What to buy the SF soldier for the holidays? [Archive]

Team Sergeant

11-29-2005, 09:38

I was asked my opinion concerning what to get a SF candidate or any SF soldier, for the holidays....

A few ideas I gave:

A pocket folder
A watch
A flashlight

Ideas are welcome.....

TS

lksteve

11-29-2005, 09:48

books...good socks...a fifth of good whisky...

Seth

11-29-2005, 09:52

Paul Howe's new book. Inexpensive, portable, with high value wisdom.

-Seth

uboat509

11-29-2005, 10:37

My wife is of the oppinion that we all dress like REI models and that we all have Oakleys which, if they are not on our faces are pushed up onto the top of our heads. Consequently I am guaranteed to get at least one piece of clothing by the North Face, Mountain Hardware, Underarmour, Jack Wolfskin or, in the case of this upcoming Christmas, new lenses for my Half-Jackets, not that I am complaining mind you.

SFC W

mffjm8509

11-29-2005, 10:53

My wife is of the oppinion that we all dress like REI models and that we all have Oakleys which, if they are not on our faces are pushed up onto the top of our heads.
SFC W

Dont we?

mp

uboat509

11-29-2005, 10:55

One of the guys on my team, a married 27 year old Staff Sergeant no less, sent a copy of the Diamond Back Tactical catalog with his wish list circled in one of three colors (according to priority) to his mother. My children do this with the Sears catalog but it apparently worked out for him because he told me that his mother had bought over three hundred dollars worth of pouches to send out to him for Christmas.

SFC W

Eagle5US

11-29-2005, 12:22

-Handgun
-Good knife
-Heart rate monitor
-Cigars and / for humidor
-New Meerchum pipe and custom blend tobacco
-Nice sunglasses (non issue) i.e Maui Jim's, Sarenghetis, etc...:cool:

Eagle

QRQ 30

11-29-2005, 12:31

A bunch of guys got together in Germany and bought CSM Pioletti a subscription to "Hustler" and signed him up for a bunch of Lonely Hearts Clubs. Of course we had it all delivered to his quarters where his wife would be the first to see them.:eek: :D

504PIR

11-29-2005, 14:41

I guess a "Lap Dance" and a round of drinks would be hard to beat.

lksteve

11-29-2005, 14:42

A bunch of guys got together in Germany and bought CSM Pioletti a subscription to "Hustler" you're probably the guy who put all the paperclips in the headquarters under the rug in his office...;)

Jack Moroney (RIP)

11-29-2005, 15:34

you're probably the guy who put all the paperclips in the headquarters under the rug in his office...;)v

No, actually that was me. I thought he was a pompous ass and did not appreciate the way he talked down to my SDNCO. Got no time for folks that see their rank or position as a status symbol.

QRQ 30

11-29-2005, 16:04

v

No, actually that was me. I thought he was a pompous ass and did not appreciate the way he talked down to my SDNCO. Got no time for folks that see their rank or position as a status symbol.

I knocked him on his ass. If the story isn't here somewhere it is on my Web Site and "Tales From the Teamhouse".:lifter

BMT (RIP)

11-29-2005, 16:12

Single or married??

BMT

Bill Harsey

11-29-2005, 16:46

I knocked him on his ass. If the story isn't here somewhere it is on my Web Site and "Tales From the Teamhouse".:lifter
Short hijack, Great website and history QRQ30!
I just got thru the 10th Group section. Your a strong looking trooper there Sir.

cback0220

11-29-2005, 19:02

As an SF candidate I got a new watch. My girlfriend did not want to get me the wrong thing so she got it for me while I was there it is a Nixon Juice watch like this one:

http://www.k5.com/getproduct.asp?p=770&ptid=6&b=85

It is a good watch so far, I am going diving with it next week so we will se if it is as advertised.

CoLawman

11-30-2005, 22:32

I'm thinking a watch (for work).
What would the QP's recommend?

Team Sergeant

11-30-2005, 22:48

I'm thinking a watch (for work).
What would the QP's recommend?

I'll recommend an entire thread..... I think you'll find that the Casio G-Shock has been a long standing SF favorite, doesn't cost much, takes one hell of a beating, keeps great time, and you will not want to slit your wrists if you end up losing it.

TS

http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6219&highlight=watch+casio

CoLawman

12-01-2005, 00:34

Thanks TS! SOLD!

blustr18b

12-01-2005, 23:37

uboat509

12-01-2005, 23:40

Personally, I am looking forward to the time when I can buy a house so that I can mortage it to buy some Arcteryx gear.

SFC W

longtab

12-02-2005, 02:38

Dont we?

mp

I don't think I even have a recent picture of myself Stateside or in Iraq w/o my Oakley's on.

My Dad bought me an Emerson SOCFK-B for Christmas last year. Always a nice gift while deployed.

My wife bought me a BattleLab Low Vis (LV1 Plain) Rack from Diamondback for my birthday.

This year for Christmas I want the ESS Profile Turbofan Goggles and a set of desert tiger stripes BDUs to for a new ghulie suit!

QRQ 30

12-02-2005, 08:19

Lifetime membership in the Cotton Tail Club would be nice for the singles, maybe married too!!:D

A few guidelines I have learned:
1. Not something they need.
2. Something they really want but would never buy for themselves.
3. Not something you think you would like. One year I went overboard and bought three 10 speed bikes for my kids. That was something I wanted as a kid. Well, free style bikes were IN and 10 speeds were OUT,:o

Razor

12-02-2005, 09:17

Smartwool henley or zip mock-t tops, lightweight windshirts, good wool socks, MP3 player, good set of noise-cancelling headphones, good multi-tool, headlamp, Photon Microlights...just stuff off the top of my head.

Team Sergeant

12-02-2005, 09:39

good set of noise-cancelling headphones

This would have been GREAT during my Desert Storm live fire. I had to share a tent, with about 8 civilians right on the edge of the runway at KFIA. You've never lived until you listened to 4000, fully loaded, F-16 sorties while trying to catch some zzzzzzz's.:rolleyes:

ghuinness

12-02-2005, 09:41

VelociMorte

12-02-2005, 12:20

This would have been GREAT during my Desert Storm live fire. I had to share a tent, with about 8 civilians right on the edge of the runway at KFIA. You've never lived until you listened to 4000, fully loaded, F-16 sorties while trying to catch some zzzzzzz's.:rolleyes:

I feel for ya. Try sleeping a few inches under the 3-wire with a hydraulic arresting engine on each side of your berthing. Ahhh, the gradually increasing whine of the aircraft engine....the slamming of 50,000 pounds of aircraft, fuel, bombs, and missiles hitting the deck at 130 knots 24 inches from your face....the scream of the hydraulic engine bringing it all to a stop...the cable dragging across the deck as it's being retracted....just in time for the next one. Those were the days.

C0B2A

12-02-2005, 13:00

For fun ideas, I'm thinking of the Oakley MP3 sunglasses...has anyone tried them out?

Thanks for your help!
blustr18b
They are horible.. Heavey on your face and pointless. Just get an Ipod and normal pair of Oakleys

And as for the noise canceling headphones. Apple In ear headphones (http://store.apple.com/133-622/WebObjects/australiastore.woa/wo/StoreReentry.wo?productLearnMore=M9394G%2FA) are great for sleeping with because of there size and they deffently cancel out any sounds. They are also inexpensive.

QRQ 30

12-02-2005, 15:44

Just get an Ipod and normal pair of Oakleys

And as for the noise canceling headphones. Apple In ear headphones (http://store.apple.com/133-622/WebObjects/australiastore.woa/wo/StoreReentry.wo?productLearnMore=M9394G%2FA) are great for sleeping with because of there size and they deffently cancel out any sounds. They are also inexpensive.

I was about to suggest like items.

Speaking from some experience, the soldier is totally immersed in the military. It is great to be able to kick off your boots, lay back and enjoy some music. I would also recommend an I-Pod or similar MP-3 player and include a loaded chip if you happen to know what the soldier's favorite music is.

BTW I believe VelociMate has a point. We were billeted just below a deck gun while going to Puerto Rico. When they fired that gun it sounded like we were inside a dumpster with people beating on it with sledges. I'm sure the Navy must have better noise protection today.:eek:

Roguish Lawyer

12-02-2005, 16:02

I recommend single-barrel bourbon or single-malt scotch, depending on the preference of the recipient.

zeroalpha

12-02-2005, 18:28

Anything with the words "Range Rover" on the front and "Supercharged" on the back, preferably in Bonatti Grey, with 20" Storm Alloys and ebony sports leather.

Smokin Joe

12-02-2005, 20:03

Still looking for ideas!!! also, I need some suggestions as to where to purchase some of these items, we are in So. Cal... like a good knife like what TS suggested, the Harsey T-2, or a combat flashlight (I don't know what that is)..my outdoor shopping has been limited to REI in the past...
The watch idea looks great! uboat 509 mentioned pouches....I'm looking for some great goodies that the 18b in the family, could use once he is deployed! Catalogs/websites would really help, too. Also, any books that anyone could recommend?

For fun ideas, I'm thinking of the Oakley MP3 sunglasses...has anyone tried them out?

Thanks for your help!
blustr18b

http://lonewolfknives.com/store/pages/products.shtml The T-2's are towards the bottom

http://www.surefire.com/maxexp/main/co_disp/displ/pgrfnbr/16/sesent/00 Buy your lights from these guys.
I'm not sure what you need but I can personally recommend the following
L-1
L-2
E-1
E-2
M-2
M-3
X200 (this is a pistol light)
10x

QRQ 30

12-02-2005, 20:11

Just a thought. He is going to have plenty of army toys to play with as much as he wants and more. I would still think of the "kick back and relax" gear like the I-Pod and Headset.

QRQ 30

12-02-2005, 20:53

I haven't seen one but I have heard an emergency radio advertised on sattelite radio that I want. It is made by some tool company, perhaps Ryobi. It is an emergency radio that operates on internal batteries which can be recharged by AC, DC or also IIRC solar power. It has AM. FM and SW bands in addition to an emergency light and CD player and an additional 12 vdc outlet.. They swear that you can kick it down the stairs and the CD wond skip a beat. It is in the $150 range.

If Santa is reading. . . . . ;)

blustr18b

12-03-2005, 01:25

Jack Moroney (RIP)

12-03-2005, 07:06

[url]http://I'm not sure what you need but I can personally recommend the following
L-1
L-2

When I started reading this I thought you were providing replacement discs for the lumbar region. This would probably be a great gift for some of the older SF troopers, but I would add L4 and L5:D

Jack Moroney-dealing with the joys of HNP L4 & L5 courtesy of hard landings and a whole lot of light weight stuff in rucksacks that got bigger every year to accommodate "mission essential" equipment.

QRQ 30

12-03-2005, 08:25

Jack: a wise FOG once told me that the day would come when I would feel every PLF I ever made. He was soooo right.

All great ideas. Again I would caution getting certain items for those deployed or about to deploy. As an example it has come to my attention that the sure fire light is now an item of issue to our deployed SF Troops. The same is true for the SUUNTO watches. Don't give something that may be lost or damaged if it is an item of issue. Let Sam replace it. Stick with the creature comforts.

When I left Germany for Virtnam my team gave me a folding Buck knife with the team and my name engraved on the blade. While in my hootch in Kontum I set it on the window sill for some reason or other. When I turned to get it it was gone. I'm sure a Vietnamese took it since I can't understand why a fellow USSF would want a knife with my name on it. I wasn't famous yet, in fact I never was period. I bought a new one later and have had it for 35 years. However, even if I had it engraved it will never be the one I was given by my Team.:boohoo

Smokin Joe

12-03-2005, 11:31

Thanks for the helpful hints...TS and smokin joe for the websites...ordering a good harsey T-2 camo and surefire..LOL. They are down the street...so thats what they do...need help deciding between the L-2 with the red lens/batteries or the M-3?????? ok, iPod and glasses.. Thanks!!!! and it will all fit in his stocking from Santa:D
blustr18b

The L-2 is a great light 15 & 100 Lumens and it is LED so you do not need to worry about replacement bulbs. I like my M-3 as well great beam spread, great projected light, and brightness but it is an inclandestine bulb (so you need to worry about back up bulbs). If you get an M-3 get 2 back up bulbs; not that the bulbs are hard to come by but if he deploys it might take a little time to get back up bulbs to him.

If you buy a light also buy the batteries from SF, 2 boxes at a time they are the cheapest you will find ANYWHERE. But I'm pretty sure he can get batteries from Uncle Sam.

sharkmanII

12-03-2005, 17:07

Every true SF trooper, whether he be an FOG or still kickin' with the teams wants a Rolex (submariner for us dive guys), a big loud Harley (Ultra Classic for us old guys), or a nice hot rod (real AMERICAN muscle car)!! Now if Santa could just handle such small items such as this, everyone's SF guy would be as happy as ever... :D

QRQ 30

12-03-2005, 17:23

I mentioned a couple of "Jobsite" radios yesterday. I saw two at SEARS today and wouldn't recommend them to anyone other than a construction contractor. They are about twenty five pounds and only play FM as well as CD. They are inside of a roll cage to protect from falling objects. The BOSCH is the better and goes for $170. The other is by DeWalt.

I have heard a lot about the Grundig FR200 emergency radio from SF personnel who have deployed overseas.

It does receive AM/FM and SW.
Has built-in flash light,
rechargeable Ni MH battery
and, in a real lights out pinch, a built-in hand crank generator.

I can't find the dimensions but it will fit into large cargo pockets.

$39.99.