Verified answer

All retirement gifts suck. You get swords, plaques, coins, I have thrown or packed all of mine away. In reality after you retire what are you going to do with them? I guess some guys decorate offices with stuff like that, I was not that type. The only thing I liked was my "Shadow box".

My only thought is to give something totally different. Like a real gold coin. Something someone will actually keep/is worth something. If the guys had done something like that for me instead of spending hundreds on crap I would have been happier.

One other thought. My friends family gave him a nice bottle of wine/or champagne that was engraved with his name, rank, retirement dates on it, and a nice saying on it "Thanks for your 20 years to the Air Force, and thanks for protecting our country". That was something different.

I like Kungfufighter and Ray H's ideas. I was thinking you could also buy him a stool/small bench made of a high quality wood or wicker. Something not too tall...knee height. But a watch, a framed belt, and or a picture of all his students are all hot ideas too. Maybe get him all 3? Tha tmight be pushing it but bottom line; dig into your wallet. Mentor's are few and far between. We should feel blessed to have one in our life, as some people go through life never even having that. Definitely drop at least half a g for a gift.

The one thing I wanted most when I retired was a Navy CPO (anchor) ring. I had wanted one for a long time, but didn't want to spend the money on myself like that. My wife was "lost" as to what to get me, so she asked and that's what I received.

I would have also liked a "Lone Sailor" statue as a symbol of my years in service.

My best advice would be to look in the NEX or USAF Exchanges in the "pride" or jewelry store for something that is a symbol of service.