Ideas for gift for niece entering the Army?

[MomofSixinSC]

Honestly what I loved best was mail, even a post card was awesome.

Thank you for saying this. I have been sending cards to my nephews in boot camp at Parris Island for 8 weeks and wondering if they are really appreciated. It looks like I may miss their graduation, so I may never hear.

 

[MomofSixinSC]

I know for my nephews at Marine Boot camp, they were allowed one phone call the night they arrived to let their family know they arrived safely. One was able to get on FB one other time. Other than that, they haven't had any access to electronic communication.

 

[Worfiedoodles]

Ah! Now I understand. And now you see why I clearly needed help! This is going to be a big change for her...I really like the stationary and stamps idea, and I have enough time to get something personalized for her. Colorful Images, here I come!

Maria

 

[Tiana]

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[maggieusa]

Get her a toiletry bag It will come in handy she will not have too much time to write or call my dd is in the army and in boot camip you are too busy to write maybe a few stamp.

 

[JB2K]

Get her an AAFES (Army and Air Force Exchange Service) gift card that she can spend on everything from everyday items, to fast food and fun stuff at her PX (there's one on every base!).

Non-military can purchase these as gifts from the AAFES Website

As for care packages, etc. (and as a former military person), I would strongly discourage sending anything to basic training/boot camp, as your relative has very minimal storage space to deal with, there...

Phone cards are also useful, since cell phones are not allowed (military boot camps have a booming pay phone business!).

 

[Forevryoung]

Get her a toiletry bag It will come in handy she will not have too much time to write or call my dd is in the army and in boot camip you are too busy to write maybe a few stamp.

This statement reminded me of those silly "camp" fill in the blank letters that I've seen. They usually say "I'm having a _______ time. The food is _______. The weather is ______. My best friend is _____..."

What about creating a typed form letter with a bunch of fill in the blanks. Put them together with stamps and addressed envelopes to her parents, grandparents, siblings, you (and a few blanks).

You can make the blanks longer- "the hardest thing about today was..." "My favorite meal here is..." Everyone can save them and make a little journal for her at the end of her journey. They don't have to be boot camp specific either.

Might make for faster or easier letters when she's on the run from sun up to sun down.

 

[Worfiedoodles]

What great ideas! Thank you guys so much! I am going to do my best to make sure she feels supported, and you are giving me fantastic information!

Maria

 

[cultureart]

I agree with a card and note inside let her know you will write and send postcards while she is in basic. They don't "need" anything at that time but rest and support from home. After she gets stationed I would suggest a small gift card from Amazon. She can get almost anything from there mailed right to her. I have used Amazon gift cards for my DSIL numerous times. It is his favorite gift while in the military.



Angel16

I agree with you.

 

[tink2dw]

[joking ] a swiss army knife???

 

[Worfiedoodles]

Just wanted to post an update -- my niece passed her physical exams and took her oath, she leaves at the end of July. Thanks to everyone who posted all these great ideas, I will be sure to use them all to make her transition easier!

Thanks Again!
Maria

 

[aimlyles]

Before I left for the AF (almost 15 years ago) my friend gave me a pair of tweezers and said she was told (by her enlisted boyfriend) that they'd come in handy! Boy was she right. I'm not sure how much has changed and if there's a difference b/w the Army and AF but we had to fold our clothes a certain way and we used tweezers to pull the edges so they all lined up perfectly. Some other items that will come in handy for her during basic would be a shoe shine (black polish) kid since she'll be shining those boots alot and I want to say we used a ruler to fold the clothes because they had to be in a specific dimension.

 

[Evi]

buy her gift certs to bx whatever she will have access to on her base. She will be able to buy phone cards cheap as well as all her necessities at a much lower cost then you will buy at pharmacy etc. I would send her things she can't buy like cookies or favorite homemade baked goods small girly things once in while just to let her know your thinking of her. If you can it would be great if someone went down for her graduation ceremony after basic training. Lots of kids don't have family there and its big for them. I'd also encourage her to set up an orange or other savings account and remind her to save save save.