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Mine occupy a ziploc bag in my trunk with the rest of my gear. Pulled them out to take along to Soldiers Day when I gave talks at my kids school, but they were more interested in pictures and stories than challenge coins.
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Around '98/'99 as a LCpl just by chance I was volen-told to drive the Commander Marine Forces Atlantic and his two Majors around from ship to ship in Spain one day. Then I drove him to his plane. As he was getting out of the van and walking to his plane he asked me if I collected coins. I had no idea what he was talking about and I said no. I think he realized I was clueless so he said "Well here's mine" and gave me this. .
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q320/chad_d/DSC00133.jpg My wife gave me this one after I got back from Iraq. http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q320/chad_d/DSC00135.jpg I got this one in Okinawa in 1997 at a Marine Corps ball. That's all I remember of that evening, and that's even a little foggy. http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q320/chad_d/DSC00136.jpg |
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The "tradition" may date back that far, but if it did, it was rare as hen's teeth. I guess you could think of the "ruptured duck" pin that WWII vets got when mustered out a "challenge" token, but I can't say I ever saw anyone wear it. Like I said, most older vets just did what they did and went home to get on with their life. Shiney doo dads aren't needed unless you need something that says "I was there". Some egos need that stroke, most don't. While I was in most of us thought of them like you do. Now it's something to reminisce over. I got mine during the fun times I don't care to forget. Has nothing to do with ego or showing off. |
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Never had such a thing in my day. We just did the job and then went home when our hitch was up. I guess kids today need bright and shiney things to help them remember things we have tried to forget. kids today and the kids who were walking around wearing Green Beanies like 40 years ago, and from then on. So maybe it was just you personally who never got to see one. Nothing better than Veterans slamming younger Veterans. fucking embarrassing. |
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So maybe it was just you personally who never got to see one. . Maybe he never did anything worth getting a coin over. |
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Never had such a thing in my day. We just did the job and then went home when our hitch was up. I guess kids today need bright and shiney things to help them remember things we have tried to forget. kids today and the kids who were walking around wearing Green Beanies like 40 years ago, and from then on. So maybe it was just you personally who never got to see one. Nothing better than Veterans slamming younger Veterans. fucking embarrassing. No joke. |
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Too many Bad Asses in this thread for me. Cool pics to all that posted though.
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I never really understood why people would 'coin' someone. I have a 4 star that Gen. Patraeus gave me when he was CG of CENTCOM. Ill see if I can find a pic and post it tomorrow. I wont even say what I did to "deserve" it. Big quotes there.
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I never really understood why people would 'coin' someone. I have a 4 star that Gen. Patraeus gave me when he was CG of CENTCOM. Ill see if I can find a pic and post it tomorrow. I wont even say what I did to "deserve" it. Big quotes there. The idea of "coining" requires all to be in a unit where coins are handed out as part of in-processing or a hail ceremony. I haven't seen that in a decade, they have completely transitioned to an alternate award program - and have become so ridiculous and formalized it is easier to put someone in for an AAM or ARCOM than to get them a coin. |
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Those are cool keepsakes,
I've heard the term before,but had to use some googlefu to see what these were all about, I guess they weren't too common 20+ years ago,I didn't get any |
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A few of my favorites: This is modeled after an EFP liner: http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i208/John_Marshall/P1000058.jpg Those TF Troy coins are bad ass. |
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Eh, I'll play. Only received three or four coins total during my whole stint. Ran into this particular fella out in the sandbox. Another coin was from the CSM at TF Spartan, I'll see if I can dig that one up later.
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n149/Yaivenov/Deployment/CJCOScoin.jpg |
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A few of my favorites: This is modeled after an EFP liner: http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i208/John_Marshall/P1000058.jpg When were you over? I used to drop stuff off to CEXC every couple of weeks in '05 as we picked it up. Small world. |
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Quoted: Never had such a thing in my day. We just did the job and then went home when our hitch was up. I guess kids today need bright and shiney things to help them remember things we have tried to forget. Oh yea? What was your job? Not that I expect you to come back and answer... |
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A few of my favorites: This is modeled after an EFP liner: http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i208/John_Marshall/P1000058.jpg When were you over? I used to drop stuff off to CEXC every couple of weeks in '05 as we picked it up. Small world. Basically all of 2009. My pogue ass worked in the J2 Ops shop between the lab buildings and the canal. |
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Where did the term "challenge coin" come from? It's an RMO. Yeah, RMO only to those who actually check for them at bars. Everyone else calls them coins. |
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RMO's a new one for me. "Challenge Coin" is a term I've only seen on the internet or where people sell the things. "Unit coin" or "coin" is all I've ever heard them called.
And I've only been in one unit where they were issued to people, to even make the hole :challenge" thing make sense. Most of the time it's like an award. Heck, these days it is often easier to get Joe an AAM than a coin. |
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EOD still plays the challenge game.
I've seen a guy buy 50 EOD techs a round while on TDY because he didn't have his coin. |
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Calling it a "coin" unless you are actually challenging is against the rules. If your "unit coin" does not have a number stamp and a log book, it isn't real. Carrying your RMO into the gang shower in your soap dish is a common tactic bitd.
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Calling it a "coin" unless you are actually challenging is against the rules. If your "unit coin" does not have a number stamp and a log book, it isn't real. Carrying your RMO into the gang shower in your soap dish is a common tactic bitd. I've got a bunch, never heard it refered to as an RMO, whats that mean? |
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Calling it a "coin" unless you are actually challenging is against the rules. If your "unit coin" does not have a number stamp and a log book, it isn't real. Carrying your RMO into the gang shower in your soap dish is a common tactic bitd. I've got a bunch, never heard it refered to as an RMO, whats that mean? Round Metal Object With a stamped RMO, you can't cop out of a challenge by claiming nonissuance. I will try to post pics of my 55th SOS RMO. I loved our "so to speak" motto, "We Come In The Dark" |
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A few of my personal favorites. There is another shoe box buried in the closet, but have not gotten around to buying any more display cases. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v690/SavageHunter/photo4.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v690/SavageHunter/photo3.jpg Is that a Spectre gunship RMO in there? |
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http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa324/mike-munich/4a26578a.jpg I have more, but they are in storage somewhere. Some date back to 1988 when I got in. A local boy I see. |
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Never had such a thing in my day. We just did the job and then went home when our hitch was up. I guess kids today need bright and shiney things to help them remember things we have tried to forget. you do realize that the challenge coin tradition dates back beyond the 20th century right? The "tradition" may date back that far, but if it did, it was rare as hen's teeth. I guess you could think of the "ruptured duck" pin that WWII vets got when mustered out a "challenge" token, but I can't say I ever saw anyone wear it. Like I said, most older vets just did what they did and went home to get on with their life. Shiney doo dads aren't needed unless you need something that says "I was there". Some egos need that stroke, most don't. Were you with the blue or the gray? |
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This thread made me go dig up some of my coins I got during my stint in the USAF from 2003-2011. Most I bought because I liked them; a couple were earned (my Airman coin and a Commander's coin)...one of the coolest though is a commemorative coin for the Spirit of Kansas, the B-2 that crashed on Guam. I got one of the first run that was serialized and it's a low number, too.
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We have a winner... What are u drinking? |
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Calling it a "coin" unless you are actually challenging is against the rules. If your "unit coin" does not have a number stamp and a log book, it isn't real. Carrying your RMO into the gang shower in your soap dish is a common tactic bitd. Dafuq? Our BN coins had no numbers but I kept a log of who received them and every coin was engraved with the receivers rank and last name. |
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Finally remembered that I said I was going to post this one... so here it is. Thus concludes my meager collection.
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n149/Yaivenov/Other/121011_0003.jpg BTW, how long does it usually take to process the DD214's sent in to [email protected]? |
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Finally remembered that I said I was going to post this one... so here it is. Thus concludes my meager collection. http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n149/Yaivenov/Other/121011_0003.jpg BTW, how long does it usually take to process the DD214's sent in to [email protected]? Took less than a day turnaround for me about a month ago. |
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We just called them our "NCO Coin" in my unit. Corporals got them when they got promoted and NCOs who came into the unit could buy one. We only had challenges at NCO "meetings" at the E-club and everyone was on notice to bring them.
That said, a friend of mine married a former Ranger turned CIA op. My first time meeting him, we got to talking about the military and next thing I know, dude throws down a coin on me. It took me a minute to even realize wtf he was doing. I lost my old coin a loooong time ago but I picked up one with one of my old units on it off of ebay. I carry it with me whenever I know I'm going to see him. Just in case. That was the last damn time hooah-boy gets the drop on me. |
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Heres my first one I received in AFROTC. Nothing special, but its a start !
http://i49.tinypic.com/vg385e.jpg |
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I don't have a pics but my best is from Gen Henry Shelton when he was Chaiman of the Joint Chiefs
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