Good Gift for young woman deploying to Iraq?

A few things I'd have liked during the invasion in 2003:

- A waterproof toiletry bag (cotton buds don't dry well).

- A solar powered radio (longwave for BBC world service)

- A good torch

- Something to cool me down

- A good pistol holster that I could draw faster from

If you go for the watch, try searching for nitex, it's a chemical that lights up in darkness, but only when viewed directly so it won't give your position away.

I'm a guy, but soldiers are soldiers. No room for extra crap, just enough space for essentials. So small is good, as is leightweight.

Oh and treekisser is an ***.

(1) What MOS is she? What branch of service? This does affect gift selection.

(2) If you're talking straight utility, get her a power inverter so she can use her electronic goodies out of the PX without blowing them up. Good ones are hard to find in Iraq.

(3) Other than that, be regular with the care packages. Once a week or once every two weeks is good. Instead of the usual sunflower seeds and snack foods, help her parents pack the box with pictures, letters, newspapers from home, and magazines she enjoys. The PX selection isn't bad, but it's late, and well, it's heavy on the bass fishing, bowhunting, and outdoors sections (which are all that is usually left after the other stuff get snatched up).

She'll respond with email and letters on what she needs, so keep on asking her once she gets to theater.

Oh and a laptop with all the goodies isn't a good idea. Having distinct internet capabilities on a FOB or COB is a no-no. They have to be able to shut down everything when casualties hit (information blackout) so families can be properly notified.

All the best to your good friend's daughter, you, and both your families.

Semper Fi for your caring. As for the first "poster", well not worth the air to say it. I'll let Eisenhower deliver it... "History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid."

A watch is a fine idea; A Casio G-Shock Pathfinder is a good choice, have had mine (G-Shock) for a number of years, takes a real beating and keeps on ticking.

Another thought is a multi-tool; like a Gerber, a Leatherman, SOG, etc.

The care package with the stationary, phone card, and the like is another great idea.

Tell her to keep her head down and weapon clean, cleaner, cleanest!

Semper Fi all!

Have read the helpful posts. I'm going to send my assigned Adopt A US Soldier a pkg from home. Thanks for the waterproofing tips.Our family is grateful to each and every member of the US armed forces.We pray for your safety and we hope Iraq will become the bulwark to counter terrorist islamofascism.We promise to be active supporters of the US armed forces show it in the ballot box and just started to volunteer at our VA hosp.Our son is 16,the war to end islamofascist terrorism may not call my son,but if called he'll do the right thing, just as did my Dad, he served in combat WW2,Korea and Vietnam. May y'all return home like my Dad safe and sound.

How about a care package of some sort. You could add phone cards home baked goods to share with the other solders, body lotions, powder stamps writing paper envelopes, even a journal.. I think you get where this is going. My thoughts and prayers will be with her and all the troops who are fighting for us

Hm, I would say...if you're going for watches, G-Shock's by Casio are pretty rugged. I'm not sure how well they function in sand, but they're really shock resistant, and waterproof. I guess you should also get her a good pair of sunglasses, pictures of everybody important to her, and what the guy above me said that he wished he had.

being an army wife my husband only request one thing. A small mini journal with an elastic band to keep it closed. He uses it for notes and thoughts while he's deployed and they are small enough to keep in his pockets. He goes through about one a month and when he comes home he likes to read all the strange stuff that goes into his head. he also says it keeps him sane because he can write it and then forget about it. plus they are about 5 bucks each at barnes and noble..........a good pen too. you spend a little more but a nasa writing in any condionion pen is my husbands favorite. he only uses when he writes in the notebook.

Get her a journal. When she gets the time she can write her thoughts down and even stories that she would like to keep and maybe even pass it on down one to her kids. Phone cards would be great too...especially if she is close to her family, stationary. And do me a favor...please tell her that people out there are praying for and they are thankful for what she is doing!!!

And Tree Kisser's go bury your head in a hole and don't come out until one year from now. Be thankful she is willing to put her life on the line so stupid people like you can stupid things like that.

a watch is a good idea, something sturdy.

but the number one thing my husband always tells people when they ask is a good knife. sog makes a nice one that works well for the military, you can find it online with the us cav catalog or i've actually seen them at lowes recently

If you can afford it, a small, rugged laptop with wireless, AND a modem, AND network interface card, AND paidup membership to Yahoo or Earthlink, or some other ISP. That way she won't have to wait in line to use a PC to communicate with her family.