Posted on 07/19/2010 9:00:05 AM PDT by Robe
My son will be commissioned as a 1st Lt. (11 Alpha) on Aug, 14...We want to get him a good military watch which would serve him well in the field. Can't afford a Rolex so don't go there .. Any help would greatly be appreciated
That's what I'm wearing right now.
I definitely would never wear an expensive watch every day - especially in the field. You don't want one that's shiny because it can be spotted from a long way away. It also makes you a target for street thieves in third world countries. When working in the field it's going to get banged up. I would recommend something that's waterproof with an alarm and a timer/stopwatch function. Also world time is a plus.
i have worn G Shocks for 20 years starting while I was in the Army. I now have a tough solar that has an analog face. I bought it before I came to Iraq in 2004 and have been using it here since with no issues. They are good, tough watches and will not break the bank.
My grandparents gave my father a 66 Omega Seamaster when he qualified for the F4. It survived Vietnam and worked perfectly up until a couple years ago when some idiot named “Me” lost it.
Not at all! There are some jobs where you can come in at more than a O-1...docs and jags to name two. I was just curious.
Casio has lots of features and is easy to use, but the stems and buttons tend to develop minor corrosion in climates where you sweat and once this happens the watch is unreliable bucause the buttons stick. Timex seems to have a much better record where buttons and stems are concerned, maybe not as many features, but much more reliable, just dont buy anything where the strap and watch body are all one part.
Casio G Shock .... damn things are INDESTRUCTIBLE ;-)
If I were buying a gift for a new commissionee, I would honestly look at a good, high quality utility tool like a Leatherman Wave and maybe even have it engraved. Even in garrison he'll find it handy at least 2-3 times x day, and in the field his soldiers with their 12" Rambo knives hanging from their pistol belts will keep coming up to him and asking, "Sir, can I borrow your Leatherman." ;-)
a plug for suunto GPS watches:
I took a HUMMWV for a “swim” off a partially destroyed bridge in Iraq in 03. The allegedly waterproof watch got damp inside after ~ 3 hours of recovery ops - perhaps due to a detriorated gasket? Good news was that it dried out and worked, better news was that Suunto replaced it for free, no questions asked, almost a year later after I got back and was able to send it to them.
You may wish to consider the Bulova Marine Star Mens Watch model 96G55. Black face, white hands - for me, much easier to read. Has stopwatch/countdown timer function - no beepers. Stainless steel case and thick mineral glass crystal. Very good prices if you shop just a bit.
A less expensive version of this timepiece is the Seiko Chronograph Watch. Quartz movement, multiple choices on face color (including red of all things) Seiko is well known for quality and good value. BOth may be had from on-line vendors...
Please, wish your son well on my behalf and may the Lord grant both protection and wisdom in his duties.
Personal preference, but the all-digital models appear to be more rugged. I’ve got three or four analog watches that are all dead for some reason. Those solar/atomic models really hold up.
However, the Pathfinder models shown by Republican Extremist are nice. I’ve seen them around and they are a step up from the overbuild-looking G-Shocks. Very attractive.
Ditto on that. Been wearing one for 6+ years. The best part (unlike the Suunto watches? No battery. When you are stuck out in the desert (or God knows where), there are not too many Battery Plus stores around.
I've worn mine all over the world on business travel and have been able to keep it synched to atomic time too.
Best wishes to your son and congrats to you and his mother for raising such a great kid.
I had a GShock digital solar watch that refused to hold a charge after five years.
I sent it in for service and instead of getting my old watch back I was sent a brand new one at NO charge.
That’s customer support.
Go G-Shock Mudman. The buttons are made so crud can’t get in them.
I sawed wood and my arms and hands were covered in sawdust and the watch was fine. Been in dirt and mud too.
Dittos on the Casio G-Shock.
Served me well in the service, also survived wood splitting and other farm duties. Will survive water immersion too.
It will become too ugly to wear long before it stops running.
One note, get the metal band, some people’s sweat will rot plastic bands.
Best thing, the price is right.
I wear a pathfinder now but I used to wear a G shock, lasted 7 years until the band snapped, shortly after, the battery kicked. It was a damn good watch though.
Bookmarking.
Does this watch have a countdown timer?
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