My nephew is leaving on Jan 14th for Ft Benning and basic training. My sister is having a farewell party for him and I have no idea what kind of a gift to bring for him. First of all, I don't know what kind of personal items recruits are allowed to have with them, secondly, what might he have use for during those weeks? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
First off: Never mind what he might take with him. Send him a reoccuring package every week, to include a couple of prestamped envelopes so that he can write who he chooses- but include at least one preaddressed to you so that HE can tell you what to continue sending, what to discontinue, and any useful additions and/or changes.
The US Postal Priority cardboard mailers, about a foot wide and a bit longer by about an inch and a half thick offer a good starting place, and the mailer and stamp will cost $3.80 no matter how much the contents you include weigh. I'd include hard candy such as lemon drops and grape, lemon, orange or lemon-lime kool aid, which helps kill the taste of field purified water, and if you can find whatever magazines he favors, that can be a worthwhile addition after about the first half of his training cycle, when things have settled down a bit. One strong suggestion: if you can be there for his unit's OSUT graduation do so. It's an experience he'll not forget.
-archy-/-
234 posted on
03/14/2004 1:30:28 PM PST by
archy
(Concrete shoes, cyanide, TNT! Done dirt cheap! Neckties, contracts, high voltage...Done dirt cheap!)
We are going to Benning for the graduation! We leave on the 23rd, he graduates on the 25th. I'm sooo proud of him!He is doing very, very well. He made top marksman in his company, and tops in grenade throwing! I told him he was going to be drafted into the infantry with scores like that, but he said he was disqualified from infantry for his eyesight!
Right after graduation, he reports to Fort Gordon for his MOS training. That post seems to be the HQ for the Army Signal Corps. He is a 'computer nerd' who scored 94 on his ASVAB and they really want him to sit at a desk.