Gift for Nephew Going into Navy

How about a pocket photo album. You can fill it with family pics and write a sweet note in the back of the book.

yeah! I get to brag!!! My nephew just passed his final PST at Great Lakes & as of today, just moved on to BUD/S in Coronado! Yeah, SEALS!!!

He could take very little with him to basics. $$ was welcome, because he has a military acct set up. & he did find that he needed a laptop to keep up with his classes.

For his going away party, I bought a supply of sparklers for the guests.....& several huge ones for him. He kept one of the biggies lit as each guest lit their's & stood up & "spoke" for him. Some of the stories were sweet, some were funny, & some made us cry. The whole point of the sparklers was to create an event....a memory...for him to take with him. Something to help him thru the "down" times. My goal was for this to "light his darkest hours".....& we achieved it thru the honesty & emotions of each guest.

++ it made some awesome photo ops!!

A point and shoot camera?
Costco has them, good prices.

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I would get an APO flat rate box from the post office, fill it with random small items (gum, playing cards, batteries, water balloons, toothbrushes, etc) and a note saying that you'll send similar boxes every month (or 3 mos or whenever) until he gets home. He needs to know he'll be thought of, prayed for, etc until he's home. Good luck!

Give him cash.

When he graduates bootcamp there are Naval poems you can have framed.
Or the NAval Hymn, or Anchor's Aweigh
Or a Naval Cross, a ship's wheel on a cross, as oong as it is no bigger than his dogtags
a Navy Watch
Navy blankets, beach towels, etc
try cafepress.com

He has no use for anything while in boot. In fact if he takes anything with him it will be sent home in "the box".
He can have some stamps and stationery.

Do try to go to Great Lakes for graduation. He can put you all on the list. It is a great experience and he will have grown so much. Plan on doing Chicago, take him to the Sears Tower and Gurnee Mills.
He'll be out right around Christmas, what a great time to window shop on State St.

Bravo Zulu to your nephew!!

Hi, T.:

My late husband had a very small book of poems that he carried with him all the time.

Just a thought.
D.

-shoe polish
-dramamine
- toiletries kit
- stationary and postage
- phone cards

Funny: a water gun and some floaties

It is not necessary to give a gift to someone who is entering the service of our country. HOWEVER, once he/she is away from home, the BEST gift you can give is to write letters, cards,etc and write on a regular basis. If he/she can receive CARE packages, send some homemade cookies or treats you know will be appreciated.

Blessings......

That is neat! Perhaps a backpack with some of these items:

- prepaid phone cards
- paper, stamps, envelopes
- journal
- disposable camera
- if he is going overseas, a 220v converter
- books
- snacks
- crystal light flavor packs

There's nothing they can use, really. Money or gift cards would work best for now. After graduation you could get him a navy ring or watch. He'll be in a barracks and have his food paid for and won't need much for clothes. Again, money or gift cards, lol.

My husband and brother are retired Marines. Our oldest son is a former Marine.

K. B
mom to 5 including triplets

I got my son a really beautiful knife/tool thing. But it was expensive.

When my husband went to basic training for the Army, he was not allowed to bring very much. He had bought brand new sneakers, and they made him but new ones anyway. I am not sure if the rules are the same for each branch of the military, but the Army does not allow any books beside religious ones, and I am not even sure if they were allowed devotional type books or just Bibles, Book of Mormon, Koran etc. And absolutely NO electronics! His Aunt made a special rosary which he was allowed to have as well. When he had his going away party, a friend of ours gave him postcards she made that were already stamped. She made them by printing photos of family and friends on one side and lines for the address etc. on the back side. He really appreciated this. Stamps are a great gift! Also, he was able to use phone cards, which are a great gift because they do not take up space in his bag. When he goes onto his job training, he will have much more freedom and you can send all sorts of care packages with cookies, books, and anything else you can think of. If you get him some kind of gift that he cannot have in basic training, you can let him know that you will send it to him when he gets to his job training.