HS Graduation Gift for Brother Leaving for Boot Camp

I agree with the previous poster about a weather proof case and extra memory cards and batteries. Also PHONE CARDS are great .. but you could get him those when he graduates from Boot Camp or upon his first deployment. Send him some homemade goodies .. enough that he can easily share ... while he's at Boot Camp!

How about a prepaid phone card so he can call loved ones while away or make him a little basket with that and stationary and stamps or something. It will be useful.

Since he will be in boot camp, a phone calling card would be an appropriate gift. while it is a gift card, he will be able to use it to call home on the times he gets to a phone and doesn't have to worry about collect calls or having $$$ in his pocket.

SSgt Barb Harbison - in the military myself

Having served in the military for ten years and attending boot camp along with numerous other schools....including Officer Indoc. I would suggest offering to pay any bills outstanding (up to the $100). He won't be able to bring anything to boot camp and his follow on schools won't give him "priviledges" for items for a few weeks following arrival, so you could get somekind of phone card/credit card that he can charge postage or phone calls to.
Also.... a lot of the guys "discover" things that they really want after or during school... for instance certain sunglasses are authorized (maybe wait until this "need" arises) or a lot of guys like to purchase boots after their "white" phase of training is over -- these boots run $110 and they are more comfy etc. You could offer these things. Also... you'll want to save up for "care packages".

Good Luck and thank your brother for continuing in the proud tradition of service to our country... there is no greater man than one that serves voluntarily.....

I'm a Marine Corps wife. My brother is a retired Marine and my son is a Marine as well in VA. I think a good gift for high school graduation since his going away to the Marines (you said boot camp and they're the only ones who have that, the rest are basic training) you could get him a watch. Once he goes through boot camp and his MOS school (specific job training) and MCT, he'll finally go to his unit and he'll have to be to work on time, lol! He won't be able to take anything with him to boot camp except his clothes on his back and maybe a book. Books may work, maybe a collection. We got our son a USMC watch when he graduated boot camp. My brother and his wife bought him his first set of Blues, which is a huge deal. None of that is warranted until after boot camp graduation. I guess I'm leaning on a nice watch. He'll buy his own tactical one after getting to his unit, depending on his job. Congrats to him!

K. B
mom to 5 including triplets
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/harrisburgpachat

He should have a list of items he needs for boot camp, such as undershirts, boot shine kit, sneakers, ect. So Id ask to see if he has all the stuff on his list first. Hes not going to be able to take much at first. As he progresses through training he will earn more freedoms. So you might want to think about gifts for latter on, magazines, shaving items, phone cards, and if he does have bills like a cell phone, offer to keep it active while hes in the restrictive part of training. Making the monthly payments to keep it up & running.
He has a long journey ahead of him. You should be so proud of him. Make every effort to go to his graduation, that is an important event in his life, and having family & even friends around to support his decision is important.
God Speed!

What about phone calling cards. They make a great gift for those traveling. We use them all the time. Plus if you buy them at Giant Eagle you can earn Fuel Perks too.

maybe you can give him a memory card for the new camera that holds more pictures since he probably won't be able to download them often if he travels. you can check out newegg.com for very good deals on techy items. we got a card that hold 900 pix for $5. a good backpack might be nice for traveling too. a book of stamps is nice to give too, so he can keep in touch. just some ideas, good luck!

You may want to get him some phone cards and stationary for during bootcamp. As he will need to these to write and call home from bootcamp. These are some essential things in bootcamp.

Beloved L. G

I would like to offer that you get him someting inspirational to read that will assist him in dealing with the nostalgia, and drastic changes that take place during bootcamp. More importantly it would be great if you would write a letter to him everyday or so during the time he is in bootcamp.

I.

If you know what camera your parents are getting him, why not get him an additional battery, carry case or additional memory cards? If he's deployed or not near a computer, he won't be able to download the pictures off the card very often, so having an extra card would be ideal (they have them now in 1, 2, 4 and even 8 gigs). Hope that helps!

I remember when my husband was in boot camp and he wasn't allowed to take anything with him. But after boot camp I would say that phone cards were extremely important, as were stamps and stationary. Additional memory cards are good for the camera also, but he most likely won't be able to take the camera to boot camp.

how about i small printer to go with the digital camera? or a nice waterproof watch?

You may want to make him a scrapbook of family and friends and have everyone give you a pic of themselves and have them write alittle note on the page. You can get in touch with them and either have them bring the pic to you or you pick it up. Then while you have them there, have them write a little note to your brother so he knows he will be missed. That would be with him always and remind him that home is not so far away.

Part of a gift you could get him to go with the camera is some additional memory cards with lots of storages and maybe a card reader or extra batteries. I know my uncle was stationed overseas in the Marines in both Afghanistan and Iraq a few times and with the sand storms they got sand got in everything. Extra cards would let him still take photos even if one of his card broke because it got sand in it. Maybe a really weather proof case as well.

I'm not sure if they are allowed to take anything with them. But what about a Visa or Master Card Gift Card, or a calling card. (do they still even have those??)
Good Luck to your brother, he and your family will be in my prayers.

Being boot camp, I am not sure if he can take anything except what is on the list. You could get him a phone card, stamps, envelopes and paper to write and call home.

M.

From what I can remember about my ex-husband talking about boot camp, they are not allowed anything in the beginning...that means no digital cam. I think it may be better to give him a gift credit card from your bank....or maybe a pre paid cell phone he will be able to eventually use.

Tell him thank you for his willingness to serve our country and keep us safe.

Since he is getting a digital camera how about a gift certificate to Shutterfly so he can order prints? Or if he has an ipod a gift certificate to Itunes? Or a digital picture frame so he can see pictures of family and friends while at boot camp.

I got my brother a Visa gift card - it is a tough age, and in boot camp they don't need anything - and sometimes aren't allowed to have anything - it is afe and when he sees something later he can purchase it.

Phone cards are always a good idea for anyone living away from home.
Barbara

I do not know if you can sew or have a sewing machine. But there is fabric you can buy at office max that you can print pictures onto. I have always wanted to do this and make a small quilt full of family photos. I always thought that would be a really cool idea. Then he could take it along with him (if he is allowed) to give him warm mermories while he is away. What ever you choose, I am sure he will love it.

Hi L., I went through this with my little brother too. Although I understand that you don't want to just give him money, frankly there isn't much you can give him that he will be able to take with him to bootcamp. You could give him a watch (one that can withstand the rigors of bootcamp would be best...mud, dirt, heat, water etc.) You could get him a really good pair of athletic shoes that can withstand the demands of bootcamp. You could buy him a writing kit, paper, stamps, good pens/pencils. Or you can tell him that when he graduates from bootcamp you will take him out to purchase some new clothes (he will probably need them cause guys tend to change a lot durring boot camp.). I don't know if they are allowed, but maybe a mp3 loaded with all his favorite music might be a good gift as well. Personally, I gave my brother a card with the promise of a shopping trip after he got out of boot. When he graduated from boot (Navy) we spent a day together shopping, talking, and just being together. Funny, now that I think about it, it was the last time the two of us spent together alone. After that there was/is kids, spouses, our parents...always someone else around...it was a great day and an even better memory now.

Wow this is got to be tough knowing your brother's off soon after HS. So determined, so willing, so young at heart. I would suggest like the many moms here, a care package with essentials such as a battery back up for camera, pre paid calling card- if there is no wireless available, a compass, small photo ablum of family members, notepad and pens so he can write. I would even try the Triple A (as a member you can get a lot of fantastic deals) for travel equipment such as these.Toothpaste for burns, ginger for stomachaches, baby balmex (clear one)for dry skin. small tubes are essential for traveling via airlines. Like yourself, I use anything natural for everyday issues unless I have to take medicine. But that's unless it's absolutely necessary.

Best of luck with your brother. God Bless.

Mom of 4.

A prepaid cellphone would be perfect if he doesn't have a cellphone. Or perhaps an MP3 player or ipod with come favorite music. Something with small pictures of family and friends would be good.

I've got a great idea--give him ink pens, writing paper, envelopes, and stamps! Stay away from the fancier stuff, but a good basic kit of writing supplies will come in handy. For a bonus, collect EVERYONE's addresses and other contact information and make up an address book for him. I realize that this won't make up your amounts, but it could be part of a bigger gift.

If he will let you, give him an extra hug and a big thank-you from me! Military service is a choice, and I make a point of thanking anyone I see in uniform.

One thought is a digital language translater. The kind where you type in what you want to say and it tells you how to say it. I'm not sure what they run.

Also, you can find out what type of camera they are getting and get him a very large memory card or 2 for it since he won't be able to get somewhere to develop the pictures as often as he might like.

I've also seen small digital picture frames/displays that fit into a wallet. You could get him one and load it with pictures of the family for him.

Alternatively, and ipod loaded with his favorite music and pics of the family. (Might be a little over your budget.)

Another idea is some phone cards to allow him to phone home from wherever he is.

If you have others who would like to go in with you on a gift, you could look into a small handheld computer like the Dell Axim. They are a little more expensive than your budget. I believe they run about $300 but you could also check to see how much a PDA would be. Most of them have similar operations and some cost a bit less.

Hope this helps. Good luck to you and your brother.