Nothing says home to deployed military personnel like a care package. Filled with treats, necessities, and greetings, a care package can be a huge morale booster for those far from home - especially during the holidays. Before you package up your goodies, or for those who are considering adopting a service man or woman, there are some important guidelines to follow to ensure the smooth shipping and receiving of your package. To begin, what do service personnel really need and want? The list below highlights not only the necessities, but also fun items that might be hard for deployed personnel to come by on their own.

Far from home, special occasions such as birthdays and holidays are especially hard for deployed military. There are a myriad of items family and friends (and even strangers) can send in care packages that are great fun and help pass the time for the many men and women who are deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, and points around the world. As important as it is to know what to send, it's also equally important to know what not to send to deployed overseas military. Do not include pressurized items, such as shaving cream, which can burst enroot.