Tacticool... Roll eyes... Nothing special about the SPS Tactical 700, and like you mentioned, an exceptionally poor stock. Bed it, maybe stiffen the forend if he'll be bipoding it, I'm sure it'll still shoot 1MOA or better if your son can handle a rifle like I'd expect a Marine would. It's a cheap SPS with a 'blacked out' tactical look, nothing fancy over any other SPS.
If it's Tactical he wants, I'd point him in the direction of the 700P (Police) or 700P LTR (Light Tactical Rifle = shorter barrel and fluted version of the Police). $100-200 more than the SPS Tactical, but far better stock and trigger, and a blue-printed action (at least used to be). The 700P ain't the rifle the 700PSS used to be, nor the 40X, but it's definitely a fine rifle, very very capable.