A veterans’ organization at Piedmont Virginia Community College wanted to make sure the U.S. Army Operational Test Command’s Forward Operational Assessment Team XVIII, currently deployed and headquartered in Qatar, had all the basic comfort items they needed for the remainder of their deployment.

The Student Veterans of America chapter at PVCC sent two care packages to FOA Team XVIII last week filled with lip balm, Girl Scout cookies, toothbrushes, foot powder, candy, books, playing cards and clothing, Gregory Del Rosario, SVA public relations specialist, said.

Favored care items are not foreign to the members of the organization.

“Most of our members are prior military,” Del Rosario, whose father Michael, is an Operations Research Systems Analyst for OTC’s Mission Command Test Directorate, said. “We remembered items that we would have liked to have received or did receive in care packages, so we held a care package drive at PVCC and the Ruckersville, Va. Wal-Mart.”

Thanks to the generosity of the Ruckersville and Charlottesville communities, Del Rosario said they were able to fill 55 care packages to send to additional units.

“Normally, we research to find different groups that are deployed,” he said, “and we address the packages to the chaplains assigned to the units.

“My dad told me about the OTC FOA team and provided me with their information,” Del Rosario, who was in the Navy as a petty officer second class, serving as a nuclear reactor technician, said.

FOA Team XVIII noncommissioned officer-in-charge, Master Sgt. Jay High, was thankful and humbled by the support.

“As a deployed Soldier, there are few things that bring joy like a care package or a letter from home,” he said. “It means everything that someone that doesn’t even know you or anything about you, other than the fact that you are deployed, would take the time and effort to send a package to say thanks and let you know they truly care.

“I am just so thankful that there are great people like these students who support us in word and deed,” High, who is a research, development, test and evaluation NCO with OTC’s MCTD, said.

Col. Mark Valeri, FOA Team XVIII commander, said the boost to the team’s morale and the smiles on Soldiers’ faces was a testament to the SVA chapter’s success.

“Deployments separate us from Family, friends and all the comforts of home,” he said. “These generous packages are much appreciated and, most importantly, support our team’s mission.

“I salute the students and the Charlottesville community for their thoughtfulness and patriotic efforts,” Valeri said. “My heartfelt appreciation goes out to them.”

Forward operational teams have deployed since 2003 to continue to assess equipment, systems and technology in theater to provide critical information on the suitability, survivability and effectiveness to senior Army leadership making acquisition decisions. Teams are comprised of Soldiers, Department of the Army civilians and contractors through the Army Test and Evaluation Command, OTC’s higher headquarters at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.

FOA Team XVIII will redeploy in August to be replaced by FOA Team XIX.

The SVA’s mission, according to Del Rosario, is to raise awareness of veterans on college campuses and to supply information about education resources, support and advocacy.

“We also are here to create a social group that helps build the camaraderie veterans were accustomed to while in the service,” he said, “and to help them adjust and become successful in civilian and college life.”