About Coins

J

Just Dad

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I have a couple of "coins" given to me by USN and USAF for work I did as a private sector employee supporting DoD programs. I guess I did good work, (hard to remember so far back), but it seemed to me that the coins I received were as much about commemoration of an event/program as anything else. As much a "participation medal" as a "performance medal".

Yesterday I got an e-mail from JO-DD. About an "amazing day" overcoming sensor and data resource outages to get their job done. "Our leadership didn't think we could deliver under the limitations we had. I threw out the Std playbook and my sailors blew them away. My whole team got "coined"; the O6 also coined two of my front row, my whole front row has been individually coined now----kind of a big deal".

Just trying to follow my DD's adventure via e-mail. Can anybody tell me the difference between the coins I received and a sailor "getting coined" on deployment?
DD was glowing about the event, "I've never been this high, even after a crew race; team killed it", I'd like to understand the "coined" part of it.

As always thanks for any info provided; still makes me feel good to drop by this board.

Best:

Just Dad
 
Just Dad said:
I have a couple of "coins" given to me by USN and USAF for work I did as a private sector employee supporting DoD programs. I guess I did good work, (hard to remember so far back), but it seemed to me that the coins I received were as much about commemoration of an event/program as anything else. As much a "participation medal" as a "performance medal".

Yesterday I got an e-mail from JO-DD. About an "amazing day" overcoming sensor and data resource outages to get their job done. "Our leadership didn't think we could deliver under the limitations we had. I threw out the Std playbook and my sailors blew them away. My whole team got "coined"; the O6 also coined two of my front row, my whole front row has been individually coined now----kind of a big deal".

Just trying to follow my DD's adventure via e-mail. Can anybody tell me the difference between the coins I received and a sailor "getting coined" on deployment?
DD was glowing about the event, "I've never been this high, even after a crew race; team killed it", I'd like to understand the "coined" part of it.

As always thanks for any info provided; still makes me feel good to drop by this board.

Best:

Just Dad
Click to expand...

No difference, really. If you were coined as a contractor and your DD's team got coined, they are the same. Though I think to military folks it means quite a bit more. It becomes a bit of a competition throughout your time in the service to see who gets the highest ranking coin. It doesn't count for anything, at least not officially. It's just short of an official letter of appreciation/certificate of commendation but way above the old "atta boy" and a pat on the back. Often times as you move up the ranks, a person sometimes will get fancy coin holders or name plates with coin slots as such:

Coin Rack Walnut 4 Row and 6 Row Combo.jpg
 
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Anonymous1211 said:
It's just short of an official letter of appreciation/certificate of commendation but way above the old "atta boy" and a pat on the back
Click to expand...
I think that about sums it up.....this whole coin thing started after my day, and I really don't get it. I guess its one of those feel good things. Back in the day, you were good unless you were getting your A$$ chewed .
 
A lot of times it's less about the coin and more about the handshake and conversation that comes with it. Feel good moment for everyone involved to be recognized for your work.

For a very junior Sailor, might be something notable to mention for a ranking board or to put on an evaluation absent more significant achievements. Not that big of a deal for senior Sailors or officers (other than getting a neat shiny thing). Some people do like collecting them and will go to different ships during big exercises like RIMPAC just to buy and trade (especially from the foreign ships). Same with patches.

I had a couple of JMSDF sailors walk up to the quarterdeck once to trade coins, and they were very sad to find out that I didn't just carry a stock of them in my pocket. They even brought a small bamboo plant to spruce up my podium...and I had nothing to give in return. Lesson learned, I carry a couple with me nowadays.
 
Coin culture is a fascinating part of the military IMO. For an organization that's so rigid and structured, we have this cultural outlet with near unlimited creativity. I received my first coin in 1999 as an E-3 and only collected a handful more over the next ten years. Then, for reasons I can't really articulate, I got really into them and adore my collection.

If you're interested in a somewhat cool conversation, I recommend this podcast. My wife's brother (very non-military) heard it and came asking questions. A byproduct is my loving the episode. :)
 
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