Gift question....

[dcs13]

Nephew heads to basic training for Marines in a few weeks. We're having a party next week for him. I've heard he can't take squat with him when he reports. What can I give the kid as a decent gift ? I was thinking maybe a gift card for American Airlines or something so he could come home on leave ?
Any suggestions ?

[UserX]

Hookers.

[helosailor]

All personal possessions (with only a very few exceptions) will be sent home upon arrival. That does sound like a good gift though. You may ask about if you can mail it to him towards the end of Boot Camp. That may be ok.

[jw33]

He won't need anything. Cash or maybe a gift card for a nice pair of go fasters he can bring with him.

[ktm300hater]

Wait until week 2, then send a big box of cookies

[BMCSean]

Lol!

[YALE]

Don't Marines have to pay for their dress uniforms or something? Cash might help there.

[ktm300hater]

Don't Marines have to pay for their dress uniforms or something? Cash might help there.

It all comes out of your pay. When I graduated bootcamp in 87 my final check for 3 months was a whopping 650.

[YALE]

It all comes out of your pay. When I graduated bootcamp in 87 my final check for 3 months was a whopping 650.

Yeah? Money sounds like the best gift.

[BP]

They can only have what the Marines give them for the first few weeks and even mail will have to be earned. I'd write a few letters and include a book of stamps every time. Those things can be like gold in basic.

If you really wanted to give them something great start planning your trip to his graduation ceremony now. Or if you can't make it look for a nice restaurant outside the gates and buy gift cards for there.

Money won't be a big deal. I mean sure it'd be appreciated but he won't need it. Now when they actually graduate and have to move on their own dime it'll come in handy but usually their pay is delayed and screwed up so you get a big check right before anyway.

I don't know if the Marines have something like the HRAP program in the Army but if they do then he won't need airfare. They fly home after graduation and work for a local recruiter for two weeks.

[LANTIRN]

Wait until week 2, then send a big box of cookies

This is what I would suggest.

[Danny46]

He wont be able to keep ANYTHING he takes with him to recruit training, even his underwear. The AA giftcard will be good because Marines take 10 days of leave after recruit training and have to buy their own plane ticket to wherever they go (usually home). If you really want to send him something (that wont get him in trouble) you can get him a nice bible maybe inscribed with his name or something. Its about the only thing you can send him that he'll be able to keep at the depot.

A cash gift card would be nice, you dont leave boot with a lot of money. A nice set of headphones would be good or maybe an ipad (not sure what your budget is). I would avoid big things because he will be a transient till he is done with his MOS (job) school. And like someone said, you being at the ceremony on Thursday and Graduation Friday would mean a lot to him, it will be the proudest moment of his life. On Thursday is what is called the Eagle Globe and Anchor ceremony where they receive the Marine Corps insignia to place in their cover (hat). Its the first time they are called Marines. Then Friday is actual graduation. The feeling of seeing my family and some friends in the crowd after three months in one of the hardest basic training regimes in the world was a feeling I'll never forget.

[ceyko]

^^^ 2nd the above if you're close with him. My family was all about HS graduation which I did not care about at all. I was an orphan for basic training graduation. Not like it sucked, but it meant a ton more to me than HS graduation.

[Baron Von Crowder]

He wont be able to keep ANYTHING he takes with him to recruit training, even his underwear. The AA giftcard will be good because Marines take 10 days of leave after recruit training and have to buy their own plane ticket to wherever they go (usually home). If you really want to send him something (that wont get him in trouble) you can get him a nice bible maybe inscribed with his name or something. Its about the only thing you can send him that he'll be able to keep at the depot.

A cash gift card would be nice, you dont leave boot with a lot of money. A nice set of headphones would be good or maybe an ipad (not sure what your budget is). I would avoid big things because he will be a transient till he is done with his MOS (job) school. And like someone said, you being at the ceremony on Thursday and Graduation Friday would mean a lot to him, it will be the proudest moment of his life. On Thursday is what is called the Eagle Globe and Anchor ceremony where they receive the Marine Corps insignia to place in their cover (hat). Its the first time they are called Marines. Then Friday is actual graduation. The feeling of seeing my family and some friends in the crowd after three months in one of the hardest basic training regimes in the world was a feeling I'll never forget.

I had to laugh, I was looking at going into the service when I graduated. The same recruiter that my brother had came over, and knowing he was a pretty straight shooter, we had a decent conversation.

He asked the standard "what would you do if you had $3k in the bank"
I said "wonder where I blew two grand"

The look on his face was priceless.

[ktm300hater]

I do agree with the above about graduation. Most everyone in my platoon had family come, except me. It sucked seeing everyone getting fawned over while I walked off and grabbed my shit to head to the airport.

I did however go say goodbye to my senior drill instructor and shake s hand. He was a sadistic mother fucker and I remember him to this day