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The Necessities to Complete a Six Month Deployment
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When personnel receive word that they are deploying to the desert, they immediately think they will be isolated from civilization, lack what are considered the necessities, and be overwhelmed with boredom. Seabees of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 4 arrived in Camp Arifjan, Kuwait at the beginning of August prepared for a long six month deployment.
But, their discouragement was turned upside down when they found cable television in their room and normal fast food restaurants like Kentucky Fried Chicken, Taco Bell, or Pizza Hut outside their door.Most "missing necessities" can still be found here in Kuwait, such as toiletries, soda, candy, electronics, clothing and a stocked Post Exchange.
Many of these normal things can help homesickness that everyone tends to feel from time to time.However, there are things that cannot be replaced, such as favorite clothing items or for some their favorite specialty products such as hair supplies. "Chief Ramey would want hair gel" jokes Command Master Chief Austin Leedom.
These things are irreplaceable simply because they mean more than just having more food to eat, clothes to wear, or more shampoo; instead they represent life at home, the people who are waiting patiently, and further boost morale to continue on and complete the mission and return home safely. "The best care packages I have seen have been, those homemade brownies from the wife," Seaman Apprentice Zane Ingram said. "Other things that helped are my favorite shirt that still smells of home or a picture from an event I missed. Cards and letters are special too. Yes email is quick, but a card or letter can be kept and cherished."
As the Mastercard commercial reminds us, the box may be two dollars, the shirt twenty dollars, mailing the box ten dollars, but the warm wishes from home, those are priceless. The items sent from home raise the service member's spirits, but serve as the necessity to keep going.
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