Ok, I'll lay down a few things I've used in my time...
1. PALights Survival light (black case) with the Red light option. They are perfect for map reading and various other field problem uses (stumbling around a dark tent, etc.) I've had great luck with them, both the red and green (green is for NVG use).
2. A quality knife. There are as many good knives as Carter's little liver pills, but I prefer a small Ka-Bar or a folding Benchmade. Don't overdo it, especially since it'll be on a campus (review the rules for blade length). The
Ka-Bar short tactical has been strapped to my kit for years.
3. A quality compass. The Army lensatic compass isn't so hot.
Silva makes a good one.
4.
Garmin Foretrex 301. Nothing is worse than being lost.
5. Rocky S2V boots. Pound for pound, they're the best boot IMHO. They sell out on post all the time for a reason. They are a big ticket item, though, and not exactly "sexy" as a Christmas present.
6. Luminox Navy Seal Original 3000 Series watch. I have yet to find a more durable or useful watch.
7. Quality riggers belt.
This one is similar to the one we're issued now, but VTAC makes a good one as well.
8. Some fresh ACU name tapes and US ARMY tapes. They get ratty in the wash.
9. A few good, quality carabiners
10.
Flight crew checklist book. Regular joes have stolen this from aviation because you can slide any page you want in the sheet-holders and it makes it a durable, flexible book for all sorts of environments.
A few good books I would recommend for stocking stuffers...
The Defence of Duffer's Drift
Crusade by Rick Atkinson
Chickenhawk by Robert Mason
Blue's Bastards by Oliver North
If You Survive by George Wilson
Hope that helps.