If your in any branch of the military, even in ROTC, you should know the history behind the challenge coin, its one of the oldest Airforce traditions.
For those of you who have no clue of what i am talking about, i will inform you.


*Back in WWI when the Airforce was getting started, A Flight leader gave his flight a Bronze medallion in a leather pouch. During the fighting one of the men was shot down, and became a POW. When Allied forces started to bomb the Camp of his captors, he some how escaped, he crossed no man's land, and aquired civilian clothes. He was confused by his own allies(the French) as a "sabutour" (sabotage) and was lined up to be shot. At the last minute he remebered his medallion, and showed it to his Confused Allies, and instead of shooting him, they handed him a bottle of wine.
*Today we have challenge coins, a member of any force can challenge you, and if you dont have your coin you owe that man a drink, if he challenges you and you have yours, he owes you one.

post if you would be interested in seeinf some of these coins.
(or buying)

I myself have some challenge coins.

what are they?
i have a Airforce one that is pretty nice and have seen one presented to my MSGt form the cheif MSGT of the Air Force.

I have a 1249 combat eng. unit from oregon national guard

cool.

I have a mock coin. Something they gave out a few years back near 9/11 to the visitors at Safeco Field in Seattle. It was Salute To Armed Forces Night. It has the Seattle Mariners symbol on the front and a baseball on the back with the different branches ringing around it. There were several different versions. Mine was stainless steel but some were painted and had the American Flag.

theres a nice USMC one floating around these websites for 10 bucks that i want to get my hands on, the ring is gold and has the ega on it

First off, I think that coins are something that should be earned and not bought. At least for members of the military. I've received all of mine because of the hard work I've done or something along the same lines....

Here is a picture of the 6 coins I have. I have 10, but the other 4 are duplicates of my Battalion Coin.

These pictures are kinda blurry. If you'd like to buy me a digital camera for christmas, let me know. Until then, deal with this...



The Fronts



The Backs

In Order, From L to R, Top to Bottom

1st Armor Training Brigade, Ft. Knox, KY
82d Signal Battalion (Airborne), Fort Bragg, NC
16th Ordnance Battalion, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland
1/507 Infantry (Airborne), Fort Benning, Georgia
2 Battalion, 46th Infantry, Fort Knox, KY
82d Signal Battalion (Airborne), Fort Bragg, NC

I have a few, roughly in the order that I got them:
- New York Guard coin*
- 181st FW, IN ANG
- 1/102 Engineers, New York Guard
- Association of Military Surgeons of the United States
- Health Service Officer PAC, USPHS

* - only one I ever bought

I have two of challenge coins. Marine and Navy's base in Bahrain and MCRD. My brother gave its to me.