Do people look down on you for having challenge coins that you have been given by family members?

2019-10-19T08:24:03-04:00

So, I am at my first duty station. Starting to find my battle rhythm here. Recently received my first challenge coin. When I have been out at the bars, I have sometimes seen people pull out their coins and make the person that has the lowest ranking one buy a round of shots for everyone else. I have three that I have been given by my father, and was wondering if I pulled one of those out while at the bar if people would accept it. Being the oldest, each time my dad deployed I took over as the man of the house. Each time he got back I would receive one of his challenge coins. Once while he was a company commander, battalion commander, and brigade commander.

I am new to the coins, and although my dad would explain the significance of the coins when I received them each time he got back, it wasn't until I was presented one solely for my merit here with my unit that the lightbulb clicked on and I my brain went "Oh, this means I did good work."

I feel like I earned the other ones as well though. I learned how to cook and do laundry at ten years old to help my Mom. Got my license the day I turned 16 to drive my younger siblings around to their extra activities. But I don't know the culture with the coins all at well, and don't know how other people would perceive it. Any thoughts would be appreciated!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2019 12:55 AM

2019-10-20T00:55:11-04:00

In 12 years I've never seen anyone use challenge coins...That being said, coins are earned, not given.

Response by SSG Laurie Mullen made Oct 20 at 2019 2:15 AM

2019-10-20T02:15:48-04:00

I wouldn't play the coin game with challenge coins given to you by your father. Keep them as a family memento, but use coins that you EARNED from your own service to play the game.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Oct 20 at 2019 2:06 PM

2019-10-20T14:06:39-04:00

Am I fond of coins, yes. But it's time for you to earn your coins. Coins are basically physical memories. I can certainly appreciate the way you feel about your grandfathers coins, but they are just that. HIS coins. Time to earn your own. it'll happen... Just do your best.

Response by SGT Chris Stephens made Oct 20 at 2019 2:33 PM

2019-10-20T14:33:11-04:00

I was given an Army Chief of Staff coin when I was a specialist when he came to visit Soldiers in Korea. I loved it when people challenged me thinking they were going to get a free drink off of me.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Oct 20 at 2019 6:32 PM

2019-10-20T18:32:34-04:00

Use the coins you earned on your own merit. The one's from your Dad are priceless gold! Keep them safely stored away.

Response by CSM Richard StCyr made Oct 23 at 2019 2:50 PM

2019-10-23T14:50:31-04:00

The ones from your Dad are mementos and something for you to keep to remember him, leave them at home on display.
The ones you have earned in service are the ones you should be answering or issuing challenges with and the buying of a round, is just a fun custom and sometimes you win and others you loose. Be a good sport and use those you get in uniform.
Besides you're at your first duty station so your buddies will all know or have heard who got coined by whom and may cry foul if you drop an odd Brigade coin on them that you haven't had a support mission to. That would take the fun out of the challenge.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Feb 20 at 2020 5:19 PM

2020-02-20T17:19:02-05:00

Don't use your parent coin's, 1. they are priceless to you and are historical artifacts as those units may not exist now. 2, Pull one out and there could be many call outs if those units died 10-
+ years ago. Use the one's that you have earned cause they will be priceless to you and you can defend them- " Hell yes , I was there!