Camping Out Ideas

Gift ideas for man entering basic training?

One of my brothers is going to boot camp in about a week, and the other is going next summer... what are some ideas for a going away gift that he would be able to use there? He doesn't need a phone card as he has a nationwide plan on his cell phone (I don't know if he can even bring it?). Thanks! Great answers so far! Thanks! The first one is going Marine Corp. The other is going to the Air Force Academy.

Public Comments

1. He can't use his cell, so a phone card actually would be a good idea. They'll take pretty much everything "civilian" including reading materials and such - so the basic needs are all that he can keep. Toiletries, razor blades, all that - he'll be able to keep them and I'm sure he'll find them useful. You can also get him some stationery to write home on, and a good supply of stamps.
2. Phone card / he will not be allowed his cell-phone during Recruit training. Vet-USAF @dded ; Everything we were not allowed to have while in training was locked away in our civilian clothes in our bag or suit case, then returned after graduation.
3. There is absolutely NOTHING that you can get him that they are going to allow him to use in boot camp. When he gets there, as part of his in-processing, theya re going to ahve him empty his bag, his pockets, and anything else he might have and then theya re going to take anything he doesn't need away from him, and he will never get it back. Occassionally, they might allow them to send it home if it is something important, or something expensive. Best bet... wait until AFTER boot camp to get him anything.
4. Buy him a shotgun. Who wouldn't love that?
5. Give them a copy of the information posted here http://www.helium.com/tm/148271 The more familiar they are with it the easier it will be to fix training injuries which are common in basic. If they joined the army it will be real helpful if they end up in Iraq.
6. Get him some reading material. He might need it later in basic and job training. Maybe some writing material during training. Phone cards are always good as well. SSG Schramm US Army 15 years OIF 2003 US Army Recruiter 3 years in Texas
7. I'd say a phone card, as he will have his cell phone locked up the whole time he is in basic, they do give you one when you get there but it runs out quick, also depends some flights in basic do not get a lot of time to use the phone. I would wait and get him something for graduating BMT instead.
8. Save your money, and get him something when they graduate basic. He can't use anything you could give him while he's there. I don't know how lax the rules have gotten, but I only used the phone 2 or 3 times the whole time I was in basic. But, a calling card would be about it. When they graduate, I would get them a branch specific ring (just like a senior ring in HS, but each branch has there own specific details on it). He would wear that for years to come.
9. I think it varies with the service. I can only relate my experience in the Navy. What can a recruit take to boot camp? If he's Navy, just about anything he wants. Cell phone, change of clothes, an extra set of shoes, a couple changes of underwear, his favorite shaving lotion, cologne too (if he wants it), an electric shaver, a portable DVD player and a few DVDs, maybe an ipod. But, in the Navy they pack up EVERYTHING and send it home. That's after they issue the recruits their sea bag -- initial uniform issue. The snacks, anything with alcohol, a "Playboy" magazine, stuff like that is considered "contraband," and is "confiscated." I believe the service provides a list of things a recruit can take. You might use that as a guide. If it's no on the list, don't give it to him as a gift. Some responses to other questions allude to being able to keep a small Bible, or even an address book. I don't even remember being allowed to keep my wristwatch. Wedding rings are allowed. Recruits are allowed only a little space to keep their stuff. In the Navy, everything they own fits in a large duffel bag called a "sea bag." They have to lug that darn thing around from command to command. The more junk they accumulate, the more they have to lug around. Well-meaning family and friends tend to just add to the burden. Just write letters (keep them light and positive). And try to be there for their graduations. If you send goodies, remember they'll have to share with their company... about 40-50 guys. In general, there won't be any communication for the first week or so. And then your brothers (if they're Navy) will learn the art of writing letters. Seldom do recruits get to call home until the last couple of weeks... and then, at least in my experience, it will be brief. Again, that's Navy. And I've talked to people with kids in Navy boot camp, so my information is pretty recent. I'd guess the Marines are similar. As for Army or Air Force, no idea.
10. wait till he graduates basic and ait and then get him a present not before SSG ADA US.ARMY
11. I wouldnt get a gift, he wont need anything. No, he will not be allowed to have a cell phone. Are your brothers joining the US Marine Corps? I dont know about the rest of the Armed Forces, but in the USMC you never are allowed to call home during recruit training. They allow you to call home once during processing and let someone know that you made it ok to bootcamp, while your on the phone a friendly Drill Instructor is behind you making sure that you only talk for 30 seconds. Some of the other services might allow you to call home I dont know really, if they do then a phone card might be a good choice.
12. For the Air Force Academy, make sure you know what their rules will be for what they can bring. When I started at West Point (in the late '90s), all we could bring with us were running shoes, underwear, and toiletries. As odd as it sounds, I think a good alarm clock would be a good idea (for something he could actually use), but it may not, under any circumstances, have a radio. Just a plain clock with alarm, otherwise they will take it away. Also, the academies do not issue computers until just before classes start and he won't have one during the basic training part. I think a great gift idea would be an address book with addresses for many different people in your family, his friends, etc. Include some paper, pens, envelopes, and plenty of postage. They should allow him to keep those things upon entering as well. Writing is definitely a declining art, but that is one thing that he will have time to do on various occasions during beast barracks (that's what WP called it, not sure what the AFA calls basic) and if he already has addresses, your family may be pleasantly surprised to get a note or two from him. He won't really have much free time at all, but when I was going through it, the absence of books, phone, tv, etc, made me turn to writing letters during those precious few 10 or 15 minutes of sanity in the evening before I went to bed. Also, you could include with that a blank journal and encourage him to keep a diary, I did that (for the first 4 weeks of my basic at West Point, anyway) and it was really great to find it again 10 years later and read my impressions. Both the journal and letter-writing kit would be great for your other brother, too.
13. Monogramed stationary with several books of stamps.