Help with a gift.

[CarolineM 0]

I have a good friend who is in the navy and is getting deployed to Japan for a year. I want to get her a gift, but she really doesn't have room for frivolous things that will just clutter her packing.

I was thinking about getting her something with Skype so she can keep in touch but there are no gift cards or anything.

Any other ideas?

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

When I was in the Navy a girl gave me a paperweight/calendar. Not very useful.

Give her some prepaid calling cards.

There are two kinds.. land and ship based. Is she stationed on a ship that deploys?

http://www.usa.att.com/military/action/ser...?id=prepaidcard

"For those wishing to donate a prepaid calling card to a military member may log on to any of the three Armed Services Exchange web sites: the Army and Air Force Exchange Service, aafes.com, the Navy Exchange Service Command, navy-nex.com, and the Marine Corps Exchange, usmc-mccs.org. Click the "Help Our Troops Call Home" link. From there, a prepaid calling card may be purchased for an individual at his or her deployed address or to "any service member" deployed or hospitalized. The Armed Services Exchanges will distribute cards donated to "any service member" through the American Red Cross, Air Force Aid Society and the Fisher House Foundation."

http://www.usa.att.com/military/events/pho...d_donations.jsp

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Commissary gift certificates too.

"Individuals and organizations also can show their support to deployed troops and their families with gift certificates. The "Gift of Groceries" program allows anyone to purchase commissary gift certificates at commissaries.com or by calling toll free 1 (877) 770-GIFT. The Armed Services Exchanges offer the "Gift From the Homefront" gift certificate for merchandise at these exchange web sites: aafes.com and navy-nex.com or by calling toll free 1 (877) 770-GIFT. Gift certificates may be purchased to be mailed to servicemembers and family members or will be distributed to "any servicemember". Only authorized commissary and exchange patrons may redeem the gift certificates at military commissaries and exchanges, including those stores supporting deployed personnel around the globe."

http://www.usa.att.com/military/events/pho...d_donations.jsp

[Otto 83]

Anything that is NOT Haze-Gray, Light or Dungaree Blue.... yuck!

A small but feature-filled Digital Camera. (and a thumb-sized USB memory card reader)

Might sound like a lot, but depends on how much you want to spend - but if she doesn't already have one, it would likely make her very happy...

p.s.

A t-shirt that explains what Navy stands for (Never Again Volunteer Yourself) probably not a good ides...

[CarolineM 0]

These are all great!

I LOVE that idea Rich...although she might not need it, so I might donate one to the Red Cross in her name...now THAT she'd love.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

The camera is a good idea too. If she already has one you can buy her a spare memory card. Always handy.