Gift for Marine attending Boot Camp (Vanity)

Self | 05-15-2005 | self

[zeugma]

I have a nephew that will be starting boot camp for the Marine Corps. My wife and I are interested in getting him something that might be useful to him at boot camp.

We would be interested in any insight that our fellow freepers might have into what a young man might need in his first months as a Marine.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[zeugma]

See above

[jra]

He won't be allowed to take anything...unless the rules have changed in the last 20 years.

All personal effects are stored until graduation.

[NormsRevenge]

The Marines will provide everything he needs during his formative months. ;-).

Sending him cards and letters of encouragement would be my recommendation.

Summer of' 72 - San Diego MCRD.

[Calpernia]

Give that nephew a big hug and kiss for me.

[tet68]

Shave his head, and have Death before Dishonor tatooed on his arm.

Really, shave his head, he'll have a head start on everyone.
The best thing you can give him is to be there for his
graduation!

[ProudVet77]

Yes, sending him letters is the best gift you can give. And if you can send him pictures of pretty young thing you'd like to introduce him to after bootcamp, it would raise his morale for sure.
My favorite letters were from females of the opposite sex, particularly with pictures that kept them in my memory.

[CindyDawg]

I got my oldest son all kinds of stuff to get thru Navy basic. A few days later I got it all back in a big box. It seems an empty box designated for home is the first thing they were issued:')
If you can, what mine liked the most was the family coming to their graduation ceremony and showing us around.

[FlingWingFlyer]

IMHO, phone cards are about the best thing you can send him right now. Once they are allowed phone priviledges, he'll really be using them up.

[AQGeiger]

Lots of letters to show your support and appreciation are the best. While at basic training, he won't be allowed to keep any material items from home.

[CindyDawg]

My son said shaving your head is the worst thing you can do. He said it "takes the fun away" and the guys get singled out which evidently is not something desirable IHO

[Bear_Slayer]

So when the DI says, "Jump!"

He won'te have to answer, "Sir, This private needs to know how high, sir!?"

[2banana]

Nothing before basic - except a good pair of running shoes.

After graduation - a good combat knife, GPS, leatherman, camel back...

[Mom of 2 Marines]

I just talked to my son and he agrees...once your nephew goes in, Uncle Same will be providing everything they feel he "needs" since the objective here is to tear down a recruit and build a Marine.

Hey, no molly-coddling here! This is the USMC! :)

[jess35]

You're better off getting him something nice once he passes boot camp.

[MikefromOhio]

hugs and kisses from you before he leaves...

letters as he is there....

other than that, he won't have time for much and won't be allowed to have anything like that...

they took away my sunscreen (I am 100% Irish with red hair) when I was in basic for goodness sake! They are afraid recruits would attempt to swallow that stuff. I was able to get it back midway through after the sun blister incident :)

[Uncle Miltie]

"My favorite letters were from females of the opposite sex, particularly with pictures that kept them in my memory."

I think they have some of those up in San Fransisco.

[MikefromOhio]

Now I was Army, but it's similar. The guys that came down with their hair already shaved got messed with as being GI Joe or Delta or something along those lines....

of course if you laughed, you ended up pushing the floor away for about the next hour or so :)

[TADSLOS]

A kiss and a hug will be all he needs. The DI's will take care of the rest.

[ProudVet77]

"females of the opposite sex"
Comes from an old 3 stooges gag (or was it marx brothers)

[firewalk]

bttt