My nephew recently graduated the Marine Corps MSG school and he'll be shipping off overseas for a while. I'd like to buy him a nice Christmas gift and it preferably be something that he can use while he's deployed.

Any ideas?

Thanks!
JP

A good sturdy watch. The Corps will give him a bayonet and a rifle and tactical stuff.

Leatherman tool or LED flashlight.

quote:

Originally posted by MikeinNC:
A good sturdy watch. The Corps will give him a bayonet and a rifle and tactical stuff.

He already has a good sturdy watch, but thanks for the suggestion.

JP

A good quality backpack type carry on luggage. The Marines issue some horrendous bags to travel with. They use the sea bags but the body bag and the ditty bag suck. I got my Marine a Maxpedition Fliegerduffel or something like that. Has backpack straps, carry on sized, tough build, doesn’t look out of place when they travel.

quote:

Originally posted by jprebb:

quote:

Originally posted by MikeinNC:
A good sturdy watch. The Corps will give him a bayonet and a rifle and tactical stuff.

He already has a good sturdy watch.

JP

Well, crap. I tried.
I wasn’t a Marine, but when I was a sailor things I needed were:

*Good knife-I carried a USGI issued Camaillus #697…I wound up buying a Gerber brand after a year or so..and still have it

*Mini mag with a red lens…lost the lenses after I got out

*Waterproof watch-I had several but was issued a Marathon GSAR in 03. Still have it. Pretty indestructible, but my grail watch is a Rolex Submariner Date

*Better boots…and socks, aboard ship the boots have to be fire resistant (all leather and hard soles) so your stuck with a few brands, but the best socks were Thorlos

quote:

Originally posted by pedropcola:
A good quality backpack type carry on luggage. The Marines issue some horrendous bags to travel with. They use the sea bags but the body bag and the ditty bag suck. I got my Marine a Maxpedition Fliegerduffel or something like that. Has backpack straps, carry on sized, tough build, doesn’t look out of place when they travel.

Actually, quite a bit that the Corps issues is crappy.

A Surefire Stiletto for an overseas assignment would be a great gift for right around $100.

quote:

Originally posted by jljones:

quote:

Originally posted by pedropcola:
A good quality backpack type carry on luggage. The Marines issue some horrendous bags to travel with. They use the sea bags but the body bag and the ditty bag suck. I got my Marine a Maxpedition Fliegerduffel or something like that. Has backpack straps, carry on sized, tough build, doesn’t look out of place when they travel.

Actually, quite a bit that the Corps issues is crappy.

A Surefire Stiletto for an overseas assignment would be a great gift for right around $100.

My experience is a couple decades old, but the same. The only issued item I had that was good was the gortex jacket. Though if I had found some AR and Beretta magazines at the bottom of my seabag after EAS I’d bet they would have stood the test of time too.

I agree with the flashlight suggestions, but a Leatherman or a good folding knife would make great gifts too.

My boy is active duty now. It’s gotten no better.

quote:

Originally posted by jljones:
My boy is active duty now. It’s gotten no better.

Oh yeah that’s right! I hope he’s doing well. I remember you said he got one of those new FN rifles though so at least that’s a good thing.

quote:

Originally posted by Pale Horse:

quote:

Originally posted by jljones:
My boy is active duty now. It’s gotten no better.

Oh yeah that’s right! I hope he’s doing well. I remember you said he got one of those new FN rifles though so at least that’s a good thing.

He’s rockin an HK M27 now with a LPVO. He’s apparently going to explosive breaching school after the first of the year. I think the guns are much better than anything we had, but his first and second line gear, packs, (stuff you probably called 782 gear) etc are pretty uncomfortable and poor quality.

He’s doing really good (despite being the standard 19 year old Lance Cooley that is salty )

A good garment bag before he heads out. Depending on where he's headed, nothing that says "I'm one of the Uncle Sam's Misguided Children". When traveling, MSG's and other Embassy personnel like to maintain a low profile.

A good Leatherman is worth it's weight in gold.

Good shoes!
Good clothing, again- depending on where he's headed. If he's heading to Nairobi, no sense in getting him a winter jacket.

Outside of that, maybe something to pass his time while he's on post on midnights

quote:

Originally posted by jljones:

He’s rockin an HK M27 now with a LPVO. He’s apparently going to explosive breaching school after the first of the year. I think the guns are much better than anything we had, but his first and second line gear, packs, (stuff you probably called 782 gear) etc are pretty uncomfortable and poor quality.

He’s doing really good (despite being the standard 19 year old Lance Cooley that is salty )

Breacher?
Tell him to keep his mouth open only before it goes "BOOM"!

I hope he's having fun!

Narobi is such a nice place to visit.

((You almost know who all will show up in this thread)

Yeah, I guess being a breacher is the flavor of the week. He’s home this week. He’s afraid he isn’t good enough at mechanical breaching, so I’m going to see about letting him hang around with one of my breachers to help him on mechanical breaching while he’s home.

I’d work with him but damn, I hate breaching.

Nairobi used to be a nice place to visit. It's gotten a little rougher over the past few years.

Mechanical Breaching is 70% technique, 30% the ass you put behind the ram/sledge. But the guy swinging the sledge is usually the "Fireplug" type. My BIL and one of his partners were the best in the business. A couple hundred doors a piece.
(Pro-tip: the flat part of the Halligan, never put it in at a 90degree angle- always point it between into the opening between the door and the jam.)

I mean, obviously, edible crayons:

https://www.amazon.com/Dulces-...id=1671444056&sr=8-3

Toss up tween a leatherman multitool & a solid light. Can’t go wrong with either..

quote:

Originally posted by CPD SIG:
Nairobi used to be a nice place to visit. It's gotten a little rougher over the past few years.

Mechanical Breaching is 70% technique, 30% the ass you put behind the ram/sledge. But the guy swinging the sledge is usually the "Fireplug" type. My BIL and one of his partners were the best in the business. A couple hundred doors a piece.
(Pro-tip: the flat part of the Halligan, never put it in at a 90degree angle- always point it between into the opening between the door and the jam.)

....and never try to ram at face level from lower steps on an elevated door. Also, when the pry is inserted, first push downwards on the pry to separate the door and jamb from the deadbolt. As for the gift, the good LED flashlight, multi-tool, and incognito backpack recommendations are great.

I would agree with the quality bag suggestion.

Boot camp backpacks were shot and while the sea bags were better quality they don’t hold up well if you’re using them often, plus the top loading sucks for short TDY or training.

Get a large quality zip open duffel.

Box of cigars....