A Gift suited for War.

[AdamRBi]

I needed some advice on what to get someone for Christmas this year, I'm seriously stumped on this one.

It's for my cousin, we've been very close ever since we were kids. I used to always go to his house to play his Sega Genesis with him (I was a Nintendo Kid). It's not that I don't know what kind of things he likes, the thing is he just came home from Army Training and he's being shipped off overseas sometime after Christmas.

I need ideas for gifts that'd actually be able to go with him, be it a trinket or something useful. What can you guys suggest?

 

[Hashime]

I don't know exactly what he is allowed to take over with him, but:
-A cellphone with international minutes is always good,
-A ruggedized flash drive might also be useful depending on his access to computers.
-A good lighter is also a great tool for smokers and non smokers alike.
-You may just be able to get him a small hand held
-A container with a secret compartment could also be useful, so he can hide money and other valuables.

 

[AdamRBi]

I don't know exactly what he is allowed to take over with him, but:
-A cellphone with international minutes is always good,
-A ruggedized flash drive might also be useful depending on his access to computers.
-A good lighter is also a great tool for smokers and non smokers alike.
-You may just be able to get him a small hand held
-A container with a secret compartment could also be useful, so he can hide money and other valuables.

Haha, that's why I'm stumped. I'm not sure what they're allowed to have on person or at base. I do believe cellphones are out.

USB and Lighters are good thoughts though.

 

[the clockmaker]

A portable hard drive and/or camera. My brother in law loved his, brought back lots of darkly hilarious stuff. Plus it allowed him to take a coupla seasons of NCIS and all of generation kill.

 

[Hashime]

If you get him a portable HDD consider spending the extra money on a SSD. they are much more rugged due to a lack of moving parts.
I also have an 808 Key chain camera which was $8 with shipping and I use it as a sacrificial camera. You may want to consider picking up a few of them for him so that he has something he would not feel bad breaking (in conjunction with regular camera)

 

[QuirkyTambourine]

I'd suggest a Multi-tool like a Leatherman. I'm a recording major so I use mine all the time, they're amazing little things. Not sure if he already has one/is allowed one but if possible, I'm sure it would be great

 

[Simalacrum]

Do you have any way of contacting other people in the army? Like, maybe some of you're cousin's friends? If you explain you're endeavour I'm sure they'd be happy to help you!

 

[BabyRaptor]

What you could do is wait until he gets established over there and send him a giant box. I did two tours, so I speak from "been there, done that" when I say this: Those care packages really help the sanity factor, both in the reinforcement that he's not totally cut off from family/friends, and in the fact that you're sending him stuff he likes that he can't get while he's there.

If you need any ideas, you can always PM me.

 

[Wolf-AUS]

What you could do is wait until he gets established over there and send him a giant box. I did two tours, so I speak from "been there, done that" when I say this: Those care packages really help the sanity factor, both in the reinforcement that he's not totally cut off from family/friends, and in the fact that you're sending him stuff he likes that he can't get while he's there.

If you need any ideas, you can always PM me.

yeah pretty much this, although if he is new maybe look at a good pair of boots from someone like altama or garmont, I'm not sure what his issued boots are like but I know the isssued ones in my country cause shin splints which os the last thing you want on tour. A small knife like something from gerber are always good, lighters are handy, and a good multi tool is always appreciated, I'm not sure how much of this stuff he has, so it would be best to scope it out a bit.

Or like PurpleLighter suggested send him care packages one he get over to wherever he is going, I can also vouch for the importance of mail, there really is nothing like receiving a letter or parcel when you're a million miles from home and it let's you know people back home are thinking of you

 

[6unn3r]

I'd suggest a Multi-tool like a Leatherman. I'm a recording major so I use mine all the time, they're amazing little things. Not sure if he already has one/is allowed one but if possible, I'm sure it would be great

A multitool of some sort (leatherman, swiss army knife etc) really usefull things they are. And I think if you take it to a jewlery store you might be able to get it engraved with his name and serial number or somthing...that little bit more personal.

 

[AdamRBi]

Thanks for everyone's advice, the mini camera's are probably the direction I'm going to go seeing how he already has knives and multi-tools and such. Something small so it doesn't add too much to his gear.

Thanks again everyone.

 

[AdamRBi]

If you need any ideas, you can always PM me.

If I ever need help in the future, will do. Thanks for the insider's tip.

 

[x434343]

I needed some advice on what to get someone for Christmas this year, I'm seriously stumped on this one.

It's for my cousin, we've been very close ever since we were kids. I used to always go to his house to play his Sega Genesis with him (I was a Nintendo Kid). It's not that I don't know what kind of things he likes, the thing is he just came home from Army Training and he's being shipped off overseas sometime after Christmas.

I need ideas for gifts that'd actually be able to go with him, be it a trinket or something useful. What can you guys suggest?

http://www.survivalstraps.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=RIFLE-SLING

80 feet of nylon rope, braided into a rifle sling.

Practical: You got a new rifle sling, you also got 80 feet of rope just in case you need it.
Trinket: You can get him red-white-and-blue cord! Or ACU/Desert cord if you wanted a bit MORE practicality.

Plus the Army is typically fine with these too.

 

[Scolar Visari]

I needed some advice on what to get someone for Christmas this year, I'm seriously stumped on this one.

It's for my cousin, we've been very close ever since we were kids. I used to always go to his house to play his Sega Genesis with him (I was a Nintendo Kid). It's not that I don't know what kind of things he likes, the thing is he just came home from Army Training and he's being shipped off overseas sometime after Christmas.

I need ideas for gifts that'd actually be able to go with him, be it a trinket or something useful. What can you guys suggest?

I'm not exactly sure what his MOS is or where he's being shipped, but what you get him hinges on this info. The rest of this stuff is cool, but In the grand scheme of things a lot less important than something like good socks. Socks, quadruple orders of basic medicine, good boots, at least two multi-tools, good flashlight, paracord, good clothing (Condor/TAD), good backpack, footpowder, baby wipes, etc. Focus on the necessities before you do shit like buy him a handheld, he'll thank you after he gets back.

 

[zidine100]

really good boots, i doubt the ones hes issued with are of any real value, and well it will make his life a hell of a lot easier.

Hand held gps? (rugged of course, avoid touch screens anyway) not sure if they would work where hes at, but it will be useful if it does.