Commissioning Gift

mascara_mom

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My son will be graduating from his university and Commissioning with the Air Force in May after 5 wonderful years in AFROTC. He has a pilot slot.

We are thinking of a Saber or a Challenge Coin holder. Are there any other recommendations for a gift to get him for this exciting occasion?
 
I always viewed the saber as more of a SA or military school (VMI, Citadel, A&M, etc) thing. Not in a negative way. Same with the ring. So I got neither.
 
My son will be graduating from his university and Commissioning with the Air Force in May after 5 wonderful years in AFROTC. He has a pilot slot.

We are thinking of a Saber or a Challenge Coin holder. Are there any other recommendations for a gift to get him for this exciting occasion?
There have been several threads on this over the years with good ideas.

I am always fond of recommending one of the commissioning gifts I received, a beautiful small wooden box with the Navy crest and my name and commissioning date, used for insignia, ribbons, pins, devices, etc. I attached a screenshot below of results of a Google search “Navy wooden keepsake box.” Mine looks like the LaHart one, with Navy crest, and a small brass plaque with my Ensign Name USN and commissioning date, but smaller, and with a hinged lid like the AF one shown. No doubt there are AF varieties, and many more styles/sizes. My three uncles who had been WWII battleship and destroyer sailors got it for me, and put a photo of the three of them in uniform together inside.

Try to feel out if he really wants the saber, as it may not be a required uniform item until a more senior rank. They are a royal pain to travel with. I wore my Navy Officer sword maybe 5-7 times in a 26 year career. Most people find themselves wearing them in wedding arches more than their Service ceremonies.

Coin racks are always nice. There will be many versions that can be customized and have service affiliation. 2456B270-AAF4-46A5-BBC7-D10DF71B94E5.jpeg
 
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Try to feel out if he really wants the saber, as it may not be a required uniform item until a more senior rank. They are a royal pain to travel with. I wore my Navy Officer sword maybe 5-7 times in a 26 year career. Most people find themselves wearing them in wedding arches more than their Service ceremonies.

View attachment 7562
I think the saber is more of a Navy thing, outside the SAs. In my years in the Army, I never saw them except for weddings.
 
I think the saber is more of a Navy thing, outside the SAs. In my years in the Army, I never saw them except for weddings.
Sword, it’s a sword! I thought Army guys could explain the differences between swords, cutlasses (Navy enlisted), sabers. I suppose it all depends on whether you stab, slash or hack with it. 🤣🤣

All of them are fairly clumsy at cutting wedding cakes and military Service birthday cakes, another common usage.
 
I have never considered swords to be a practical commissioning gift. In support of my opinion, I note the following mention of swords in Webb Garrison's book of Civil War curiosities:

"Stonewall Jackson so seldom drew his blade from its scabbard that it reportedly rusted there. Robert L. Dabney, briefly a member of Jackson's staff, was contemptuous of the weapon...Instead of strapping a sword to his side, Dabney carried an umbrella. Maxcy Gregg had no more use for the sword than did Dabney, so the brigadier from South Carolina went into battle wearing a scimitar."

"Regardless of what it cost and how it was decorated, an officer's sword was all but useless against muskets and rifles. Even the special short sword issued to gunners seldom drew blood; it was designed for use in disemboweling horses that overran a position, but it was rarely flourished."

I was going to suggest a good golf umbrella for your soon-to-be Air Force officer. However, my cursory research reveals that Dabney was a chaplain, so it's possible that he had a bias against weapons in general. Also, in terms of his personal prejudices, Dabney was a vehement apologist for slavery and an enemy of public education, so maybe I'll ignore his preferences entirely. So it's either a scimitar or maybe a good, enameled Dutch oven.
 
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This may not be 'gift' like but his uniforms will be expensive. Perhaps buy an expensive item he will get regular use out of like a Dress Mess.
 
One thing we did was have a request sent to his Senator for a US flag flown over the capitol on his commissioning date and sent to us. We placed it in a flag display box with a plaque containing his name and commissioning date. A letter from his Senator was included in the box. You can take care of this online, but of course the flag will not be available for his commissioning.
 
We gave a graduate a Cover Travel Bag last year. He said he would not have bought it for himself, but he loves it. Just the type of gift I like to give, and receive. I have never traveled with a cover so hopefully those with experience can chime in. Here is a picture from a website I found

1607984349485.png
 
There have been several threads on this over the years with good ideas.

I am always fond of recommending one of the commissioning gifts I received, a beautiful small wooden box with the Navy crest and my name and commissioning date, used for insignia, ribbons, pins, devices, etc. I attached a screenshot below of results of a Google search “Navy wooden keepsake box.” Mine looks like the LaHart one, with Navy crest, and a small brass plaque with my Ensign Name USN and commissioning date, but smaller, and with a hinged lid like the AF one shown. No doubt there are AF varieties, and many more styles/sizes. My three uncles who had been WWII battleship and destroyer sailors got it for me, and put a photo of the three of them in uniform together inside.

Try to feel out if he really wants the saber, as it may not be a required uniform item until a more senior rank. They are a royal pain to travel with. I wore my Navy Officer sword maybe 5-7 times in a 26 year career. Most people find themselves wearing them in wedding arches more than their Service ceremonies.

Coin racks are always nice. There will be many versions that can be customized and have service affiliation. View attachment 7562
Thank you for the inspiration! I am thinking a box like this for DS commissioning this spring. We have many family members who served. I am going to ask each to send me a picture of themselves in uniform with their dates of service and some message to DS, advice, encouragement, support etc.
 
The best Commissioning Gift I ever saw was a privately published book of advice to the about to be commissioned son from his dad, a Reserve Captain NFO (F-14 and EA6B). The book was a collection of leadership thoughts/essays by shipmates/work friends/friends of the family. I was honored to be one of the invitees and I wrote a chapter and in return got a copy of the book which I treasure to this day. I didn't do anything so grandiose for my son, I gave him my officer's sword and then he asked me to make him a set of golf clubs. Years earlier I had made custom clubs as a side gig/hobby but we'd moved and I wasn't doing that any more but I did make him a nice set and then had to make a set for his roommate (who did pay at my cost)
 
I always viewed the saber as more of a SA or military school (VMI, Citadel, A&M, etc) thing. Not in a negative way. Same with the ring. So I got neither.
We are not from a military background at all, so this his helpful to know and understand. Thank you.
 
If your DS wears a watch, purchasing a nice watch for moments like this is always a great idea. And it’s something he will use more than a saber or a cover bag.
 
If your DS wears a watch, purchasing a nice watch for moments like this is always a great idea. And it’s something he will use more than a saber or a cover bag.
I would imagine Navy or Marine officers who have white covers would use a cover bag quite a lot. I would keep a dress/inspection cover in the bag at all times to keep it fresh and clean. But I agree with you about the sword.
 
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