<p>I need some help. People are already beginning to ask what to give my future cadet for graduation. What suggestions do you have? Anything you wish someone had given you? Anything you were given that you really couldn’t use? Any and all suggestions would be helpful.</p>
<p>I think I'm going to ask for funds for a trip to Asia or Europe. It's a nice gift because its contributing to an experience... but its a bad gift because giving money is sometimes awkward as far as amounst go etc.</p>
<p>My son is graduating high school this year and will be entering the academy in June. We had thought about a trip; but time would be difficult. There's only 3 weeks between graduation and BCT. Cadets don't need laptops (That's what I bought my daughter when she graduated). Cadets already have those. Money is good, but a bit impersonal. </p>
<p>I've come up with 3 gifts for my son. It was difficult finding something that he could take to the academy. Obviously clothes, jewelry, PC's, stereo equipment, etc... is all out and not an options. Here's my 3 choices.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Guitar. My son love playing guitar. For the amount of money I would have spent on a laptop, use of one of our cars, clothes, etc... for normal college; I can get him a really nice Martin/Guild/etc... acoustic; or a nice Gibson/Gretsch hollow body electric. He loves guitars and the academy will allow him to have it. He may have to wait until Christmas or whenever the rules allow it, but it's a good choice. (Other musical instruments also work if the kid is into something else. e.g. electric keyboards)</p></li>
<li><p>Mountain Bike. This too is something my son really wants and can use at the academy. It might have to be a belated present until we know when they are allowed to have such things, but we can get it for him when he's ready for it. Again, for the $1000-$1500 that we were going to pay for a laptop, we can get a really nice mountain bike.</p></li>
<li><p>Digital Camera. This is low on his list, but he knows having a nice camera would be great to collect memories. They make some really nice digital SLR cameras by Nikon and Canon. They can range from $500-$1000. Of course, you can also get a digital camera for under $200. Depends on what you want.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Obviously, the best advice is to talk to the kid and find out what they think. There are 4 areas besides tuition/books/dorm/food that we would normally pay for our kid to graduate high school and go to college. Going to the academy sort of puts this in a category all it's own. 1. Laptop 2. New Wardrobe 3. Use of a car for 4 years. 4. Spending money. In the academy, none of these are required. We'll still put some spending money in his account even though he's getting some pay from the military. This way, if he decides to go on a weekend outing or long 3 -4 day holiday, (Probably his 2nd year) with friends; money won't be an issue for him. I figure; he's saving me and my wife about $50,000 over a 4 year period. (That's about what it would have cost us with his other scholarships and such). We can afford to give him a couple of thousand over the next 4 years.</p>
<p>As far as privileges go for those potential gifts, he'd be allowed to have the bike and camera as soon as BCT is over. Keeping an instrument in your room requires a SSS (a single page document sent up the chain of command at the squadron level), which he shouldn't have any problem getting approved. We have several people in my squadron who play and have guitars here, including one of my roommates.</p>
<p>Christcorp,</p>
<p>Thanks for the great ideas, our family has been struggling with the same issue. This past Christmas was even an issue for us--- he wears uniforms to high school so he just did not need clothes. We ended up buying him a nice wallet—something he can have at the academy and keep for years.</p>
<p>As far as graduation goes, we are considering a watch. This is something that will last a lifetime. Tags go for $1-2+K and Rolexes go for 5+K . Both are available in Male and Female models.</p>
<p>The awkward part is how you communicate to friends and family that your son/daughter has no need for the “usual graduation gifts” If you ask him, he just rubs his thumb and two fingers together.</p>
<p>For what it's worth; I was thinking of a watch, but I understand that all cadets are given a watch. I may be mistaken, but that is what I've been told. While a Rolex or similar would be very nice for formal use, I don't think that will be a scenario for the 4 years at the academy.</p>
<p>What about a digital frame with the camera, this way they have the ability to download any pics you send while they are away.</p>
<p>My DH is a watch fanatic, probably has 5 or 6, but the only one he wears 6 days a week is his IronMan...I bought a beautiful watch for him for his graduation (one with all the dials, thinking thats what flyers wear, obviously watched I dream of Jeannie and Top Gun too much), he wears it on Sundays! All of the flyers live by Ironman. So I would buy both, one to wear for special days, and the cheap one to wear daily. Hubby is probably on his 5th or 6th Ironman.</p>
<p>Maybe a current cadet can answer this. Does the academy provide cadets with calculators? If not, is this something we could buy for our kids? It may not be a "Graduation" type gift, but if it's something they can use, I'd like to know. If we can buy them a calculator, are there certain ones they prefer or not allow. I.e. In High School there were certain calculators not allowed. </p>
<p>Just trying to think of gift lists for the cadet son/daughter while at the academy for Birthdays, Christmas, etc... In a nut shell. WHAT DO YOU CURRENT CADETS WANT FROM YOUR PARENTS?????</p>
<p>The hardest thing for me is that my son loves his independence. He loves the fact that he is able to repay us for raising him by not requiring us to have to pay for his education; including spending money. I'm not sure if what the academy gives him each month is enough or not. Many times as parents we forget that this isn't just "COLLEGE". In college, we still "SUPPORT" our kids. In the academy, it is the military. A cadet could be an orphan with no parents or family whatsoever, and they could survive just fine. This is hard on the parents. For many of us, college is part of the weening process. It is just as much a process for the parents to let their "Babies" go, as it is for the kids to gain more and more independence and maturity. The academy is no different. Unfortunately, a cadet needs even less from the parent and the level of maturity and independence from their parents are a lot faster and more complete.</p>
<p>Talk to us cadets. What can we do for you; our children?</p>
<p>What about outside the box? You are obviously close to your son, what about buying the bike and taking him with the new bike for a father son weekend camping and mt. biking. You both get a great gift, he gets the bike, memories and downtime, you get special time, and can tell all of your military experience around the camp fire.</p>
<p>LY my s and his friends all chipped in and went camping together for the weekend, they had a blast and he has all of his pics plastered on his myspace. Sometimes memories are worth more even to them than any gift that can be wrapped</p>
<p>Yes, my son and I are very close. However, we are "guys". (Hard to explain). Plus, with my military background, the biggest thing we have in common is our desire for independence and living our own lives.</p>
<p>Get togethers are definitely nice. I believe however that the first year will be very scarce for time for him. Maybe the 2nd-4th year. He's still trying to figure out how his summers are going to be filled. There are a lot of opportunities for cadets in the summer. e.g. 3rd Lt shadowing at a base some place. Son's not sure if he will have to use part or all of his summer vacation time to be able to do some of these extra curriculur activities. Not sure how things like football practice and such fit into the summer schedule. They obviously have to have practice and they have to allow summer vacation. He might however have to use some or all of one year's summer vacation to do this extra activities.</p>
<p>Right now he has a lot of dreams of what he'd "Like" to do. I'm sure that will change a hundred times between now, when he goes to BCT, when he starts classes, and when he finally gets free time. </p>
<p>I am still going to keep track of this and other threads on possible gifts for cadets. (What to give someone who has everything or can't use it?) It'd be nice to eventually have a list, compiled by cadets, of what they'd like to have from parents, family, and friends. They know better than we do what they can have, can't have, can use, and have absolutely no use of. (During their academy years). If that list is ever made, it would make for a great sticky.</p>
<p>OK you now have been officially voted in as the POC for the thread. LOL</p>
<p>Now Now; I specifically said that the list should be "COMPILED" by cadets. They are the ones who know what they want, need, like to have, can't have, etc....</p>
<p>I know you were only kidding, but I do think a list by the cadets would be very beneficial to cadets; current and future.</p>
<p>A few thoughts for a gift (that are not super expensive): a nice electric razor, nice pair of running shoes, memory card for existing camera or digital photo frame, money for airline tickets home for visits, coupons stating that a monthly care package is to be expected (from one of those great delivery places around the Academy), a gift card to somewhere they like to go to when home for Thanksgiving or Christmas break are just a few that come to mind at the moment.</p>
<p>External monitors are pretty popular. (26" limit in the new Cadet Sight Picture)</p>
<p>Cadets are issued "honorlators." They are basic scientific calculators that are the only approved ones in many classes. Some higher end calculators are used in the upper division majors courses.</p>
<p>Cadets are not issued watches.</p>
<p>Gift suggestions for Basic Cadets (but will not be allowed to have until after BCT or Parent's Weekend)</p>
<p>Digital camera.
Digital picture frame.
Cell phone.
Watch.
A good electric razor for BCT and beyond (males arrive at I-day only with a razor and their issued boots).
Printer for their room rather than having to run to use the squad printer.
Mountain bike or ski equipment.</p>
<p>Monthly (automatic) deposit into their checking account - after expenses your C4C will only make a $100 a month. It goes up each year. Also try to cover airfare home. Son's squad had to chip in to get a C4C home over Thanksgiving.</p>
<p>Time - take the time to understand how this is different than the State U. or LAC. Watch a noon meal formation. Attend Acceptance Day and/or Parent's Weekend and drop in for a football weekend. Unlike their friends they're not coming home weekends that first semester, as many do early on.</p>
<hr>
<p>They are provided calculators - I believe my son also has the one he used in high school.</p>
<p>We also had a bigger than usual graduation party as a send off - live music. Son also did a senior trip with 12-14 others in his class and two Moms (a rented beach house). Thought he would really value that last time with his friends before heading out to Colorado Springs for I-day.</p>
<p>Couple corrections first:
We are authorized 24" monitors and 27" TVs (as firsties), not 26".
Current 4 dig pay is about 110 a month, 3 dig is 220 a month.</p>
<p>With that in mind, some suggestions:
A Ti-89 calculator might be nice for calculus if they don't like using the computer software and hassling with the issued honorlator.</p>
<p>Nice and warm black (preferably leather) gloves for warmth since the issued gloves aren't so warm (maybe even just liners).</p>
<p>Nice gray or black fleece scarf, the issued wool scarves for our Parkas are kind of itchy.</p>
<p>I personally won't wear my nicer Fossil watch and GREATLY prefer my $15 Timex Ironman. :) They are amazing! I would kind of discourage a Rolex for both the potential to break here and the image of having rich parents and overly cushy life.</p>
<p>A good way around the monitor rules is a projector. I was able to procur a nice Acer HD projector for 5-600 dollars which fills about a 100" screen in my room (wall) which I watch TV, movies, and play Wii (guitar hero!) on. This would be a better gift for after recognition as well as a speaker system. (I love movie Fridays I run in my room with all my friends!)</p>
<p>SKIIS! My parents got me ski equipment Christmas last year and I have used them more times than my fingers can count! The winter sports here are amazing and a nice set of ski/snowboard equipment or ice skates (we can skate free in our rink) really makes it nice. In fact, I was skiing at Keystone yesterday in some very nice powder. Had a blast! Easy to get out with the ski club ($50 a year) on their buses.</p>
<p>Printer would be a big must! A nice all-in-one printer can be a life saver here! (HPs are the favored brand).</p>
<p>Coffee maker as a 3 dig is nice. Gevalia is always running amazing deals on top notch coffee makers and monthly shipments if your D/S likes that stuff. </p>
<p>As a 3 dig, a plant is nice. I got myself a nice Bonsai ficus which is surviving quite nicely in my room and makes it feel much more cozy.</p>
<p>Also a good 3 dig gift is a set of nice cotton/silk bed sheets which are more comfortable than issued sheets!</p>
<p>Sounds funny, but I liked having my ankle socks back after basic, little thing but appreciated!</p>
<p>After recognition a nice pair of Corcoron boots would be nice too. They use leather luster and require shining only about once every 3-4 months (and takes all of 20 minutes to shine them). </p>
<p>Well, that's good for now, hope that helps!</p>
<p>As soon as our son accepted his Appointment, our family scheduled a carribean cruise June 17-24. This allowed fun times with friends after graduation before our cruise, one week with parents and siblings, arriving "home" for a few days of down time before the flight to BCT.<br>
My son used some of his gift money for a very nice Kodak digital camera (small and thin) with a short video feature. It's almost two years later and he uses it all the time.</p>
<p>My son wanted his guitar ASAP after BCT so he requested the approval and started the paperwork from the PTB before I saw him at the Acceptance Parade. I brought his guitar, his better running shoes, two batches of homemade cookies and 8 under armour type underware/boxer brief. (For female cadets - gift cards to Victoria Secret are a must!)</p>
<p>At christmas, I purchased movie gift certificates on line for the theater near the south gate (sorry I can't remember the name). I recall having to purchase a color printer and external hard drive. The printer can possibly wait because I recall his roommates shared his printer (they purchased ink and paper as needed). </p>
<p>Lockable plastic storage bins were used for private snack stash as privileges were instated later in the first year. I think they have to keep their issued trunks in the storage room.</p>
<p>I forgot to add that we had to get him a new cell phone with Cingular (now AT&T) because his Verizon phone kept dropping our calls. </p>
<p>I hope some of the current cadets on CC can share their cell phone preferences.</p>
<p>I know our son has asked for a nice digital camera. We haven't gone out shopping for it yet but he will definitely be getting one as soon as it is allowed. He also would like to bring a flip video (holds about 60 minutes of digital film) and is quite reasonably priced less than $150. Does anyone know if you can bring one of these?</p>
<p>The digital picture frame is a great idea.</p>