The best military graduation gifts for the US service member in your life

For new grads out of boot camp, the transition to military life is really just beginning. Daily life is just as demanding, but instead of having every move dictated to them, they’ll have an increasing responsibility to handle business on their own. On top of that, there are basic challenges like managing finances and making time for family. It’s natural to get tunnel vision in your work. Being physically separated from friends and family doesn’t help. If you can take some of the stress out of flying home, that will be a big help.

Southwest Airlines has more than 120 airports to choose from and passengers get to check two bags for free. Airfare tends to be on the more affordable side of things, too. One gift card probably won’t pay for a round-trip flight, but it will definitely ease the strain of taking time off work and shelling out hundreds of dollars to come home for a few days. I can tell you from personal experience that I don’t remember many gifts I got during my time in the military, but I sure remember every trip home.

For those of you outside the military, this one might seem strange; it might not make sense to your boot camp graduate, either. But trust me, challenge coins are a thing and they’re a popular means of chronicling your service and comparing your experience with friends. Basically, challenge coins are given as gifts. Your young service members will get them from various schools, commanders, and dignitaries throughout their military career. Legend has it that if you challenge someone to present a coin, whoever has the most junior one has to buy a round of drinks.

Over time, this display case will fill up and become a great way to reflect on their service. The shelves are removable and the backing is padded, so they can also use it to show off various awards and rank insignia along the way. This one might take some time to fully appreciate, but they’ll be glad to have it down the road.

We’ve written countless words on watches at Task & Purpose, and you can read all about dive watches, field watches, G-Shocks like this one, and even narrow your search by price. They’re all good picks. This one, though, is one of the most popular for everyday use and many service members have gotten attached to it. The GW6900-1 uses a waterproof resin case that’s tough enough to take military-grade abuse without missing a beat. The already impressive battery life is augmented by solar charging so your service member’s reenlistment will come before the battery needs to be changed. With several alarms and a stopwatch, they’ll be on track to be 15 minutes early to be 15 minutes early.

Sentimental gifts are great, but so are ones that can make everyday life easier. This one does both because it’ll be a small reminder of you every time they check the time. It just might give them the watch bug. More may follow, but the one you gave them will never be replaced.

Everyone in the military is going to need ballistic eye protection every now and then. The good news is that it will be issued to them. The bad news is that if they lose, break, scratch, or otherwise allow their eye pro to show any signs of use whatsoever, they’ll probably have to reimburse the government at a price that you and I would not consider to be reasonable. There might even be adverse paperwork involved. The best approach is to keep the issued glasses tucked away someplace safe and use a personal pair that’s military-approved — which brings us to the Oakley M Frame.

These ballistic glasses are better-performing and more comfortable than what Uncle Sam doles out. They meet military and civilian standards for ballistic protection and an anti-fog coating keeps the view clear even in hot, humid weather. If your service member wants to swap out lenses, they can do that with this frame. Such is the joy of gear that works; isn’t it amazing?

You could say that multitools are a common thread across the military. It doesn’t matter what branch, what MOS, or what rank you are; you probably have at least one multitool you rely on. There are more options than even we can keep track of, but Leatherman still makes some of the best. The Wave+ is one of the manufacturer’s more compact multitools, but it incorporates a lot of the same tools and design cues you’d find on its full-size counterparts.

With 18 tools, strong stainless steel construction, and a weather-resistant black oxide coating, this is a serious contender. All the tools can be accessed without unfolding the tool, and they lock in place for safe operation. It’s big enough to do real work in the field and small enough to ride in a cargo pocket on base. The Wave+ is a winning combination and there’s a reason Leatherman says it’s the brand’s best seller.

How many socks do you think you’d need for a week in the field? Double that. You’re halfway there. Service members burn through socks faster than most people can imagine, and that problem is exacerbated by cheap socks. Not only are bargain-basement socks bad for finances, they destroy feet by soaking up sweat and sliding around inside the boot. These socks from the aptly named Darn Tough couldn’t be more different. They use premium materials, smooth seams to minimize hot spots, and they last way longer than other socks. In fact, Darn Tough guarantees its socks for life.

If you’ve never given this much thought to a pair of boot socks before, that’s ok — you’re not alone. Darn Tough has gained a fiercely loyal following among service members, hardcore hikers, and other people who live on their feet. These are available in six sizes and four colors that are chosen for people in uniform. As a kid, socks were a very underwhelming present. As a member of the military, they’re genuinely exciting. Give the gift of healthy feet with socks that your service member will be happy to put on in the morning.