NROTC Commissioning Gift Ideas

RobertGDog

RobertGDog

5-Year Member
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May 31, 2018
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Looking for gift ideas for our 1C MIDN commissioning in a couple of months. Do they receive a certificate of some kind? If so, what size is it? Maybe a frame would be a nice idea. Other suggestions are appreciated. Thanks!
 
They do get a certificate in a lovely binder. I got my DS a flag that flew over the Capitol on the date of his commissioning. Obviously we had to wait a bit to present it to him in a nice flag box.
 
One idea that some people did last year was spring for a professional portrait photo at a good location on campus and then get it framed. It isn't as Gucci as some other ideas but in this case, the Midshipman had the photo with his fiance and the family grouped together. 30 years from now that photo will be a treasure.
 
A Naval Officer Sword is an awesome gift for any new Ensign (or a Mameluke if they're going USMC), but it's like $800...
 
AF--We did this for our son, but it was for the Christmas after Commissioning. As the gift, we offered to pay for his Mess Dress and Party Shirt because it is pretty expensive.
 

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We got my son a wood valet box. It had a Navy emblem medallion on the front with his name and date of commissioning. On the inside of the cover we had his university and major logo on a metal plate. I enlisted family members from near and far who had served to send him a picture of themselves in uniform, when they served and what their job was, along with a bit of advice or wisdom for him as a new officer. My family is almost all enlisted and there was a lot of wisdom in that box. Watching his face as he carefully read and re-read those notes over the next couple days was a great experience.

This is not my DS', but an example of the box. The emblem on his was the one on the Navy flag:
il_794xN.4161410084_lgmt.jpg
 
I was looking at a nice watch for my son who would commission in '27. You can spend $100-100k on a watch. I am looking at a Hamilton, Laco, Longiness, or Stowa, or something similar under $1500. I figured that he would get more use out of a watch than a ceremonial sword. There are other brands out there that are good and some that are ghetto quality built with Chinese parts. Do your research. Also look for a quality engraver if you so desire.
 
I love a functional and tailored looking watch (and am fond of the decades of battery-free use I have had from 2 Citizen Eco-Drives), but that is my generation.

We had 8 USNA mids at the house for Saturday dinner. Not one wore an analog “dumb” watch; they had their phones or smartwatch. That said, they do not realize yet that going into classified spaces means parking anything smart or with transmitting capability outside the door or leaving it in your car for shore duty or stateroom for sea duty, or field operations, leaving it behind in some situations. A sturdy water-resistant G-Shock with desirable functions (alarm, etc.) or other utilitarian watch is the norm for no-smartwatch work situations.

“Dress watch?” A dying concept, is my impression, at this age. I have my mother’s tiny gold Movado on a gold link band. I can’t recall when I last wore it.

But if the cadet or midshipman wants one, what fun to shop! SA cadets and mids can shop online and log into AAFES (Army and Air Force Exchange) or NEX (Navy Exchange) or CGX (Coast Guard Exchsnge) or MCX, because they are in the DEERS system. I believe ROTC contracted cadets and midshipmen can do the same; I am a little hazy when they get CAC cards. The Exchanges are tax free, usually offer free shipping and have less than retail pricing.
 
Capt MJ said:
I love a functional and tailored looking watch (and am fond of the decades of battery-free use I have had from 2 Citizen Eco-Drives), but that is my generation.
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I love the classic "Flieger"style (aka aviation) watches myself. I work in a SCIF and we CANNOT have an smartwatch. If you are caught with the watch, it is a security violation. It is fun to see people aged 20-30 trying to adjust by NOT having their phone or smartwatch with them at work.

Its funny to see that the exchange has the lower cost $$ end of watches and then the Rolex. Not much between. My son wants to be a pilot so I am looking at a "Flieger" style watch. If he was not trying for a pilot slot, I would be looking at a Suunto, G-Shock, or Garmin. Rugged enough for all the training with multiple functions. All would make a great gift.
 
A good friend who at the time was a USNR Captain who worked with me in our civilian jobs wanted to give his graduating NROTC
mid a special gift so he enlisted a bunch of his former squadron-mates, friends and people he respected to each write a piece on
Leadership which he then made a book that he published and presented the first copy to his new Ensign with the other copies to
his authors. Lots of Sea Stories and Leadership lessons from the Navy and Life. I was so honored to be asked to provide a chapter and
treasure my copy.
 
OldRetSWO said:
A good friend who at the time was a USNR Captain who worked with me in our civilian jobs wanted to give his graduating NROTC
mid a special gift so he enlisted a bunch of his former squadron-mates, friends and people he respected to each write a piece on
Leadership which he then made a book that he published and presented the first copy to his new Ensign with the other copies to
his authors. Lots of Sea Stories and Leadership lessons from the Navy and Life. I was so honored to be asked to provide a chapter and
treasure my copy.
Click to expand...
Brilliant.
 
kinnem said:
They do get a certificate in a lovely binder. I got my DS a flag that flew over the Capitol on the date of his commissioning. Obviously we had to wait a bit to present it to him in a nice flag box.
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i just ordered one today for May commissioning. how long does it take to get the flag?
 
TCartens said:
I was looking at a nice watch for my son who would commission in '27. You can spend $100-100k on a watch. I am looking at a Hamilton, Laco, Longiness, or Stowa, or something similar under $1500. I figured that he would get more use out of a watch than a ceremonial sword. There are other brands out there that are good and some that are ghetto quality built with Chinese parts. Do your research. Also look for a quality engraver if you so desire.
Click to expand...
My son is AFROTC (1st option), NROTC (2nd option), bound and going to work towards a UPT/SNA selection. If he makes it that far his commissioning gift will be a quality pilot/aviation watch. Damasko & Sinn are two more quality brands to look at for automatic watches. For aviation something with a stop-minute that reads from the center dial could be very useful. Think of a timed turn or approach with electronic jammed navigation devices and you need a stopwatch, mechanical altimeter and compass. That is not the time you realize you should have changed your watch batteries before deployment or your solar watch is dead/ running slow. Nothing against the digital/solar watches, they have their place, but with an automatic watch you have control and they are legal, for the most part, in a secure setting.

Back in the 1980’s I knew a couple of rotary Naval Aviators that would wear a Casio on one wrist and an automatic with a Lemania 5100 movement on the other. They would have the Casio for home time and the automatic for local or standing time. The automatic functioned for local time and a stopwatch feature as a backup to the aircraft timepiece. If you go the automatic watch route get one with high magnetic resistance. Strong magnetic fields are the Achilles heel of mechanical/automatic watches.

Best of luck to you and your son!
 
We have the same problem thinking of a gift for our commissioning Firstie (USNA). We asked him. More “stuff” is the last thing he wants because it is an impediment in moving and storage. I wish you luck!
 
ders_dad said:
We have the same problem thinking of a gift for our commissioning Firstie (USNA). We asked him. More “stuff” is the last thing he wants because it is an impediment in moving and storage. I wish you luck!
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Your soon to be Ensign son is correct on the “stuff”. One thing you learn early on in the Navy, especially on a sea going command, is how to stuff 10 lbs. in a 5 lb. sack! What to do with your ”stuff” before getting deployed is another challenge. Congratulations to your son on his commissioning and best of luck wherever he gets stationed!
 
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