10 Military "Going Away" Gifts for Deployment

 

Ask a military veteran about their life in the service and they will mention several places that they lived or visited. The fact is, military service is synonymous with mobility and travel. Every few years, the services ask its people to pack up and head to a new assignment. It makes military personnel some of the most traveled people in the United States.

When a military member must PCS, or experience a permanent change of station, they leave behind friends and co-workers they’ve bonded with and they head off to start anew elsewhere. When members of a shop, office or unit depart, it is customary to get those people military going away gifts as mementos of their time.

But what about going away gifts that fall into a different category? Besides an occasional temporary duty assignment, or attendance at a school, there is another event that takes military members away for sometimes extended periods of time. Deployments, now occurring nowhere near the amount that they used to during the Global War on Terrorism, are one of the primary causes of military family separations. They still happen and for those back home we are left with opportunities to wear R.E.D. (Remember Everyone Deployed) on Fridays to remind everyone that there are still plenty of members of the U.S. Armed Forces forward deployed in far flung reaches of the planet.

That said, the venerated veteran employees of USAMM got together once again and talked about their favorite military going away gifts and while some can’t be mentioned on these pages, we think this is a pretty good list of military going away gifts that can help you shop for a family member, a battle buddy or wingman who is leaving and heading downrange.

Here is USAMM’s list of 10 military going away gifts in no particular order.

1. Battle Mug

This thing is awesome and frankly, one of the best military going away gifts you can buy. If your deploying soldier belongs to an infantry unit or works in a military profession that carries a rifle, they will love this gift. The Battle Mug is fully customizable. Not only can you put their name, rank, and unit information on it, or anything else that you think belongs on there, but you can also add a rifle-like handle, railings, and their ribbon rack to it.

The great thing about this gift is because it is a high-end product, made of extraordinarily durable materials, this thing can go on the deployment with the service member and easily survive any environment on land, sea or air. This isn’t one of those military going away gifts that won't survive a deployment. This rugged mug will get used regularly and will be a career heirloom for whomever receives it. 

 

2. Shemagh

You wouldn't necessarily give one of these to someone who is deploying on a Navy ship to the Pacific theater, but for those who are still deploying to the Southwest Asia or Middle East region, these can come in handy. They can use these to cover their faces during sand storms or when the sun is beating down on them unforgivingly. Shemaghs can also keep them warm when desert temps drop.

The Shemagh (pronounced "Schmog") is a traditional-style scarf wrap from the Middle East designed to protect the wearer from exposure to desert or hot-weather conditions such as sun, wind, dust and sand. It has been adopted by military forces all over the world as a standard issue garment because of its tactical functionality. Best part, when they get home they can rock this multipurpose shemagh around the neck as a scarf or as a head wrap, for function or fashion. Our shemaghs are 100 percent cotton and are 42" x 42".

3. Drinkware

While it is true that deploying personnel are likely going to be issued some type of hydration device, good water bottles are always solid military going away gifts. For those of us who have deployed, we know what it is like to drink days old warm water thanks to those plastic canteens or leaky hydration packs.

USAMM's wide selection of water bottles allows you to pick a bottle that matches your friend or loved one's personality, and most of all, it will keep his or her drinks ice cold downrange. Not to mention, if you're drinking water, it will keep the medics happy. 

Remember, USAMM has a lot of these water bottles ready to ship, but you can also order customized water bottles that can be stamped with pretty much anything and customized using our USwag tool on our website. Prefer something that is ready made? Check out our bottles that have military unit logos on them and others that are a lot more, ahem, colorful.

All of our Polar Camel water bottles offer superior hot and cold retention with a double wall of insulation making these high endurance drinkware in a water bottle. The screw on lid features an easy flip top, soft rubber finger hold, raised ridges for easy opening and closing, and a rigid and removable straw for easy cleaning.

These bottles hold 32 ounces and since the bottle is vacuum sealed, your drink will stay cold (or hot) all day (and into the night). All are made of stainless steel (powder coated). These water bottles are kickass military going away gifts.

4. T-Shirts

You’ve heard the phrase, been there, done that, got the t-shirt. Well for those who deploy, that statement certainly applies, but it is important to note that while deploying personnel typically have little room for civilian attire, they do need some. 

Quality t-shirts from USAMM make great military going away gifts. Why? Because when troops are deployed and far away from home, they will have a little bit of home with them and something to bring a smile to their faces, and to those around them. They might not have many opportunities to wear civilian clothes, but when they do, it will be fun.

Many of our shirts are 4.5 ounce, 50/25/25 poly/combed ring spun cotton/rayon. They have shoulder to shoulder taping, a side seam, crewneck and they come in multiple sizes including small, medium, large, extra large, double extra large and triple extra large. 

All of our shirts are printed in Texas and all of our designs are unique. Meaning, you won't find them at those military t-shirt factories where all the shirts look the same.

5. Woobies

Once upon a time, the U.S. military used to issue ponchos and poncho liners. The liners were ultra-soft and warm that essentially became warm and snuggly blankets (maybe combat arms types won't use those two words to describe them, but they know I'm right). 

Those poncho liners affectionately became known as "Woobies." These things are amazing and a must have for any deployment. They can keep you warm on a frigid military aircraft or on a military charter as you fly to the area of operations or theater. They can also serve as a pillow. 

On the ground, they can also keep you warm and you can also use them to block the sun. Really there isn't a whole lot these multi-use liners can't do. But they are amazing military going away gifts and they will absolutely get used downrange. Even in places like Navy ships, a sailor can use them to keep warm and snuggle up.

USAMM stocks the U.S. Army's official poncho liner. Our favorite part of this liner is that it is light and easy to pack. It's made of 100 percent rip-stop nylon and has polyester loft filling. The woobie is 62" x 82" and has ties.

6. Knife or multitool

Knives and multitools make very useful military going away gifts for those heading out on deployment. Deployment presents numerous challenges and having a tool that can help in a pinch can certainly make life easier. Think of life back home. Anytime you need to fix or adjust something, you just head over to the toolbox, grab the appropriate tool and get after it. 

When you're deployed, that isn't so easy. Only certain occupations have tools around and this can present a challenge to a service member who just wants to tighten a screw or loosen a bolt. 

If your deploying service member is going to be going someplace primitive, consider getting them both a multitool and a survival knife. USAMM's Ramster knife is a great field tool. The hollow steel knife handle holds several essential survival items literally in the palm of your hands including a compass and fishing hooks. The knife also features a nylon and plastic sheath with pouches and sharpening stones. The durable stainless steel knife has a 7 1/2" blade and is the perfect companion for any austere field deployment.

7. Assault Packs

While it is true that the U.S. military will issue backpacks, sea bags, "A" bags, duffel bags, foot lockers and other types of containers for deploying service members to haul their kit, a small backpack is always a good thing for military personnel to carry the things that they might need while in transit to their deployment location, or on short missions outside the wire while they are deployed. 

For example, when I went to Fallujah while I was in Iraq, I carried with me a smaller assault pack where I had my camera gear, laptop, phone and pogey bait, as well as extra ammo and other tactical gear and items I thought I would need. When I embedded with troops in sector, I trimmed down the load in the pack and only brought what I thought I would need for the day or so. But the smaller pack was incredibly useful.

Assault packs are great military going away gifts. Like, the woobie, which I carried in my pack, these packs will undoubtedly get used quite a bit, so ensure you buy one that is durable and rugged. 

8. Gift Cards

Sounds crazy, but a gift card is actually something useful for deploying personnel. In forward areas, supply items run lean; a lot. That means if you're lucky enough to have an Exchange store nearby odds are pretty good that the shelves might be picked clean within hours of it getting restocked. 

That said, gift cards can make super useful military going away gifts because a service member can get online and order something that will be delivered to them overseas. The best part about them is that you can get them in different denominations and your deployed service member can get tactical gear or uniform items they may need or may have lost.

9. Flags

A trend that got a lot of traction during the Global War on Terrorism was the use of flags on missions. What do I mean? For example, let's say a pilot was going to fly a combat patrol over a section of Iraq. They would take a folded U.S. flag with them and fly their combat sorties. At the end of their tours, they would bring the flag back home and either present it to their units or keep it as a memento of war.

Similarly, soldiers on the ground would fly their U.S. flags from their vehicles or carry them with them out on missions. They did the same thing, when they returned, they either displayed the flag in their offices or they presented it to their units. 

We had a U.S. flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol in our team's office in Iraq. That flag traveled throughout Southwest Asia and now it sits in a case in an office. Flags are amazing military going away gifts that can eventually become meaningful symbols for those who are deploying. 

USAMM carries U.S. flags as well as service flags that can be presented as military going away gifts.

10. Love and Prayers

This item doesn't cost a lot and we don't have a coupon code for it, but it is the best thing you can get a deploying service member. 

Remember to send lots of emails and pics from home. Letters and care packages are great too. The main thing is that your service member knows that he or she is supported. Love and prayers are the best military going away gifts you can get.