I need some gift suggestions for an Air Force friend who has been promoted to Colonel. He and his family have been very close friends since I was a child; we’re actually closer to them than any of our extended family. He’s not having a formal ceremony, but we would like to send a gift. We’re not sure what’s really appropriate for this situation though. Any suggestions?
Popcorn?
Get him whatever you’d normally get him as a gift. If you want it to be specific to his military service, go somewhere like Personal Creations and get one of their military items personalized.
A nice little touch, I’ve found, is to send one of these e-cards (available for all services and ranks).
That’s actually exactly what I got for my best friend when he made Lt. Colonel – but then, he loves popcorn. 
If he has a wife, ask her if the colonel has his mess dress epaulets yet. It’s the rank that goes with the very high-end uniform (the formal military tux) and it costs about $65 IIRC. Any friend of yours in the service - including dependents - can pick the shoulder boards up at the Military Clothing Sales office. This assumes that he’s working somewhere where he will have formal dinings-in or dinings-out pretty regularly. Air Force junior captain here - my parents have gotten me epaulets for each of my three pinnings.
If that doesn’t work, think about what you’d get a civilian who made partner or VP at work. Golf clothes are okay if you know his size; a good bottle of wine or scotch is a nice gift, especially since colonels usually feel obligated to throw a promotion party once they get to their first command. A nice card with a short personal message will also be fine.
A car. Because obviously, he’s pinning for the Fords.
An expensive pen?
Stargate SG1 DVD box set?
Liquor.
So many replies…thank you all!
My mom has enjoyed this thread too (though I did have to explain the Monty Python reference). I think she’s leaning toward liquor as a gift.