Gift for someone joining the military?

[izzy]

My 19 year old nephew is joiningthe Marines. His birthday is this month, and I'd like to buy his something that he would actually use/need while in service. At first, I was thinking that he wouldn't be able to take his cell phone with him, and that I'd buy him some calling cards. Then my brother said that he will only be allowed to make one phone call during basic training. Does anyone know what the phone calling policy is once they get out of basic training?

For those of you with family or friends in the military, do you have any suggestions? I really don't want to give him cash.

 

[Fire_Eater]

It's true no cell phones at basic. He will be allowed to make one call once he arrives to MCRD to let his family know he has arrived and is alive, he will basicly be handed a script to read and he will have maybe 3mins to get it all out. If he is very lucky he may be allowed to make a phone call while in basic, very rare but if he does something outstanding , like High Shooter on the rifle range he may "win" a phone call.

After he completes basic training he will pretty much be allowed to make calls when he has time and as his training allows. The biggest time crunch he will have after basic will be Marine Combat Training (MCT) if he has a non-infantry job. Once he gets to the school for his job it's pretty much 0730-1630 and weekends off depending on his job and the length of his school and the type of job he has.


Hope this helps.

 

[stm61]

I went to Air Force basic and we were allowed to make calls on our free time. I know Marine's basic is different. How about stamps or pre-stamped post cards he can just write something on quick and toss in the mail?

 

[meeskamouska]

I would say portable dvd player, movies, games if he is a gamer....stuff that is portable and can be shoved in a bag for all the moving he will be doing in the coming year.

 

[funnygarcia]

Once he is done with basic the rules relax a bit.
If he has a ways to travel to his training-- a magazine or book to pass the time, cash for vending machines, etc.


I know my DN got a cell phone to use on weekends after he was done with basic. That would be a good time to provide pre paid minute cards to top up his phone.

Not much he can have or use while in basic, but after that he would appreciate things like gift cards to Starbucks, Subway, Pizza Hut etc. They have these right on base for them to use after training hours/ weekends.

Mnay young marines leave on weekends to explore the surrounding area. Bus/ rail passes in the area, hotel gift cards, movie tickets-- stern lectures to behave.

Many teen/ 20's are not into writing letters these days. As much as we would want to get a note from them . It's all about cell phones and email.

I have one way communication with my DN based in Iraq now.. thank goodness for motomail!


I wish him luck!

 

[Piecey]

Once he is done with basic the rules relax a bit.
If he has a ways to travel to his training-- a magazine or book to pass the time, cash for vending machines, etc.


I know my DN got a cell phone to use on weekends after he was done with basic. That would be a good time to provide pre paid minute cards to top up his phone.

Not much he can have or use while in basic, but after that he would appreciate things like gift cards to Starbucks, Subway, Pizza Hut etc. They have these right on base for them to use after training hours/ weekends.

Mnay young marines leave on weekends to explore the surrounding area. Bus/ rail passes in the area, hotel gift cards, movie tickets-- stern lectures to behave.

Many teen/ 20's are not into writing letters these days. As much as we would want to get a note from them . It's all about cell phones and email.

I have one way communication with my DN based in Iraq now.. thank goodness for motomail!


I wish him luck!

DH admits to paying the electric bill in Vegas many times while on leave from Pendleton.

DH also says soft, thick socks and munchies (granola bars, etc things that are small and easy to pack up)
And a little on the gross side but he said foot hygeine stuff. He got tons of in-grown toenails while marching (he's got wide feet and the boots squished his toes horribly) and these tools saved him from a LOT of pain several times after he got them.

Said no to CD's, they get scratched and stolen too easily (scratched mostly from the sand in Iraq, he admits) and never wanted magazines or movies at Parris Island, too tired by the time he was done.

He did his training in Pensacola and said gift cards would have been nice to have to the local restaurants, he blew through the money quickly that early in training and anything was better than base food!

 

[GeorgeG]

There's really nothing he will be able to take with him to boot camp. After that, phone cards and small things that will fit in a locker would be nice. By then he would be able to give you some ideas.

 

[tiggerlover]

I would give him a nice card telling him how proud you are of him and his committment to service and save the gift for when he graduates boot camp. If my memory serves me correct, my DH (DBF at the time) was able to take very little with him to boot camp.

 

[LovesTimone]

They can take very little to boot camp, once he has graduated, then you will be able to send him more of a variety of things. Possible stuff to send now some protein bars, candy, dollar bills for vending machine. As a suggestion don't send a huge box, maybe commit to sending a small box with a few things each week, as basic drags on, something from home will mean a lot. Make sure to include a note with what happening with the family, upbeat and positive.

 

[JaxDad]

Cash

 

[wilkeliza]

Wait until after boot camp. Let him know you are thinking of him and once you get his boot camp address send him cards. Anything else send to him after boot camp when he has his first assignment and address.

Now some words of caution on what you send to him at boot camp. Everyone will read the letter! The commanding officer of his group may read every letter out loud during boot camp or his boot camp buddies may just take it from him and read it. It depends on the group. So keep that in mind and do not use any pet names or write embarrassing stories. You don't want your nephew to be teased with details from home. I call my older brother boo bear and it was so hard when he was in boot camp for the army not to write that I missed my boo boo bear but I knew if I wrote that they would taunt him the entire time.