AAUSS

I have been asked some questions about the program I go through to adopt soldiers so I thought I would take a minute on here and tell you about it!

It is officially called Adopt A US Soldier--if you look that up you should find it. I was first introduced to it by a friend who was in Afghanistan. She asked if I would consider adopting a soldier over the holidays because so many did not have family or were not getting mail. I said yes and that is how the boys and I ended up with our SSG in the SF, who we had until April when he was finally sent home. We liked it so much that we adopted more! And now I have 4 soldiers!

Basically you sign up to adopt and it takes about 3 days initially to be assigned a soldier. Their information--rank, name, address, email address and any comments--will appear in your profile after the 3 days are up and you have yourself a soldier! Each soldier is given between 4 to 6 supporters just in case 3 or more stop writing for whatever reason. I must stress that this site does NOT guarantee that your soldier will write back. I have 1 silent soldier that I have not heard a peep from since I first adopted him--and I write him 2 letters a week plus the care packages I send. So if you are easily discouraged or are doing this to be in constant contact with a soldier I have to tell you that it is probably not for you! However, I have gotten fairly lucky. I have had 5 soldiers altogether and only 1 has been silent.

My idea of support is to write letters, emails, and to send down care packages. You are not obligated to send care packages but I like to spoil my soldiers. I especially like it once we have developed a rapport and I know just what exactly they would like the most--and then surprise! It shows up in Iraq or Afghanistan! The only problem I have had is that I want to ask so many questions and most of the time they can't answer. Especially my SSG in the SF! That was so hard! At first he would say 'I can't answer that' and then once he got to know me better he would just ignore the question.

I have gotten to know 3 of my soldiers pretty well. Our SSG in the SF is home now but we are keeping in touch still. He has disappeared for training purposes but I hope to hear from him soon. 2 of my soldiers still deployed in Iraq keep in very close contact. We talk almost everyday, and sometimes more than once a day. They are great guys. My SSG (P) has a family back home and it is fun to hear about them and see pictures. My SMSgt in the Air Force is my silent soldier and I just hope that my long rambling letters don't annoy him too much and that the care packages make him smile. Now my new CPL and I have exchanged emails too and I sent down his first care package to Afghanistan.

The program will contact you once in a while to adopt another soldier but only when they have an influx of new soldiers looking to be adopted. They are never pushy and they never make you feel guilty. If anything, they are a tremendous support and it is awesome to visit the forum on the site and talk to other adopters. I have gotten tons of answers and tips through there. I even found recipes! I am sending my soldiers a cake in a jar today--I am excited to get that going to them. If you do not feel that you can adopt a second or third or 4th soldier, then don't! It wouldn't be fair to them or you. So no pressure when you do get an email asking if you would like another one.

Ok, now I have to address another big downside, other than perhaps not hearing from your soldier ever. Worry! I worry about my guys. I can't help it--I get too attached, especially when we talk more than once a day. My SSG in the SF disappeared for the entire month of February and I think I got an ulcer. I worry about my guys pretty much all the time but I do not let them know that. They do not need to hear it from me. I am just there to write about things light and to take their mind off whatever they are going through. That being said, I do not avoid the topic if they bring it up with me. They are pretty stoic guys for the most part--when they do mention any dangers they do it in a straightforward way. Now that I have gotten to know some of them more they let me in a bit more and tell me what they really think.

I have found some very good people through this program. My soldiers are all sweethearts and I am so proud to be supporting them. I feel that just saying I support the troops isn't enough--I need to DO something myself, other than donate money to some organization. This is the most hands-on thing I can do and it lets me see some of the people I am helping. Not only see but get to know. They have pretty much become family by this point!