Posted on 10/22/2013 8:33:30 AM PDT by JOHN ADAMS
Yep. Used one for years in Iraq and Afghanistan.
A $10 watch. Wait until he’s out of boot camp and basic. You can “lose” things in the barracks. When he finally finishes his MOS training and is deployed, you can give him something nice and that useful in his MOS
Ditto on the Casio G-shock. They are cheap - so you can get more than one. Digital with a nylon band - my preference is a light model rather than heavy stainless etc. Brown or green or camo.
In BCT, it will probably be regarded as contraband and confiscated. My son wasn’t allowed his, so we simply kept at home and gave it to him upon graduation.
Advice to you: wait until he finishes training before doing anything.
Most likely they will issue him one, I just wanted to thank your son. Good job mom and dad. All my prayers!
If he is about to enter Basic Training, get him a few cheap watches on the assumption that any watch will get broken.
Then, when he is in AIT (Advanced Individual Training), his military branch training, a better watch is appropriate, based on his branch. If it is a combat service support or combat support branch it can be better quality than combat branch, because it will still get a beating.
Finally, when he goes on active duty, *that* is when you get him a good watch. Importantly, “good” means durable, able to take a beating, not ostentatious. I wouldn’t give him a dressy watch until he is grade E-5 or better, as you don’t want to annoy his peers.
If he stays in for 10 years, that is when you get him a snazzy watch, like a quality pocket watch. Less for wearing than for pride and honor.
Great reply. Also if you lose it you haven’t lost anything sentimental. You just get another one.
Thanking your son for his service.
Recommend a watch with option to display a 24 hour cycle ( military time). Stainless is nice but tactical guys want the black plastic band & case. Casio makes several variants and is probably most common among troops. Less than $100/copy. No great loss if broken, lost, STOLEN. Light &noise discipline is new concept to civilians.
Solar Power, Triple Sensor (Altimeter/Barometer, Thermometer, Digital Compass), Sunrise & Sunset Data
http://www.casio-usa.com/products/Watches/PRO_TREK/PAG240-1/
“any watch will get broken.”
Stolen is the word you are looking for.
An expensive watch can be a sign that a recruit is better than others and still considers himself an individual. That’s how my dad lost a shaving kit.
For the electronic watches, Night Vision compatible is a requirement. Do not get the bright numbers on black background faces. Hard to read.
I wore a Suunto all through Afghanistan (NOT the expensive one). If the band breaks you can replace it with any traditional band, I did. Down side is that it is finicky about batteries (use only theirs, order extras before deployment). Easy to turn sound off, in fact I am not sure mine can make any sounds. Key point, watch must tell time and give date (day and month a plus) all else is bling.
This one is my fave. Bullet proof and has everything. It's been through 6 deployments now:
Some Features
Solar powered
Compass
Atomic Time- never have to set; done auto to the second via satellite.
200 meter water resistant
Any World Time Zones in seconds.
Altimeter
Barometer
Moon Phases
Tide Chart
Thermometer
Stop watch
Timer
Night light
Alarm
Stolen, possibly, if it is nice. Broken, definitely. The watches get broken, mostly the crystal, the bands get broken, water exposure kills them. Seriously, the life expectancy of a wrist watch in Basic is measured in days.
This is why he needs to learn to iron military rule: “Primary and Alternate”. It applies to everything.
Be sure if you want all the features I mentioned to get the PAW 1500, as there are different models of Pathfinders.
I should also mention that the atomic time doesn't work in many places in the Middle East I've been to because of distance issues. No biggie though. I just set it once every six months by hand. It only loses a few seconds per month.
If you have some cash get the Smartwool PhD Ski socks, boot length. They are made to give extra support where needed, help circulation, and work very well.
I spend eight to nine hours per day on my feet in combat boots and I used to think a sock was just a sock. NOT TRUE. I received three pairs of 5-11 Level 1 Tactical boot socks when I purchased a pair of their boots. That was when I found out that you get what you pay for. They were the best boot sock I had until I found the Smartwool. The 5-11's run about $15 a pair. The Smartwool socks are even better but run about $17 a pair. Steep price but worth every penny when you are in those boots for days.
When I did basic at Benning they took our watches away and didn't give them back until completion.
Not sure if they're still doing that.
Ditto to #22....in Marine Corps Boot Camp (1966, so things may have changed), wearing a watch was verboten.
There are a couple watch options at the basic px when he first goes, $25-30 or so.
If you are buying one, the couple things you need are:
Not expensive.
Not flashy, mostly black.
Having an alarm is useful.
Timer can be useful, but not needed.
Date/day is useful, but not really necessary.
Water-proof/shockproof.
Velcro band is better than belt-style, and not a cloth-weave. Cloth tends to soak up sweat and dirt and gets pretty smelly.
Also one of these when he deploys:
Do a search on Amazon for: ACU Pattern Lockback Covered Watchband Raine - don’t want those shiny bits flashing.
I’ll ditto Knarf’s post. All those watches he mentioned are what I use. I have at least 3 kicking around at any one time for whatever occasion warrants. I’d add to avoid a metal case and band for electrocution hazards. And also use a nylon watch band that goes underneith the watch to retain it when one of the pins break. A cheap indiglo-type lithium watch can easily last 5+ years and batteries are easy to find. And if its cheap it won’t get stolen too.
If you’re looking for a gift get him a Leatherman.
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