My older boys, 23, 20 Army, 20, 19, all like caramel popcorn, flannel PJ pants, pillow cases with a thematic aproach. Also lap quilts with a theme are a big hit. Like when my now Army kid was in fire explorer program, Fired departmetn, I made a lap quilt with leaping flames and leaping water blocks and firedepartment fabric for the border and back. It was very simple but just the right fabric. Walmart has some affordable thematic fabric.
I already bought some army fabric there to make him an Army quilt too. They also have fleece pannels (~$10) that are about the size of a lap quilt. US army, US navy, US marine, US airforce It went over real well with my younger brother to whom I send it when he was in Iraq.