My youngest, of 4 , son, graduates from boot camp this week. I am proud of him beyond words. Can you guys give me some ideas for a gift?

I have already bought a Kabar and Marine 230th commemoritive silver coin, but I want one more thing.

Thanks!

Make it something personal...not necessarily military...a watch, a lighter, etc, and have it engraved from you (his proud dad) to him.

If you insist on something of a military nature go to your local Barnes and Noble book store and get The Complete History of the Marine Corps published by the Marine Corps Association.

My youngest son rotates home from his tour in Iraq tomorrow and I know exactly how you feel as my buttons are bursting with pride and relief!

I bet you are, I am glad he is coming home, for your sake. I will look into the book.

Thanks

No offense to anyone but after 11 years in (USAF) I HATED moving books. If he's heading over (and I suspect he is, the watch sounds like a great option. (leather band, big, and analog) I've got a Citizen Eco-drive, no winding, no batteries, easy to read... Of course in the USMC 1700 hrs is when Mickey's little hand is on the five and his...

Best of luck picking something out. This is a special time for the both of you.

I bet his buddies would love the Mickey Mouse watch! LOL!

Thanks for all the ideas.

My youngest got out of Marine bootcamp last year and is now in Iraq.
Quite frankly save your money buying stuff like coins and books. A young PFC/L/Cpl barely makes enough money to buy the stuff he needs. If he is a Combat Arms MOS he will need to get war gear (782 gear) that the Marines do not issue. Blackhawk makes the gear of choice and its outside of Camp Leujeune and Norfolk, Va. They also have a website. Remember only a Marines intial issue is free and that is one set of utilities one set of undergarments and 1 pair of boots, everything else he get in bootcamp, which is most of his uniforms and his fittings HE pays for before he leaves training. Looks at his pay and records when he gets home.
My advice is this. I don't know how much you want to help him but money would be a good gift or purchasing gear that he needs. Secondly while in bootcamp they get talked to, officialy, but an employee of Ft Sill National Bank. Almost all recruits get an account with them to use the debit card system in bootcamp.Unless your son went to training with his home bank account records and account numbers he will be enrolled in Ft Sill Bank. DROP THEM and close his account with them immediately(they are bad with their penelties and fee's). Either go with your home bank with direct deposit and use a debit card or go with Navy Federal Credit Union. They are at every base. My son has an account at his home and with Navy FCU.
His training will have been harsh to say the least, my son was a fit high school wrestler that when in Bootcamp at 205lbs and we saw him 3 month later at 165lbs. If you can make it to his graduation, go, its pretty cool.

Is your son active duty or reserves? What is his MOS going to be?
My wife and I were both Marines and now my youngest if you need any advice now or in the future please email.

He went in at 6'2" and 150# he is now 6'3" and 190#. I won;t try him when he gets home! And his brothers had better be decent to thier little brother.

He is full time Marine, his MOS is intellignece, but now after boot camp he wants to be a drill instrcutor. Go figure. It is his choice. I don't know much about either. Thank you for the offer to email and ask questions. I will take you up on that. We leave in the mornging for San Diego. I am so proud of him I wanted some Marine items like the 230th year coin, the Marine history book, and the Kabar as keep sakes for him. If he needs to help with gear it will be there and changing banks is good information. I don't like the debit card thing any way.

So is he heading to Huachuca for his MOS producing school. As you know this is where all branches come for there schooling. Another good outfit to back with is USAA. I don't bank with them but everyone I talk to likes them. I bank with a credit union. If he ever gets tired of the Marine Corp the Army will gladly take him.

John

STAY ARMY!

I have no idea where he is headed. We only got a letter a week and about all he had to say was day to day stuff. No future things. I think he signed up for 4 years plus 2 reserve.

Kudu56,

That sounds great my son is also in Intelligence and assigned to one of the Marine Intel Battalions. If your son is in fact in Intel his first stop will be 13 weeks at Dam Neck Virginia at the Navy/Marine Corps Intelligence School usually from their they go to the Fleet Marine Force and practice their new skills. Possibly after that he may specialize in one of 4 areas and go to further schools i.e. Signals at Huachuca, Topo Imagery at Belvior.
Dam Neck is a Navy Base and the accomodations their are fantastic, we visited my son there twice and I can tell you the living conditions were first class, nothing like what he can expect in the Fleet Marine Force. If he is Intel he may have a 6 year active committment and not the standard 4/2. He'll enjoy Dam Neck.

Thanks thekauz, that will put his mothers mind at ease if he goes that route. We are headed to San Diego in an hour. I can't wait to see him.

Another item you might consider...and one of the HOT, gotta have items in Iraq...is a Garmin Rhino GPS/Radio combo, the guys LOVE them, and from what my son told me they are far handier and easier to use than the issue ones.

The other thing that he would love is one of the Strider USMC folding knives they are making for the Marine Force Recon units.

A Colt 1911A1 .45 auto.

quote:

Originally posted by kudu56: We are headed to San Diego in an hour. I can't wait to see him.

Congratulations to your son, you and your family. You should be justifialbly proud. I graduated from Boot Camp at MCRD San Diego in 1968. Judging from the above posts it sure was different in the "Old Corps".

Semper Fi.

quote:

Originally posted by Rick 0311:
Another item you might consider...and one of the HOT, gotta have items in Iraq...is a Garmin Rhino GPS/Radio combo, the guys LOVE them, and from what my son told me they are far handier and easier to use than the issue ones.

I'd think long and hard about this. Many of our guys have gotten themselves blown to bits using unsecured radios. No "Walk-a-bouts" or anything of the sort is being used much by the Army now. Too many guys keying the mike and setting off an IED.

Anything is better than a radio.

Regards,

Eric

quote:

Originally posted by Eric:

quote:

Originally posted by Rick 0311:
Another item you might consider...and one of the HOT, gotta have items in Iraq...is a Garmin Rhino GPS/Radio combo, the guys LOVE them, and from what my son told me they are far handier and easier to use than the issue ones.

I'd think long and hard about this. Many of our guys have gotten themselves blown to bits using unsecured radios. No "Walk-a-bouts" or anything of the sort is being used much by the Army now. Too many guys keying the mike and setting off an IED.

Anything is better than a radio.

Regards,

Eric

Eric,

Every guy in my son’s outfit (1/184 Infantry, 4th brigade 3rd ID) owned and carried a Rhino GPS/Radio every day. They did not use the radio
feature when on patrol for the exact reason you stated, but it is nice to have that option available if and when you might need it for emergencies or for use in areas not infested with IED’s.

We just got back today., Needless to say, I was impressed the entire time while on the MCRD.
Great young men and great family and base support for the recruits. The whole thing was just pretty darn cool.

But, all I kept hearing was stories of down sizing, Marines getting everyones hand me downs, and outsorceing is a big topic on the bases. I never knew that the military people had to buy everything, or pay a small stipend for it, including meals. Pretty sad. I met about 5 sailors that had to work 2 or 3 jobs off base plus thier Navy job just to make ends meet., Many base closiers and the land being sold to developers!!!! I wonder whose palm is getting oiled in Washington over those deals???

Any how, we had a great trip, and as a family we came away with a new understanding of what goes on and still very proud of all of our servicemen and women.

Thanks for all the ideas and suggestions!

A leatherman, gerber, swiss army knife which ever you prefer is worth it's weight in gold.
Or at least for me they were.

Doesn’t sound like the dialog has changed much in the 43 years since I was there on graduation day.

The Corps has always been at the bottom of the pecking order when it comes to equipment and budgets...and that’s part of what builds such a kinship between Marines.

Forget the money. It'll just be pissed away. A pen knife, a leatherman, or a watch would be good. Whatever you get, have it ingraved. The more time that goes by, the more it will mean to him.

If he may be getting deployed, I'd agree with Rick. Get him a good GPS. The Rhinos are great. Whatever it is, be sure it uses batteries. Rechargeable ones don't last long over there, and when they go dead on patrol, and you can't recharge them, they're just another useless piece of junk to lug around. Another excellent choice would be an Eotech sight. Much much better than the issued red dot. If I ever get deployed again, that's number one on the shopping list.

I do like the idea of a sentimental gift though. That would probably mean a lot to him. I wish I had a father or grandfather that could have given me something like that.

I would go with a sentimental gift for now. Later on once he finds out where his duty station is and what type of unit he will be with, and whether or not he is getting deployed, then worry about getting him some gear he might need. The Corps has a bad habit of sticking newbies on MUEs as soon as they get to their unit, but that all depends on rotation, and if his unit is getting ready to deploy.

quote:

Originally posted by Steel Slinger:
If he may be getting deployed, I'd agree with Rick. Get him a good GPS. The Rhinos are great. Whatever it is, be sure it uses batteries. Rechargeable ones don't last long over there, and when they go dead on patrol, and you can't recharge them, they're just another useless piece of junk to lug around. Another excellent choice would be an Eotech sight. Much much better than the issued red dot. If I ever get deployed again, that's number one on the shopping list.

I do like the idea of a sentimental gift though. That would probably mean a lot to him. I wish I had a father or grandfather that could have given me something like that.

You reminded me of another GREAT piece of gear...an Aladdinpower hand generator. I sent my son two of them and their uses are only limited by your electrical knowledge and your imagination.

They can be used on just about any device using rechargable batteries...and they also make a great detonating box for anything using a blasting cap...ie. Claymores.

www.aladdinpower.com

CONGRATULATIONS FOR YOUR SON I WOULD GIVE HIM A CUSTOM COMBAT KNIFE .JUAN

What Rick 0311 (this was my MOS as well! 03 walk-a-lot) said. I received this book as a gift recently, and it is excellent.

quote:

Originally posted by Whitworth:
What Rick 0311 (this was my MOS as well! 03 walk-a-lot) said. I received this book as a gift recently, and it is excellent.

Hey...Semper-Fi my brother! I also received my copy as a gift and have really enjoyed it.

Rick,
Glad your son is on yhe way home.
That is a good book and was a birthday(USMC)
for me as well. I enjoyed it.

Kudu56, He is one of us now. Tell him welcome aboard.
To all my brothers

quote:

Originally posted by invader66:
Rick,
Glad your son is on yhe way home.
That is a good book and was a birthday(USMC)
for me as well. I enjoyed it.

Kudu56, He is one of us now. Tell him welcome aboard.
To all my brothers

I thought I had emailed you about my son...HE IS HOME!!!!!!!! And I spent last weekend with him and his lovely wife and my grand daughters. His girls would hardly let him out of their sight. he looks great and I can sleep better now.

Glad to hear he's home Rick.

Rick
I guess you was to excited to email. Glad he is
home.
Kudu, Always figured that 40% Marine Corps Budget was based on what they figured us 03's etc could STEAL from everyone else.

quote:

Originally posted by invader66:
Kudu, Always figured that 40% Marine Corps Budget was based on what they figured us 03's etc could STEAL from everyone else.

Or BREAK!!!

I have often said that if any business wants to test their equipment for ruggedness all they have to do is send it to a Marine infantry outfit and within a few weeks it will either be destroyed or sold off to the pogues in the rear as “war trophies.†If the grunts still have it after that time it must be good stuff.

Rick
You are so right.

Congratulations to you and your son, and god bless these young men. We owe a personal debt honor to each and every one, reguardless of what branch they have chosen to serve in.

Thanks for all the comments and support. He was home for 2 weeks and is now in advanced combat training, then off to his MOS at Pensicola Florida. Feb might be a nice time to visit!

Rick, glad to hear your son is home! God Bless!

quote:

Originally posted by kudu56:
Thanks for all the comments and support. He was home for 2 weeks and is now in advanced combat training, then off to his MOS at Pensicola Florida. Feb might be a nice time to visit!

Rick, glad to hear your son is home! God Bless!

Sounds like your son will be in one of the Air Wings...great after service employment possibilities. My best to him, and hope he stays safe in these troubled times.

Its been awhile since i wrote, hows your son making out?

Mike