hair Care Items for Deployed Women

Some deployed women choose to cut their hair, but not all do. And even when she does cut her hair shorter, she often still needs hair care accessories. Choose functional accessories in brown, black or conservative colors.

Desert military hat with women's hair care products scattered around

Snacks for a Deployment Care Package

Don’t send homemade treats in your military care package, especially to people you don’t know. She’ll have to throw them away for safety reasons. It’s best to send store-bought items. Also, don’t send candy that will melt in high temperatures.

brightly colored candy and treats scattered around with package of yellow napkins

Individually packaged items are great because it makes it easy to keep food fresh and to carry with her.

  • Cheese Crackers and Peanut Butter Crackers
  • Crackers, Especially Flavored
  • Cookies
  • Small Boxes or Bags of Cereal
  • Individual Bags of Chips and Pretzels
  • Canned Shelf-Stable Dips
  • Instant Soups in a Cup
  • Condiments in Individual Serving Sizes
    • Hot Sauce
    • Mustard, Ketchup, Relish
    • Soy Sauce
    • Peanut Butter
    • Jelly

If you’re not a baker, these are truly delicious cookies that are a great option (and that I eat (almost) every day!).

Fun Items for a military care package for women

Entertainment

As busy as you are when you’re deployed, there’s also down time. It’s invaluable to have things to do for entertainment. The options for entertainment are often limited.

Look for entertainment options marketed for women. You’ll be surprised how many products have a version designed for women.

I linked to items below that are pink, Wonder Woman themed, floral or otherwise designated as designed for women. Bright, happy colored items are always a good choice, too.

If your military member interacts with local children and families, it’s fun to include some small toys that she can hand out. Choose toys that are universally understood, modest and don’t require batteries.

Personal Note

Whether you know the deployed military woman or not, be sure to include a friendly, encouraging note. If you have children, include drawings. There’s nothing more pure and uplifting than a child’s drawing. You might be surprised to know how many are hung up on walls all around the world by deployed troops.

Creative Care Package Notes – Make the next care package you send even more special with a creative themed care package note. With 48 different notes, there’s something for every situation and every person on your care package list.

48 different brightly colored printable notes for care packages

What Not to Send in a Military Care Package

Be sure to check with the post office for mailing restrictions by country and also check for any mailing restrictions to a specific APO/FPO address. When in doubt, error on the side of caution. Place items that could leak in zippered plastic bags to secure the contents of your military care package.

  • No Glitter
  • No Homemade Baked Goods
  • No Chocolate
  • No Political Shirts or Items
  • No Shirts or Items with Curse Words
  • No Alcohol
  • No Pornography
  • Nail Polish
  • Nothing Flammable, Corrosive or Hazardous
decorated with bright yellow gift box with "Thank you! You're my shero" tag

Decorate the Box

Take a little extra time to decorate the box and make the surprise of opening a military care package even more special for her.

Add her favorite color to the the box. If you don’t know her favorite color, bright yellow (like the yellow ribbons to remember deployed military members) is a perfect choice.

“You’re my shero.” Get it? She-ro, like hero. I wish I could take credit for that, but I can’t. I do think it’s a fun way to say thank you to a female military member.

You can download the “You are my shero” sign now and add it to your decorated military care package box.

Pin now so you can find these military care package ideas for deployed women for all the many times you want to send a care package.

See all of my care package ideas in the table below. You can scroll though the table and look for ideas or search for specific ideas with the magnifying glass in the upper right-hand corner (on desktop). Click on the topic and then click through the specific article.

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15 Comments

  1. I am interested in sending care packages to deployed military women, but I don’t know any. Is there a list of women wanting and or needing a package? Thanks
    Shirley

    1. Shirley, I’m so excited that you’re going to be sending care packages! You can find deployed troops signed up at anysoldier.com . You can search for female troops.

    2. Soldiers angels is a great organization that I’m in. You pick a new SHERO every month to send a box to. They have many other opportunities to help our military members and families,

  2. Thank you to a new navy mom for a girl who is now deployed any other ideas for a young lady in the Navy they can be sent but otherwise you did a very good job in helping me make sure she has a beautiful package thank you again

    1. Thank you for your daughter’s (and your family’s) service! I’m so glad that you found these tips helpful.

  3. I am putting a personal care package for a female soldier who is not over seas. As part of my package, I wish to send along a pair or two of sock but am not sure what to look for. Long or ankle, thin or thick, etc. and where to buy them. Suggestions?

    1. Thick socks are always appreciated. Google the authorized color for the service she is in to see what socks to get. Also, quality cotton athletic socks are helpful for all the PT that she will be doing.

  4. My soldier is stationed at Ft Bragg for the next two years as a bus driver. As it is getting chillier, my wife is going to crotche two scarves to put into her Christmas care package since she is not coming home for the holidays. One scarf will be OD green. My first question is this, her favorite color is royal blue. Is that enough of a conservative color so she won’t get in trouble?

    Also, I found a royal blue color body soap at Bath and Body Works but is scented. Again is that acceptable?

    1. That’s so thoughtful. She’ll be touched by the gifts. The scented bath soap should be fine. The scarf will not be allowed with her uniform, but she could wear it with her civilian clothes. Another idea would be to put a small stripe of blue where she could hide it while wearing her uniform.

  5. I just signed up for the Ladies of Liberty program through Soldiers Angels and was looking for ideas that were specifically for woman. This post was soooo helpful. Thanks for all you do!

    1. I’m so glad to hear that, Patti! Thank you for your generosity in sending care packages to our troop and in particularly our female troops!

  6. Thank you, my granddaughter is in the navy and just got deployed now in July. She’s only 20 and I want to send her a care package. Always glad to hear ideas!

    1. Please thank your granddaughter for her service, Mary! She’s going to greatly appreciate receiving your care package!😊

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