View Full Version : SF Graduation Gifts?
Greetings All,
Provided my son successfully completes his Korean language class, he is scheduled to graduate on May 25 and/or 26 - he has two dates for some reason. My wife and I plan to travel to North Carolina to attend the festivities and explore part of NC.
Here are my questions: is it normal and appropriate for parents to get their SF graduate a graduation gift? Can you provide me with some gift ideas?
Remember, I don't have a military background so this is all new to me.
Editors: if this is not the appropriate section, please relocate as you see fit.
18 X Dad
Team Sergeant
03-20-2006, 16:54
This will do nicely........ (if he's in First Gp, 5th Gp Black, 10th Gp Green, 7th Gp Red, 3rd Gp, get him a Rubik's Cube.)
The Reaper
03-20-2006, 17:09
Yes.
Guns, knives, watches, any sort of HSLD gear he can use.
TR
CoLawman
03-20-2006, 17:13
This will do nicely........ (if he's in First Gp, 5th Gp Black, 10th Gp Green, 7th Gp Red, 3rd Gp, get him a Rubik's Cube.)
Occupation: Real Estate
Location of Real Estate: Washington
Gift: What TR suggested AND what TS suggested.:lifter
TS-
Just because I live in the Greater Seattle area, I need to make it clear that I am not related to Bill Gates (Microsoft), Paul Allen (Seattle Seahawks owner), Jeff Bezos (Amazon.com), or Howard Schultz (Starbucks).
I'm just a working dad who is blessed to have five kids - one of whom who has chosen to take the road less traveled and try to become a QP. :)
Any gift suggestions for those of us in the 15% tax bracket will be appreciated.
18 X Dad
Soft Target
03-20-2006, 17:24
Get him a real 1911A1 for when his M9 breaks. Or, a good folding knife, like a Buck 110 Hunter, depending on economics.
CoLawman
03-20-2006, 17:25
18X,
Several months back I learned that Special Forces has their own Patron Saint. Go For Broke provided links to where to purchase it. This is one of my planned gifts upon the son graduating (ever the optimist). Not sure if you are Catholic but not sure that it matters.
http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/forums/showpost.php?p=77181&postcount=13
Team Sergeant
03-20-2006, 17:28
OK
a nice pocket folding knife.
A nice watch.
A quality flashlight.
An MP3 player with a $500 coupon for music.
A great digital camera.
A New set of golf clubs.
Scuba lessons.
I've no idea what this generation desires, ask him.......;)
Team Sergeant
NousDefionsDoc
03-20-2006, 17:33
Call Mr. Harsey.
Co-Lawman,
Yes, we are Catholic - the five kids usually puts us in the Catholic or LDS camp. Thanks for the suggestion.
18 X Dad
TitratetoEffect
03-20-2006, 17:40
18X Dad,
Get your son one of these.......:D
mffjm8509
03-20-2006, 18:06
When I graduated the SFQC, my Dad bought me an SF ring from Heritage jewelrs in Fayetteville http://heritagejewelers.net/mcart/index.cgi?code=3&cat=6
My wife bought me a Randal Model 1 fighting knife, http://www.randallknives.com/military.asp
A rolex is always a nice gift as well..........still havent found anyone to buy me one of those.
mp
Call Mr. Harsey.
Concur 100% - You can't go wrong with anything from Mr. Harsey
I sent my son a beauty with his initails on it (and the muscle head has yet to break it)
Gear, Knife...etc
Since you will be in Fayetteville take him to one of the outlets in town that sell gear (There are plenty) You will pay more in town then on the web but he will know what he needs for deployments. I know that is not a true gift, shopping like that with the giftee. I know that many online Tactical Gear vendors let you buy Gift certificates. Also maybe something for entertainment for the long deployments like mentioned above (MP3/IPOD)
Don't know your financial situation but in this day and age a personal Laptop will help him professionally and entertainment wise.
If you want something real personal a good quality knife (Search on this board for threads on quality knives) engraved with something personal. Plenty of engraving shops in Fayetteville also.
Can you tell I was Stationed at Bragg..........
My dad gave me a Weapon he brought back to the States after WWII. I never knew he had it and he didn't know much about gun laws. Let’s just say it fired a lot of rounds very fast. He pulled it out of his trunk to give me right in the parking lot of the JFK Auditorium after Graduation. Yes I almost shi..... In my pants. I signed it over to a friend with the proper license to have it and he just keeps it in his Arms Room for me. All is legal now so calm down LEO'S.
Can you provide me with some gift ideas?
18 X Dad
18 X Dad;
Call me strange but I would go for a studio setting and some pictures. A couple shots of him in uniform with his beret and a couple of family shots.
Time passes far to quickly and things happen. It would be nice to have some quality pictures to look at and remember years on down the road of life.
While I got some good team pictures down through the years I've found that I wished I had taken more.
Pete
Warrior-Mentor
03-20-2006, 19:35
Gift or no gift and how big varies from family to family.
Depending on how much you want to spend...
SF Ring- Heritage Jewelers (The only place to get the real deal - IMHO) - 4.3 miles W - 114 Westwood Shopping Ctr, Fayetteville, 28314 (910) 867-5935
I couldn't find their website, but call them and they should mail you a flyer about SF jewelery.
Knife - As an SFQC Grad, chances are he has a Leatherman Tool. He may or may not have a Spyderco. If he doesn't have either of those, they make good gifts. The Spyderco should run less than $50. The Leatherman (or Leatherman Super Tool) in the $50-100 range.
Radio or IPOD - My wife got me a high speed radio from radio shack to pick up iinternational radio stations. An IPOD would be nice to take music with on deployments.
That's about it off the top of my head.
Best,
JM
Warrior-Mentor
03-20-2006, 19:37
18 X Dad;
Call me strange but I would go for a studio setting and some pictures. A couple shots of him in uniform with his beret and a couple of family shots.
Time passes far to quickly and things happen. It would be nice to have some quality pictures to look at and remember years on down the road of life.
While I got some good team pictures down through the years I've found that I wished I had taken more.
Pete
Not a bad idea either...
Warrior-Mentor
03-20-2006, 19:46
18 X Dad;
Call me strange but I would go for a studio setting and some pictures. A couple shots of him in uniform with his beret and a couple of family shots.
Time passes far to quickly and things happen. It would be nice to have some quality pictures to look at and remember years on down the road of life.
While I got some good team pictures down through the years I've found that I wished I had taken more.
Pete
Not a bad idea either...guys always resist photos as corny (especially when i scheduled team photos on the range), then they'd be the first in line to get a copy when they were getting ready to leave the team. Same way with family photos.
groundup
03-20-2006, 21:21
Your Son has been in military schooling for a long time. He probably hasn't taken that much time to himself. If he has a girlfriend or wife, I'd send them on a vacation. He probably has a load of money which he hasn't had a chance to spend yet. Something that he can remember will last him a lifetime. He is graduating towards the end of college spring break season. Send him to a Cancun or Daytona Beach.
I hope that gives you another way of going with a gift.
The Reaper
03-20-2006, 21:25
You know, I can't remember the girl I had when I graduated from the Q Course.
I still have the Seiko dive watch and Randall Knife though. With lots of memories on government funded vacations.
TR
NousDefionsDoc
03-20-2006, 21:29
Your Son has been in military schooling for a long time. He probably hasn't taken that much time to himself. If he has a girlfriend or wife, I'd send them on a vacation. He probably has a load of money which he hasn't had a chance to spend yet. Something that he can remember will last him a lifetime. He is graduating towards the end of college spring break season. Send him to a Cancun or Daytona Beach.
I hope that gives you another way of going with a gift.
Have you graduated from the Q Course?
groundup
03-20-2006, 21:37
Have you graduated from the Q Course?
NDD, no I have not. I was merely trying to give alternatives to material gifts.
NousDefionsDoc
03-20-2006, 21:42
Then read the titles of the threads and stay in your lane.
Ambush Master
03-20-2006, 21:45
NDD, no I have not. I was merely trying to give alternatives to material gifts.
Then, you would be best served if you restricted your comments to the areas that you have first hand experience in and not to questions that are directed to areas that you have NO KNOWLEDGE of!!
I would say an SF ring from Heritage jewelers in Fayetteville is really good pick. Looking at 350.00 or more. I got mine during ANCOC, lost it during a fight.
Next a would be a Good Folding Knife. You'll spend 150.00 or more. But he'll get Mr. Harsey's GREAT Yarborough knife.
I like the international radio idea.
As far as your two dates for the graduation. The first one is for the First Regimental Formation on the USAJFKSWCS Memorial Field. The second one is for the "Formal" Civic Center walk across a stage Graduation. FYI
Like the Reaper Said - He'll remember this day for ever. What ever you get your son, so will he. It will fit the bill ... whatever it is.
Be that Dad - Proud!!
Go For Broke
03-20-2006, 23:25
Sir,
Another gift you may want to consider...as he is headed out to Lewis, is the 1st Group print. If he looks closely enough in it, he may find a familiar face or two (Command Sergeants Major that is :D )
My team purchased one for myself and my team sergeant when we departed.
You can see what it looks like here: 1st In Asia (http://www.firstinasia.com)
V/R,
My son graduated last week. His gift from me was a Harsey T2 (Thanks, Bill). When I explained why I chose that gift, and the relationship between his Yarbourough and the gift, he was quite impressed. I also took him to Sears for portraits. They offer a military discount, so I was able to get prints for my ex and all the grandparents at a reasonable price.
I'll be glad to share my graduation experience with anyone who asks. Just PM me for details.
I was just a poor country boy from the south my parents could not afford the trip to Ft. Bragg for my graduation or a fancy gift, that is why I think Pete's suggestion is the best. My dad died a couple of years after I completed the "Q" course, would love to have a picture of him and myself in my dress up warrior suit. What my dad did give me was his love and support which meant more to me than any material thing he could have purchased.
CPTAUSRET
03-21-2006, 13:22
I was just a poor country boy from the south my parents could not afford the trip to Ft. Bragg for my graduation or a fancy gift, that is why I think Pete's suggestion is the best. My dad died a couple of years after I completed the "Q" course, would love to have a picture of him and myself in my dress up warrior suit. What my dad did give me was his love and support which meant more to me than any material thing he could have purchased.
BamBam:
Beautiful sentiments!
Beautifully expressed.
Terry
gtcrispy
03-21-2006, 17:02
I hope he makes it something good. :D I currently have an M4 style Ar-15, Sig P226 9mm, and I just purchased a HK P2000 .40. I lalso have a decent assortment of knives but additions of both kinds are welcome. Regardless I'm sure I will appreciate anything.
Hi Son,
This is kind of like opening up your wrapped Christmas presents before Christmas, huh? I can assure you that your gift will not be the Corvette posted by TS. :(
Lots of good ideas sent in by the folks on PS.com, wouldn't you say?
Now, get back to studying your Korean so the graduation still happens, OK? :)
And don't forget about staying in shape, too.
Love,
(18 X) Dad
P.S. Mom and I are excited about making the trip to N.C.
Warrior-Mentor
03-21-2006, 18:49
P.S. Mom and I are excited about making the trip to N.C.
That was the gift my folks got me...coming to graduation...and it was great.
After graduation we went to a bar for beer with my classmates (in Class As) ...and I'm drawing a blank on the name here...looking for help...was downstairs...entire inside was covered with SF Memorabilia...practically another SF Museum.
Heard a rumor it's closed now....what was that name?
...and I'm drawing a blank on the name here...looking for help...was downstairs...entire inside was covered with SF Memorabilia...practically another SF Museum.
The Pub in Eutaw Village. Started out upstairs on the corner and moved downstairs. John (retired SF) and Jenny Edwards were the owners. Moose B worked upstairs for a while.
So who remembers Pier 76 that was in the back alley? One wall had windows into the Pool at the Heart of Fayetteville Hotel. Watching the underwater bike races were a hoot. I was in there the night somebody CSed the place. The civilians ran like rabbits while we chugged our beers and walked out.
Pete
Warrior-Mentor
03-22-2006, 11:56
The gift that keeps on giving.:D
TR
I've heard that about Herpes too... :p