Posted: 9/21/2009 3:05:49 PM EDT
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I posted this in the general too but I thought I would hit up the local guys i know
My step son is graduating his AIT army cav scout this week. He will be going t Ft Campbell 101st airborne. Here is my question for the Guys that have served. We are getting him a Multitool for graduation already. What other suggestions do you all have? I have no doubt he will be deployed in the near future especially if we ramp up forces in Afgan. We would like to get him things that will help him or be most useful while deployed. What kind of items are not immediately thought of but are of great use. What would you all have liked to had when you got there. Also ideas on items that would be needed/appreciated for care packages |
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Harv, thanks a laptop might be a bit pricy right now as with everything things are a little tight. His mother just got laid off today making it harder but we want to do something. I am not as concerned with MIL gear at the moment. Many of what I keep thinking of I am sure he will be issued. More after those things that are not readily available but make life generally easier hence the multitool. Right now looking for a little something extra for graduation. Maybe a good set of shooter style sunglasses would be in order?
Once deployed I am sure there will be many things including this months issue of Hustler LOL softer TP sunscreen frisbees ect Once/if he gets deployment orders maybe i can swing the laptop or some MIL gear. graphite, breakfree, compressed air, Once I know what he will be issued and not issued etc etc as for the support a sniper lists mentioned. Wow some are trying to feed heavily at the free troth, understandable I would want the good gear as well i guess. But what is with asking for knives, cleaning brushes and pistol mags? Are these NOT being issued? There are many things on the list if these guys arent getting all americans need to speak up. |
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as for the support a sniper lists mentioned. Wow some are trying to feed heavily at the free troth, understandable I would want the good gear as well i guess. But what is with asking for knives, cleaning brushes and pistol mags? Are these NOT being issued? There are many things on the list if these guys arent getting all americans need to speak up. It's beens a couple years since I was there but when I was the pistol mags sucked because they had been kept loaded for quite sometime and would not function, so trying to order replacement springs or even mags from the states was a pain in the ass because no company would send overseas. As far as knives go, there were a lot of options at the PX however they know you can't go down to the next store and get one so of course the price is higher. I bought my computer while there and paid $1100 for it just to come home and the same one is sold here for $600  Gee thanks AAFES.
I would say wait until he gets orders and find out what is issued to him, some units only allow certain types of gear and that could add up real quick. |
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I would say wait until he gets orders and find out what is issued to him, some units only allow certain types of gear and that could add up real quick. I see a lot of threads around the web on this same topic and, from what I've read, I say just save the money and use it to send him stuff he requests. Once he gets deployed and is assigned to his job he'll know better what will come in handy. He may get sent to Afghanistan or Iraq but maybe he'll end up in Korea or elsewhere in the world. Besides, Afghanistan is so different from place to place (as Michael Yon has written) that what is handy in one place may gather dust at another. |
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as for the support a sniper lists mentioned. Wow some are trying to feed heavily at the free troth, understandable I would want the good gear as well i guess. But what is with asking for knives, cleaning brushes and pistol mags? Are these NOT being issued? There are many things on the list if these guys arent getting all americans need to speak up. Seriously.....have you not been reading the news the past 5 years???? Every news channel out there had reports of troops using scrap metal to armor doors so is it that surprising other areas are lacking as well? |
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I went through Infantry basic training and realized what a load of shit is for people to get through. So when my brother graduated I gave him a $600 custom Glock 19.
I was proud of him and always have been. He had a rough time down their with some good drill sergeants, broke his nose twice in ground fighting techniques. They made him finish the fight before they would take him to the hospital to get it straightened out. I think he puked twice in the process, but he came out on top, won, and I've never seen him lose a GFT match since. His buddies wrote quotes like "employ the Choke" in his class book. Kennedy I believe was his name, was a member of his company in basic- the top Army combatives fighter who's now transferring to the guard special forces in Texas to fight professionally on the side. If you feel generous get him a 1911 .45. I only got my brother a G19 because I'd seen him jump out of a car on private ground my friends owned no ear protection or anything and kill 7 grouse on the ground with one before they got airborne. I figured the G19 was a good gun for him considering he shot it so well. That was back before he joined when he was 17. I don't know I just think becoming a soldier is a good time to do something memorable. |
| an ipod, the magazines are alright (readable) i have never had an issue with the my mil issue m4 or m9 mags besides the O's NEVER SHOOT THEM the only time they do is at the range and when they play in the streets and there. we always had a large supply of them, most units do. |
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Well im Astan right now, and spent my first month with the CAV.
Eyepro, you get a ton of it, more than you need. oakleys, Wileys, sawflys, we get all that stuff. Shooters gloves, you wear out quickly and dont always get new ones. Small DVD player with screen and a spare battery is what most of the CAV guyzos were writing home for. Haji flicks and tv boxed sets are cheap as shit out here, but decent DVD players are hard to come by. I would say quality gloves or a dvd player. Because thats what I had my old man mail me after a month. |