Challenge Coins

FULLMETALJACKET

MilForum Bad Apple
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)
 
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 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...

Picture002.jpg


The Fronts

Picture003.jpg


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.
 
Funny that I happen upon this topic. Last night my father showed me all of his Challenge Coins, he has somewhat around 100, LOL. He's currently trying to make a case to put them in, right now he's got them in a coffee can.
 
Cadet Seaman said:
Funny that I happen upon this topic. Last night my father showed me all of his Challenge Coins, he has somewhat around 100, LOL. He's currently trying to make a case to put them in, right now he's got them in a coffee can.

just to help you out a little bit for your father, there are cases for casino poker chips that would fit it perfectly, just ebay it or something and get an idea of what it looks like then you can just build one or something. just throwing it out there to help ya out a bit.

i have a few challenge coins, i was given 2 of them and i bought the other 3 just to keep track of where i have been.
 
82ndMechanic said:
First off, I think that coins are something that should be earned and not bought. At least for members of the military.


Well I bought about a dozen of them for Christmas presents.:lol:
Clothing & Sales at Ft. Sill had some 2LT challenge coins (with the Army seal on the back and a butterbar on the front with a scroll for engravings), and since I'm easily amused I picked up a handfull. The only one I've actually bought for myself was the Field Artillery Association coin/medallion, just in case I forget what branch I'm in.
 
Thats why they make you wear those little crossed cannons on your collar :read: So you don't forget Lieutenant.
 
Challenge coins..... yeah the yanks hit us up with these in the Middle East.
We don't do this in the ADF. Wouldn't surprise me if some of the chair borne warriors try to bring it in though.
Sorry but I don't shout a beer unless the other joker is going to shout one back. Or he deserves one from me.
How many do you have to have to make up a set???
There seems to be hundreds of different types out there.
Funny, kids collect those sports cards and magics cards and now adults are collecting these coins. Must be a kid trapped inside all of us eh????TIC.
 
Warwick said:
Challenge coins..... yeah the yanks hit us up with these in the Middle East.
We don't do this in the ADF. Wouldn't surprise me if some of the chair borne warriors try to bring it in though.
Sorry but I don't shout a beer unless the other joker is going to shout one back. Or he deserves one from me.
How many do you have to have to make up a set???
There seems to be hundreds of different types out there.
Funny, kids collect those sports cards and magics cards and now adults are collecting these coins. Must be a kid trapped inside all of us eh????TIC.

Alot of them are awards. I was awarded mine when I got my AFA Citation for Outstanding Leadership anf Academic standing in the Civil Air Patrol.

My two others are from friends and a guy who lived across the street I helped moved.

DSCN0060.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d99/Weps/DSCN0060.jpg
 
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