Deployment Gift Idea

This isn't very "useful" but what my mom got my husband when he was leaving for boot camp was a St. Christopher medal to wear on his dog tags. He is the patron saint of travelers, to keep them safe.

Otherwise, any care package type item is great. Barracks are similar to dorms, so any item that would be useful to a kid going away to college would be good. (Obviously you don't want to buy him a hot plate because that wouldn't be fun to put in his duffel bag. :) Prepaid cards for anything are always in demand on deployments. I love all the ideas that Dawn lists. A deck of cards, some DVD's, an iTunes gift card, some magazines or video games if he is taking a game system. Entertainment is probably the biggest thing for this type of deployment.

There was a similar question last week regarding a birthday present before a deployment......you might want to try looking it up as I don't recall the name of the person who posted it.

But, I asked several people who've served, who have family members who have served/are serving. It seems like all responses came back to things to help keep them occupied - DVDs, magazines, books, video games.

However, a friend who's served in both gulf wars said when it's really needed is when you're there - care packages (razors, baby wipes, etc) really lift their spirits.

My husband's cousin fought in Iraq a few years ago, he sent us his Army-issued flag which we promptly hung in front of our house. Even though it tore and we had to bring it down, we replaced it and keep an American Flag displayed at all times until the wars are finished - in honor of all who serve.

As a recent cancer survivor, I can tell you it's the personal things that let them know you care about them, want them to succeed and return safely that are so much more important than any gift you can give.

At the end of the day, it's the people in our lives that make it worth living.

Wishing him well in his deployment with safe return.

I know that they are only allowed to take certain things with them. Maybe something like a necklace or small wallet of family pictures? Or a small Bible with a note in it from you?

Whatever you decide, I hope he likes it and will think of you often when he sees it!

.

I gave my husband a photo album that I made myself from a scrapbooking kit and put pics of us in them for when he is missing us alot. Wal-Mart actually sells some pretty cool kits..check it out.

Dear S.,

Give him a couple of CD's of his favorite groups/artists. The very best gift we can give our loved ones in the military is a letter or email on a regular basis. He's fortunate to be headed to Japan instead of a war zone, still, he will probably get pretty homesick, being his first time away.

Blessings....

S.,
this is what I would do if I was you. I would give him a small bible with a dedication or note from you. I would also give him journal with pens/pencils so he can write his experiences or write letters to his family and friends. If you can, get him an MP3 player so he can download all his favorites songs and listen to while there; you can get some for $50 or so that are pretty good. After he is there then you can send him care packages, but for now, just something that will remind him of home constantly so he won't feet too lonely.
Hope this helps.
Blessings.

As a Marine Corps wife, mother and sister, I can only say to give him something he likes. He'll work and have time off like any other person. Cash in a card seems to work well for young men, lol. He'll likely live in a barracks, so depending on what kind of roommates he gets, you'll not want to give him anything expensive as things get stolen a lot in barracks room, whether roommates or not, so I'd leave it to him to buy expensive things by his choice. In the beginning he'll be spending time getting to know others, exploring the base and the island, and going out to party, lol! The young guys don't spend much time reading books, but listening to music and playing video games are huge for them. But at the end of the day, cash in a card works well, lol!

K. B
mom to 5 including triplets
Marine Corps Wife
Marine Corps Mother
Marine Corps Sister

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Either phone cards or $ for his Skype account :)