Military Gift Ideas - Find The Ideal Present For Your Loved Ones

If you’re looking to buy the ideal gift for someone who served or currently serves in the military, or perhaps for someone who’s interested in the area, then you’re in the right place.

Here at LA Police Gear we receive a lot of questions and recommendation requests for military gift ideas. So we decided to put together a comprehensive guide on the topic. 

Below, you can find our best military gifts for every occasion, from retirement and promotions to gifts for veterans and ideas for those going into the army too.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’re always happy to help, and can recommend some fantastic military gifts from our store.

Let’s begin with a closer look at what military gifts are.

What Is A Military Gift And What Could You Get For Someone In The Forces?

As the name suggests, a military gift is a present that you can buy for someone that is closely related to the subject. It could be for someone who’s about to join the military, someone who’s currently serving, or veterans. These types of gifts are also ideal for any military enthusiasts too. 

Military gifts often go down a storm. They show that you know and understand your family member or friend and what they love and appreciate, which makes the gift-giving experience all the more rewarding. 

As we explore below, there are lots of different types of military gifts you could get for someone. Here’s a quick overview:

• A tactical watch
• A military ring
• Tactical gear
• Fine whiskey
• Military car accessories
• Custom caps and hats
• Commemorative pins
• License plates
• Clothing
• Mugs
• Bottle openers
• Hip flasks
• Commemorative medals and ribbons
• Vintage or antique military gear
• Medal award display cases

This is not an exhaustive list, but represents some of the common military gift ideas that we see. So which ones are the best? Let’s take a look.

Our Top Military Gift Ideas For Him And Her

There is a very wide variety of military gift ideas to choose from for both men and women alike. We’ve taken a brief look at some general ideas, but let’s zoom in further at some specific products.

The UZI Guardian Digital Military Watch

One of the most popular military gift ideas we see are tactical watches. Out of all the watches on the market, one of the most popular is the UZI Guardian Digital Military Watch.

Featuring a large, brightly backlit LCD screen, it’s easy to see during the day or night and makes it accessible for all ages. It’s water-resistant up to 50 meters and is robust and scratch and shock-resistant. It also comes with a chronograph function, allowing you to set timers.

Previous customers and users of the watch have praised it for a very comfortable fit as well as being a robust and hard-wearing product. UZI has developed a great reputation for creating reliable products, and this digital military watch is no exception. 

So if you’re looking for a good tactical watch, this is a great option.

Zombie Hunter Bag

If you’re looking for something that’s both quirky and useful, then look no further than the LA Police Gear Zombie Hunter Bag.

While we of course know that zombies don’t exist, this fun bag also packs a very useful punch. It comes covered in Molle, making it highly customisable, with spaces for patches too. 

The bag is small and compact, but comes with two side pockets with inner pockets and two main pockets. Some of these are designed to hold AR15 or pistol magazines, as well as space in larger compartments for a pistol, radio and other supplies, like first aid gear or a notebook. 

One of our most popular products, the zombie hunter bag has been praised by customers for being robust and well-constructed, able to carry lots of equipment despite its small size. Many people use it for taking to the range or on hunting trips. 

Tactical Christmas Stocking

If you’re looking for a truly unique military gift idea for the holidays and one that’s fun and quirky, then look further than the tactical christmas stocking. 

It looks exactly as you’d expect a military stocking to look like—a camouflaged design complete with lots of useful zip pockets, holders, Molle and straps. Pockets are even big enough to hold 40mm projectile rounds. It also comes with a practical carry handle and a swivel stocking hanger with clip. 

You can also customize the stocking before you gift it, with space to add a patch. It all makes for a fun and cheap Christmas present for a military fanatic.

Tactical Underwear

One of the most common if not the most common gift we give to our family members are socks and underwear. While this type of gift is often categorized as one of the more unimaginative and dull gift ideas, buying tactical underwear for a military fan could go down very well indeed.

One of our most popular lines of underwear is the LA Police Gear Tac Comfort Boxer Briefs. Featuring a tagless design, it’s made of 95% soft cotton and 5% spandex fabric, with a clever function to aid breathability and freedom of movement. The materials are also moisture wicking, meaning you’re much less likely to sweat. Overall, they make for an excellent military gift and a step up from standard briefs.

Military Retirement Gift Ideas

Serving in the military is a truly honorable career path. When retirement comes, it’s vital to mark that service in the right way. You may also want to give a present that reflects some of the humorous times you shared together. 

Retirement is about celebrating a great career and a quieter, calmer future. One way to mark that occasion is with a drink. One of the quirkiest military retirement gifts on the market is by far the Lucky Shot Projectile Pint Glass. Crafted with a bullet poking into the side of the glass, it not only looks great, but makes for a very interesting talking point. 

Another popular military retirement gift is our Caliber Gourmet 50cal Shot Glasses. Made to look like a bullet that has the power to stop charging elephants, these ceramic shot glasses look as good as the real thing, especially with their gold coloration. 

If the person you’re buying for isn’t much of a drinker but more of a worker, they may appreciate the Caliber Gourmet Revolver Cylinder Pen Holder. Made from solid cast aluminum, this stylish pen holder catches the eye on any desk. So if they’re retiring to a new job, this would make a fine gift. 

Military Promotion Gift Ideas

Life in the military is tough. When someone works hard to earn a promotion, it’s fitting to honor that achievement by getting them a gift. Here are some recommendations which could help you mark such a special occasion:

• Challenge Coin - In the US military challenge coins hold a significant place in the hearts and minds of soldiers. They represent achievements, dedication and camaraderie. It’s possible to have a challenge coin custom-made to include the person’s rank, name and the date of their promotion.
• Custom Cufflinks - Another nice idea to mark a promotion is to have some custom cufflinks made. This could feature the insignia of the new rank of the person. It makes for an elegant and useful gift, which they can use for formal occasions. 
• A Whiskey Decanter Set - If the person in question is a lover of spirits like whiskey or bourbon, then a customised set to mark their promotion can give them a sentimental and classy celebratory gift.

Gift Ideas For Someone Going Into The Army

When someone is about to ship out to the army, it can be a massive change for them. Their life as they know it will no longer be the same, living their lives by a strict routine and training regime. They also lose some of their home comforts, so it’s natural to want to buy your friends or loved ones something nice to help them transition to their new career. 

Here are some handy gift ideas for someone going into the army:

• Personalized Dog Tag - easily worn and accepted in the military, a personalized dog tag can be a perfect gift to give to a new recruit. It can provide a nice reminder that their family and friends are thinking about them, as well as making for a meaningful keepsake.
• A Rugged Watch - as we’ve seen above, a good tactical watch can come in very handy. Given the robust training new military recruits have to go through, having a watch that is water and shock resistant is vital. Brands like G-Shock or Garmin are popular choices among service members.
• Compression Socks And Foot Care Kit - While we laugh when we get a pair of socks for a Christmas or birthday present, when it comes to going to the army, receiving some compression socks could make a massive difference. With so much time spent on their feet, this could become their favourite gift of all

There are so many different military gift ideas out there. It all depends on the person you’re buying for and what they appreciate. Some may enjoy the humorous nature of some of the presents we’ve covered above, whereas others may prefer something more sentimental. Hopefully, this guide has helped you narrow down your options.