When it comes to shopping for service members, there is a unique challenge: They usually just buy whatever they want. What do you gift someone who shops for themself the moment they get back from deployment or an extended op? Here are some gift ideas that are actually useful to gift your service member this holiday season.
Field Chair
A field chair is very similar to a standard lawn chair, except that its color palette is camouflage and it typically features a tripod leg setup. They are small, quickly collapsible, and fit neatly on the side of a pack. The best part is that these chairs sometimes last for years, and they are usually competitively priced at around $20.
I recommend buying one without the back or cup holders. Remember: this chair is to be disassembled and reassembled at a moment’s notice, so the fewer moving parts, the better.
Sleeping Mat
Remember the green ISO mats that had terrible green ties that also made you feel every single rock on the ground from here to the center of the earth? Those aren’t issued anymore, and the new generation gets the Z-Fold Cascade Designs Sleeping Mat, which lets you feel every rock from here to the center of the earth, but in style.
This new mat is lighter than the green one, but it is still uncomfortable. The biggest game changer for me was when someone brought an inflatable mat. It was as if someone had invented fire before my very eyes. This is one of the gifts I would most push you to buy. It won’t replace the new ISO mat, but combined with it will improve quality of life in the field tremendously. Check out this one on Amazon (not an affiliate link – we just like it).
Drinking Containers
Everyone is issued two canteens and a Camel-Bak, but real talk: those canteens are gross. Unless I was issued a brand new one, I didn’t like drinking from a canteen. Neither did anyone else I know. It was just something that “is what it is.” They’re hard to clean, impossible to see into, and they look identical to everyone else’s.
In the field, troops are allowed to bring different gear as long as they have the complete gear list packed, regardless of whether it was issued or not. As long as something is tactically blended in with the surroundings using the correct woodland and/or desert color scheme, you’re good to go! Having a good container for water is at the top of the list for any troop, regardless of military occupational specialty.
Note-Taking Gear
I almost never recommend brands, but Rite-in-the-Rain gear is practically issued to every troop for a reason: the products work. I have tried competitors, and it’s never the same. Rite-in-the-Rain notebooks also provide information within the first few pages, including common knowledge, instructions on how to create a range card, and other useful information to have on hand.
Having note-taking gear is a requirement for the Marine Corps at all times and is the perfect excuse to haze train new boots a lesson about readiness. This gift can also save your troop’s butt when they realize they’ve used up their last page. Even the act of borrowing a page or two attracts unwanted attention, especially if you’re new to the fleet. While it is not the flashiest gift one can give, it’s one I guarantee will be put to good use.
A Light Source
Anything that can illuminate at night and recharge via solar power is clutch. While the Marine Corps and other branches issue flashlights that get the job done, there are situations when you just want to see quickly without having to dig through your bag for it. No one carries a flashlight during the day, and the high-speed, low-drag one issued at CIF makes my heart skip a beat at the thought of losing it at night.
Yes, that sidewinder flashlight is like $120, do not lose it. Unless you need to use the IR function, I recommend using something else that isn’t worth half an enlisted car payment.
Reusable Eating Utensils
Every Meal-Ready-to-Eat (MRE) does come with a surprisingly sturdy spoon, but a good gag gift is a reusable eating utensil. Sometimes you just can’t beat a good ol’ fork and knife. I knew two Marines who carried around their personal cutlery, and, yes, they were the gear-collecting aficionados.
Multi-Tools
I personally have used both Gerber and Leatherman multi-tools while I was active duty in the infantry. I would say the Leatherman is more suitable for garrison use, and the Gerber is better suited for the field. I base this on the fact that Gerber has a smoother feel when deploying or retracting the specific tool you need while in the mud.
Both perform well at the same exact jobs, but that’s just my personal preference based on my experience.
Solar Showers
This was a game changer in Afghanistan. I honestly do not know how much worse my deployment would have been without these. We weren’t in a fancy FOB with all the amenities; We were in a patrol base in the middle of nowhere, trying not to step on IEDs. Simply said, we would not have had a proper shower for the duration of the entire deployment if it weren’t for these.
Solar Showers are lightweight and warm up the water during the day, allowing you to take a hot or warm shower upon returning from patrol. The best part is you can hang them up like a real shower, just be sure to turn it off between lathering up, because the water will run out quickly if you don’t.
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