Gift Idea for Young Lady Joining Army

I saw something on TV that I believe was called a "Hero Box". Looked like a care package but there was a website you could go to in order to arrange for it. Try herobox.org. If memory serves, that was it.

I was in the Navy and I definitely agree that mail is the best thing you could do for her for now. Later on, after boot camp, I think the best thing to send would be a nice picture collage of the family (not too big though so she'll be able to hang it up no matter what her berthing situation is). Maybe you could get her senior pic and have people in the family take pictures of themselves with her pic doing all sorts of fun stuff. Like have a campfire and do S'mores but have one camping chair set aside for her picture and take a pic of it with some cousins around it smiling just like she were sitting there and other stuff like that. Just something to let her know that she's still an important part of the family, even though she's far away. Military members need to know that their families are still thinking about them and wishing they were there.

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Edit: I forgot about the religious necklace thing. That's a great idea because even if she's not particularly religious, it's still a personal item that she can keep with her at all times and is a little touch of home. Sometimes in boot camp (and this is by design of course) you can start to feel like your individuality is being completely subsumed because you are allowed NOTHING of an individual nature.....except a religious necklace. So get her a pretty, but sturdy one that is highly individualized.

Mail for bootcamp or deployment (seriously, the joy a letter brings can be better than sex. It doesn't even have to have anything "cool" about it. Simply receiving mail is a joy).. Money for her Skype acct. later. LOL, 10 years ago it would have been a "phone card". But now... it's Skype money.

Handwritten letters are better because they take longer to read.

do you want to get her something she can use during boot camp, or a general gift? if you want something for her to appreciate right away, get her a small photo album (the size that will only hold one pic or so per page...) and fill it with photos of family and friends... She won't be able to have much at all, and will be in such a hard and stressful situation, and will likely become very homesick... and it will be nice to have that reminder of home... I was in the air force, and really wished i would have had more pictures.

If you want something for the time after boot camp, i would go with a portable dvd player (unless she has a laptop) so she can have movie night in her dorm room... fun times!

I agree with the religious necklace and I was also thinking a religious text. Whether it be a Bible, etc. Even is she already has one. A small compact version with a wonderful letter by you on a blank page in the front or back of the book. One thing you can do, and it really means alot is a subscription to local newspaper. You can change the address it's sent to as she moves. Also, if she belongs to a religious congregation - make sure they send the newsletter to her. As well as committing to sending her mail at least one a month.

I agree that hand written letters and care packages are great especially in boot camp, but even in tech school and at her duty station. Also, double check on whether phone cards are needed. I used them when I went in, but my brother was allowed to use his cell phone during certain times at boot camp. (army)

HObbylobby and michaels craftstores have military scrapbooks. You could probably find one online. Also, for something practical I would recommend phone cards.

As a veteran, I can speak from experience that what we appreciated most was care packages from our families and friends during basic training and technical school. We werent allowed access to our money or the freedom to go to the store to buy goodies so when someone got a good care package each day that allowed them to share with the group it was like winning the lottery. It was almost a year before I got settled at my permanent station and didnt have the freedom to transfer much more than my clothes and uniforms. Most of my personal belongings stayed in storage for several years. I wouldnt buy her anything that she will have to decide to leave behind somewhere because she cant transport it.

It does depend on if you want her to use it now or later. For now ( for basic training) I know my husband needed shower shoes (black ones, no other colors) a black cosmetic bag and a black garment bag. Also a shoe shine kit, a black marker (to label all her things so the are not stolen (which will happen)), a combination lock, and phone cards (no cell phones allowed) also cough drops- they can only be the original menthol kind- no fancy flavors oh and cheap black watch.
For later- well I would just go with the classic graduation gifts :)

As an AF veteran and coming from a military family i agree with the others send as much mail as possible. With the care packages I wouldn't send one until she writes home and says that others are getting them. They seem to be cracking down on the sweet packages. My little cousin is in basic right now and asked not to send packages because the whole flight was getting punished. Also when I graduated basic training my aunt who was also in the service gave me a religious necklace. (that's all you can wear in uniform). I wore that the entire time I was in. My grandmother bought my brother this beautiful St. Christopher necklace with the eagle globe and anchor on the reverse side for his Marine Corps graduation. Good luck and God bless
thank you for your service as a military family
when one serves the entire family serves

You can check out military websites and get lists of ideas. Here are some I can think of -- small flip book with photos of family and friends, a good book, musical cds of your favorite songs, phone cards.