I believe the new boots require ZERO polishing.
Some advice that NO ONE else is gong to give but in fact isn’t crazy:
I’d suggest every day before shipping out he scream AS HARD AS HE CAN for 10 seconds or more into a towel.
Maybe 50-100 times daily.
Because he will be screaming harder and more than he EVER HAS IN HIS LIFE very many times every single day, and being able to do that super loud will save him LOTS of trouble and exercise.
Even in the mid-60’s, I never polished my boots once in the next 3+ years. The saltier your jungle boots were, the more class they had.
Yes the new boots are like a patent leather with some camo!!! Zero polishing required!!!
Bummer.. nothing like breaking in boots the old fashioned way..