CHALLENGE COINS!

General Milley spoke at the graduation dinner for the class of 2019 and gave each Firstie his coin. Our son is just starting his collection and is happy to have that one.

We learned about challenge coins when he was home over Cow summer. We were having snacks and drinks at the bar in our community restaurant one evening when a retired Army vet (we have a large veterans club here) walked over and slapped a coin down next to our son’s plate. We looked at the guy with startled faces but were even more confused when our son (who was wearing a USMA polo) reached into his pocket and slapped down another coin. I don’t know which one it was, but the vet laughed, shook our son’s hand, and said, “I guess I owe you a drink—a round for you and your parents on me.” He stayed to chat for a bit, and our son explained what had just happened. I don’t remember anything about the particular coins, most likely due to that second ice cold gin martini but, if free free drinks are involved, I say it’s an excellent tradition.
 
I started noticing them when I made chief in 1991. I didn't make an effort to get any but still collected a few. I have some in a box somewhere. My son has more than I at this point. Here's a couple of his. The first is from the US Embassy in Honduras. The second is from Mobility Assault Company where he was Machete-6, the company commander.

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Here's a couple of mine. Notice the gas mask in place of the globe. CBIRF had to change that logo for obvious reasons. It's not the Eagle, Globe, and Mask. I did some work with the White House medical unit for a couple events. That led to a back door interview for a spot in the unit. Each service has senior enlisted medical personnel that travels with the president. The navy of course sends an Independent Duty Corpsman, the air force has their Independent Duty Medical Technicians, and the last I knew the army provided an 18 Delta but my knowledge of those operations are dated.

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i have a few from my day (late 80's - late 90's) but i remember zippos being a bigger deal - especially the brass ones
 
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I'm not sure when they became a real thing, but the Coast Guard commandant from 1994-1998 had them (I don't have it, haven't seen it in person, etc.)

In many ways, it's a way to recognize someone without the paperwork of a medal/ribbon or the money of a bonus.

They're cool because often they remind you of something. One of my coins was given to me after something I had been planning for months fell apart (our plane was fogged out of Kodiak). It was crushing for me, but then the Coast Guard District 17 commander (2 star admiral) made some calls and we salvaged something. I thanked him and he gave me his coin. It was a low and a high and while it didn't approach what had been planned, it did show to 60 influential civilians how the Coast Guard could react and be flexible.
 
Yeah, the Navy got into this from the Army and I think it really spread after Gulf War I when more folks got a joint perspective. I have a fairly wide assortment of military, corporate and even veterans group (legion) coins but none on display or in my pocket. If I get a chance, I'll take a pic of them for this thread.
 
A6E Dad said:
i have a few from my day (late 80's - late 90's) but i remember zippos being a bigger deal - especially the brass ones
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I remember getting Zippos from the Kitty Hawk (CV-63) and Connie (CV-64) in the 80’s.
 
Confession time. I have mine piled in a big glass bowl. Going through them and curating a select few for display is on the rainy day task list. I know there are some good ones in there.
 
Capt MJ said:
Confession time. I have mine piled in a big glass bowl. Going through them and curating a select few for display is on the rainy day task list. I know there are some good ones in there.
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I just found a typo in one and let the director of the program know.... I was concerned I wouldn't look grateful, but also, if he didn't know, I didn't want him passing it out if he wanted it corrected. The coin was ordered long ago and I don't think it's given out often, so I'd guess people hadn't had a close look for a long time.
 
I think of Range 15 every time I see a challenge coin. :biggrin:
 
Old Navy BGO said:
When did Challenge Coins become a thing ? I got out in '92, and don't recall ever seeing them. I've gotten a handful from time to time since...but frankly never understood the interest.
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The coin tradition is an Army thing, definitely wasn’t Navy. I spent a year at Fort Leavenworth about the time you got out (not the prison side). An Army Officer gave me one and explained the tradition of the coin which involved alcohol. I gave some of my classmates baseball caps from USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, CVN 69. They thought that was cool and wore the blue and gold caps all the time. It was good advertising on post for the Navy.
 
Hmm....big bag in a box, in my storage locker...

Didn't have a good place to put them out (cats kept knocking them down like dominoes) and I received "the look" from CinC House...

I do have one on the bookcase...when a classmate was the Director of the Joint Staff.

But it's a Poker Chip "coin!!"

I told him he was cheap.

Steve
 
DD has a few in her collection but her top one is Marine Birthday Ball in Beijing (also with a mug and why does every gift at a Marine function involve alcohol?). Then second is Chairman Joint Chiefs.
 
Looking a few clicks down the road, what are some of the things I can do with DH and my challenge coins short of taking them to metal re-cycle at county center? I am slowly de-cluttering our home or making notes of options and resources for when it is time.

There will be no one in the family who will want them or mean anything to.

I can’t even think yet about all the plaques with real brass not just laser-cut wood. Some are gorgeous.
 
Down the road someone will wish they had them. I used to have my Father's WWII Pinks but mother trashed them. Wish I had them now. I have my caps from each site and some stuff from the secret war that no one knew about (only thousands of us). You will regret it if you get rid of them.
 
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