Gift Cards for Servicemen in Korea
Devoting your time to serving in the armed forces is one of the most selfless actions you can take to show appreciation for your country. While we are fortunately lucky to be existing in relatively peaceful times, it is crucial to do what you can to maintain that peace if you are physically and mentally capable of doing so. It is also worth noting that, conflicts and wars aside, participating abroad as a serviceman helps you develop professional skills and discipline you might otherwise never discover as a regular civilian.
Becoming a member of the military is no light decision to make, but it is certainly a rewarding one. There are currently six main branches of the U.S. Armed Forces to consider becoming a part of: the Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Space Force. Each branch is unique and contributes important skills to maintain our country’s national defense, engage in crucial missions, and keep peace and order by providing security in international territories. Folks unfamiliar with the various functionalities of the military may find many aspects incomprehensible, esoteric, and possibly even needlessly violent in a civilized society, but being equipped for serious warfare is only a fraction of what the Armed Forces does in its daily operations. A few examples of military activities and missions include:
- Rescue operations
- Natural disaster relief
- Law enforcement
- Food and humanitarian relief
- Drug and piracy interdiction
- Security at embassies and government locations
- Medical assistance in impoverished areas
- Policing in volatile areas
There are clearly quite a lot of factors that go into being a part of the military, many more than you may have initially thought. While it may not be something that is of much interest to you personally, there is a good chance you know a friend or relative who has served or is currently serving your country in some form. They could be doing so on native soil and close to home, or they may be thousands of miles overseas stationed at a military installation in Korea. What matters most is keeping these folks in your thoughts and doing what you can to make their time in the service as comfortable as possible.
Military servicemen stationed in far away locations like Korea may be dealing with especially difficult times due to the sheer distance between them and their homes. Though you cannot move mountains or seas to bring them closer, you can help them incorporate some aspects of home life into their time abroad with gift cards for living essentials and entertainment.
1. The Exchange
A gift that helps get servicemen great deals on what they need
If you’re in search of a practical gift card for active duty service members that can be used at military bases outside of the fifty states and other U.S. territories, then you are unlikely to find one that will be more useful than a gift card for the Exchange. The Exchange is set up and run by the Department of Defense and operates as a non-appropriated fund agency that provides quality merchandise and services to members of the military, military retirees, and their families at competitively low prices. The Exchange exists as a lifetime benefit accessible to the military community around the world, and offers tax-free shopping and exclusive pricing only available to the military.
The Exchange is set up much like an average department store retailer and sells a variety of everyday products and living necessities with smaller shops and service vendors in the vicinity. Exchange locations can be found at military installations worldwide, and there are several types of Exchanges depending on the different branches of the military. Some Exchange outposts have businesses such as uniform shops, barbershops, laundry and dry cleaning services, gas stations, convenience stores, fast food outlets, and lawn and garden shops.
Products you can purchase at the Exchange can vary from location to location, but you will typically find items like electronics, furniture, household appliances, clothing, accessories, footwear, travel gear, sporting goods, health products, toiletries, kitchenware, food, alcoholic beverages, and even home decor.
Service branch info and locations include:
- AAFES (Army and Air Force Exchange Service): Shop My Exchange
- MCX (Marine Corps Exchange): My MCX
- NEX (Navy Exchange Service Command): My Navy Exchange
- CGX (Coast Guard Exchange): CGX
There are more than five thousand Exchange facilities operating in more than thirty countries, fifty U.S. states, and four U.S. territories. The Exchange serves troops in Southwest Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Pacific. No matter where United States servicemen are required to go, the Exchange stays by their sides and helps provide a slice of home life to those who are stationed far from it.
All Exchange earnings are reinvested to support the military community, so you know your money will be making a continued difference in the lives of soldiers everywhere.
Gift Card Granny does not carry gift cards for the Exchange at this time, but if you are shopping for an active duty military member stationed far from home, you are guaranteed to never disappoint with this type of gift.
2. Hulu
A streaming service that goes anywhere they serve
Even the folks who protect and serve our country deserve to have downtime where they can unwind and relax before getting ready for their next assignment. For U.S. military bases with stable internet connections, streaming services provide access to countless hours of entertainment, a definite necessity to members of the military who like to sit back and watch their favorite shows and movies during their free time.
Hulu is one of the most reliable streaming platforms out there for military members stationed outside of the United States on military bases. Whether they are alone or relocated with family for an extended period of time, Hulu delivers entertainment by way of hit TV shows, exclusive series, and award-winning movies that will keep those in the service engaged for hours at a time. A Hulu gift card can help servicemen located at military bases in other countries connected to contemporary culture at home so they do not feel left out while on the job.
You can earn cash back when you buy a Hulu gift card from Gift Card Granny!
3. Visa
A gift card that works like cash
You do not have to worry too much about any servicemen you may know who are stationed at U.S. bases in foreign countries like South Korea, as they will be well taken care of and have their basic needs met while serving in any branch of the military. However, if you wish to give them a little spending power so that they have the ability to purchase extra goods to help them enjoy their time abroad, you can always consider gifting them a Visa gift card.
Visa gift cards can be used as an alternative payment method to cash for all kinds of retailers and make transactions go as smoothly as possible. The funds on a Visa gift card can only be used in the country it was initially purchased in, but you can also use your Visa gift card outside of the fifty states so long as you reside in an official U.S. military base. This means any servicemen who received Visa gift cards as parting gifts before moving to a military installment in South Korea can still make use of their gift card funds at shops that accept the Visa brand.
Do you think you know someone in the service who would love to receive a Visa gift card? Buy one from Gift Card Granny and earn cash back on your purchase!
4. Amazon
Help them get what they miss from home
The quality and reliability of mail service on military bases can differ from location to location, but if you know someone in the service whose mail is relatively consistent with deliveries, then you may want to think about snagging an Amazon gift card for them. Shopping opportunities can be quite limited for servicemen, and some Exchange posts only offer a select array of products, with not many other shops available to military members on bases. Amazon can help bridge the consumer gap that many servicemen face while stationed far away from home.
It is worth noting that there are some products sold by Amazon that are prohibited from being shipped to APO, FPO, DPO addresses, though it only applies to a select number of items. This list consists of:
- Computers
- Cell phones and service
- Standalone lithium batteries
- Lithium batteries packed separately with equipment
- Furniture
- Outdoor living items
- Prime Try Before You Buy items
If someone in the service wants to purchase a product that comes with a lithium battery already installed, then that item can be shipped to APO and FPO addresses. Other than these aforementioned items, servicemen can buy pretty much anything they want off of Amazon. There may be case by case instances where certain items cannot be shipped to APO, FPO, or DPO addresses, which can include apparel, electronics, health and personal care, software, jewelry, baby, sports, and tools and hardware items. An Amazon gift card can also be used for audiobooks, e-books, and other virtual entertainment services offered through Amazon to help pass the time and curb boredom.
Amazon gift cards are not available through Gift Card Granny, but you can send Amazon e-gift cards in moments to those you care about when you use GiftYa!
5. PlayStation
An easy way to keep them engaged and entertained
If you know somebody in the service with access to a PlayStation console and a stable internet connection that allows them to enjoy their free time with the company of video games, you may find a PlayStation gift card to be a wise choice. Whether it is to be used for paying for a PlayStation Plus subscription they can use for online fun or for purchasing digital copies of games from the PlayStation Store, a PlayStation gift card has many uses that can help enrich the lives of servicemen while stationed abroad on military bases.
The buying power of a PlayStation gift card can go quite a long way depending on what the user would like to purchase. There are many digital games available for purchase through the PlayStation Store at different price points, with newer releases being considerably more expensive than games that have been out for a while. Encourage anyone you are shopping for to make their gift card last by seeking out great deals on games and waiting for the prices of certain video game titles to go down. This doesn’t mean they should never purchase the games they really want, but it can be wise to hold back from time to time and make smart shopping choices to ensure the gift card funds last.
You can earn cash back when you buy a PlayStation gift card from Gift Card Granny!
Serving in the military is no walk in the park, which is why it is important to show your support for loved ones stationed far from home by any means you can.
There are a lot of aspects that go into being a member of the military, and no part of the job is to be taken for granted. If you know a friend or family member who is posted somewhere abroad and could use a little support to keep their morale up and spirits high, then it may not be a bad idea to send a gift card their way. The gesture alone will be more than enough to make a difference.