Christmas suggestions

[Sunshine Ship 03 Div 056]

I know this may be a sensitive subject for some, but I could use some suggestions.  My sailor will be in BC during Christmas so we told her that we would celebrate with her in February (hoping she gets to come home on leave).  What do you get someone who is in the Navy?  I'm not sure what she would need or would be allowed to have. 

[salpetty]

Once they are out of bootcamp they can have a lot of things!!!  Gift card are good.  Wherever she ends up for A school, find out what kinds of stores are around there.  Victoria's Secret has a line of clothing for colleges and armed forces, i.e. sweats, t-shirts, etc.  Here is a link:

http://www.victoriassecret.com/pink/navy

I got my daughter some sweat pants from here a while back.  Remember...they don't wear their uniform 24/7 once they are out of bootcamp....so clothes are an option too.  But remember, they may end up on a ship soon and they won't have a lot of room.  Good luck and Merry Christmas :)

[cajunldr(ship 03 Div 086)]

Don't know if your  daughter is a christian or not, but I sent mine The Sailors Bible.  Done is Navy Blue leather, small and fits in their rack, they are allowed to have it and you can get them at Lifeway or other christian stores.  See below the link to Lifeway.

http://www.lifeway.com/Keyword/sailors+bible

[hollyP(03/025)]

I bought a small box from Wendell August Forge.. its wooden and the top is pewter with the Navy Seal on the top.. thought he could put it on his dresser at A school. and where ever else he ends up  and keep change or whatever in it..

[Jenn (Proud AO Mom)]

I'm getting him a few DVD's - he's taking his laptop back with him after his holiday leave so he'll be able to watch movies on that.  I'm also getting him a cash gift card to use wherever and I'm going to ask him which fast food places are on base and get him a few gift cards to those places as stocking stuffers. I like the idea of a box to put his stuff into though.

[elliemyers52]

How do you know if your son or daughter will get leave after bootcamp or go straight to A School.  My son leaves for bootcamp on Dec. 7, 2011

[Barbydahlzz ALUM 09/075 USS JPJ]

Most recruits go on to A school in saturday after grad if its not in great lakes . Where's he goin?

[cajunldr(ship 03 Div 086)]

You don't know, my daughter PIR'd on Friday and did not leave for Pensacola until Tuesday.

[Jenn (Proud AO Mom)]

elliemyers - regardless of when they leave for A school they can't leave Great Lakes before their A school starts. If he has A school in Great Lakes he MAY get liberty throughout the weekend after PIR - able to leave the base during the day but have to be back each night.  If his A school is somewhere else then recruits usually leave the next day - however he won't know for sure until right before graduation and since it's the Navy even if he knows something it is subject to change up to the very last minute.

[Sunshine Ship 03 Div 056]

Thank you all for the great suggestions.  It definately helped.  I like the idea of the Navy Bible, the small box with the Navy emblem & the gift cards.  I will check out the links you provided.

 

@barbydahlzz - we were told that she would attend A school in Pensacola, FL and will be there anywhere from 4 - 6 months. Her job is in aviation.  I sure hope she gets to come home for at least a week before her training starts.  I guess we'll find out at PIR.

[cajunldr(ship 03 Div 086)]

I don't know of any that get to go home before A-School, they go straight there either the day after PIR or within a few days.

[MaggieMay]

Great suggestions ladies.  One item I'm giving my son is a St. Christopher medal.  As a catholic, we pray to St. Christopher to keep someone safe in their travels.  My son will PIR on 12/29.  He has the option to take leave at that time but it's my understanding that it's because of the holiday leave schedule so I don't know that this is an option after every PIR.  My son decided not to take leave for 2 reasons 1) Taking leave this early would put him in the hole for his leave time which is frowned upon and 2) he found out his A school is only 7 weeks long (we were told before he left for BC that his A school would be up to 6 months)  My son will be going to Pensacola, FL for aviation electronics.  He told me in a phone call just a week ago that at the end of A school he will have the opportunity to take up to 2 weeks leave if he will be stationed in the U.S. and up to 3 weeks if he gets stationed overseas.  Hope this info helps. 

[Jenn (Proud AO Mom)]

joshmom - just as a heads up - even though his school is 7 weeks long chances are he will be at P'Cola longer.  My son PIR'ed on 11/23 and went to P'Cola for A school - AO (aviation ordinance) - his school is only 4 weeks.  But he is required - as are all sailors in the aviation field - to go through some pre-training which doesn't count toward the school weeks PLUS it also depends on when he classes up - as in when a class actually forms or when the instructor is available.  My son is thining that realistically he'll be there closer to 4-5 months.  So even though your son is scheduled to go to A school at the end of December his actual classes may not start for a few weeks or possibly longer after he gets there.  He also will have to go through indoc and some other base related stuff when he first gets there before he will be able to start classes.  It's the Navy so it's all on their schedule. You may have been told 6 months because that is closer to the time he will be there - not the length of the school.   I'm not telling you this so he rethinks his leave I just wanted to give you a heads up that 7 weeks is more than likely longer than 7 weeks.