Gifts for soldiers?

My boyfriend is getting ready to go to Iraq in Jan/Feb, and I want to get him something to have while he's over there. Recently he told me that a lot of soldiers are getting in trouble over there cause they're so bored and are just doing stupid stuff to entertain themselves, lol. So i was thinking about getting him a PSP/Nintendo DS, but i was wondering if any of yall had any other ideas like that. let me know :)

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Originally Posted by azak323

My boyfriend is getting ready to go to Iraq in Jan/Feb, and I want to get him something to have while he's over there. Recently he told me that a lot of soldiers are getting in trouble over there cause they're so bored and are just doing stupid stuff to entertain themselves, lol. So i was thinking about getting him a PSP/Nintendo DS, but i was wondering if any of yall had any other ideas like that. let me know :)

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Well, I can tell you (as someone who just got out of the Army) that it does get EXTREMELY boring sometimes on deployment depending on what your job is. Any idea what his MOS is? I was a 25U (signal systems support specialist lol say that 5 times fast) and it was a whole lot of "hurry up and wait". I don't know if I would go for one of those systems though, the PSP I know for a fact breaks extremely easily and is not sand proof in the least lol. Honest to dog the best thing you can have in the desert is a nice weather proof digital camera or video camera (if that's in your budget). I didn't have one and I really wish that I did cuz some of my buddies got some great pictures during the "hurry up and wait" times.

Hope this helps (copyright Adam Wysocki :D)

A psp and a nice hard case would be a great gift. its true they are not sand proof but they are fun! as a game I would suggest monster hunter. Its a harder game but it will defiantly keep him occupied!

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Originally Posted by RoyalGuardian

A psp and a nice hard case would be a great gift. its true they are not sand proof but they are fun! as a game I would suggest monster hunter. Its a harder game but it will defiantly keep him occupied!

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Heck yeah, Monster Hunter 2 is they best game :D. I should start playing that again come to think of it! The only thing about the PSP is that with the hard case it doesn't fit into the ACU cargo pockets and without it it's gonna die fast. Still if it's between a PSP and a DS I would totally go with the PSP

I agree it does get boring on deployment sometimes; I was 11X infantry so a PSP or DS would break really easy plus the normal dirt and dust over there played hell on the stuff we had.

Maybe an IPOD or something for music, that is one thing I wish I had at the time and you can store them pretty easy

He'll most likely have access to email and that is great but make a point of sending him actual letters with photos in them. Even though he can view photos online, he can actually keep a few photos on him anytime he likes. Also get all of his/your friends and relatives to send letters and videos. Its amazing what it will do. Actually holding things from home will really boost his moral.

While I was in the military, my family had old friends I hadn't seen for a while send letters. It really got me though some tough days.

As far as giving him something before he leaves, I suggest a really good camera. Tell him to take photos of everything. Hope this helps!

I sent my son several of the cheap handheld games(with extra batterys). I was told the cheap ones lasted just as long as the PSPs do, they just have only one or two games on each. I like to write letters, hard copy letters.
I was told also that my day-to-day updates on things like the tegu lizards eating and chasing a bug, or the dogs wrestling... that was fun for him to keep up on, even though honestly, he's never met any of the animals. To me, it seemed like it would be boring, but he said he liked getting each update to see what happened.

Of course, he could just be being kind to the eccentric idiot. *grins*

Thanks for all the suggestions!!! they really did help. He's in the Nat'l guard and his MOS is 21B -- combat engineer. But, he's in a headquarters unit so he's pretty much going to be in the TOC all the time, answering radios, hooking up electronics, planning missions and whatnot. so i dont think he's going to be out in the sand too much (he got lucky). i was also thinking about getting some webcams for our computers so that we can see each other that way. any other ideas are welcome :) thanks again!!

how about some fitness magazines or maybe a weight training program to follow. I know of alot of guys overseas who love weight training and its also great for you lol.

Last year I collected a bunch of boots from our guys from the fire department and sent over about 50 pairs to my brother in laws platoon. Appearently their boots SUCK and they were so grateful to receive even used boots :salute:

My son was in Iraq (Marines--ooh rah) with an FOB and was most appreciative of handwritten letters (until he got to email)
his camera (he got some great pics!)
everyday snacks (doritos, etc)
BUT HIS ABLSOLUTE favorite were the care packages that had cans of his favorite soda, MT DEW! If you pack them right, they will travel well. He was very popular when those arrived!

My BBF was over there and he LOVED when I'd send him pictures of his dog, or other things he liked. We both kept up with eachother with "photo journals" once he was able to get his laptop up and working. I took pictures of things I was doing or places I went and he did the same while over there. I met new people and sent him pictures and stories of them and he did the same with me. He met local people over there and other guys and gals that were over there serving. It was a really fun thing for both of us to do for that year he was over there. He's now back home but we both have some awesome things to remember while we were apart.

I don't know how any of you had time to be bored.

Anyway, beef jerky, baby wipes, copenhagen (even if he does not dip, he can make a killing off the state side stuff), and err, adult magazines (after a while the playboys you can get just don't do it.

This is a list that a close friend of mine said. He's in Iraq right now.


Baby wipes, (travel size)
Gum
Tootsie rolls (other flavors greatly appreciated)
More Gum
Laffy Taffy
something soft and cuddly (one time only please)
simple kind words.