How long into your service did you earn your first coin?

I received my first coin from the USARSO CSM, for giving him a brief about our ISR capabilities. I was in the Army for about 18 months, the second coin I got was when I PCSed from my last unit, they gave me the certificate for my ARCOM, and said they were sorry that we didn't have an awards presentation, to which I replied "I haven't had one for any of my others, why start now." My 1SG felt bad and gave me a company coin and a company patch. Those are the only 2 I have though, I would rather have coins in some instances than have awards.

The AF gives every graduating Airman from Basic a coin (started about a decade ago). First "real" coin was from the 421st Ground Combat Readiness Squadron for a couple of months of OPFOR for Phoenix Readiness. Favorite coin is from the SECDEF.

I got my first coin in OIF 1, 2003 I had only been in the Army for 3 years in this MOS 42A. I was assigned to the Baghdad International Airport after it was cleared (the picture) and I was with 3rd ID. We was the first PSDR ever assembled in a Combat Zone. because their was no other Division level support for Human resources I took it upon myself to insure that all board proceeding's were put into EDAS and I was recognized by 2 units for assisting them with NCOER/Promotions.

Coins? And they say Marines have odd traditions. The only COIN I ever knew of, was counter-intel.

I think I got my first coin at about 6 years in for deploying to Spain on a training exercise with my sister-battalion....but then coins weren't really that much of a thing then. They existed, but there just weren't many people around that had one. When it was all said and done, I think I ended up with 5 or 6 of them.

16 years in. First coin that I was ever presented was from my Father as I left for my mobilization. Carried it with me then and to this day.

I received my first coin around 2000 which means about 20 years. This was from the Army Football coach. My favorite COIN is from SECDEF.

I earned mine 3 1/2 years into ROTC. I was one of the planners for a six school FTX, presented by the brigade CSM. "Real Army" wise it took me a year from my battalion commander at my annual training. It took another year to receive an award for my uniform. Until then I had fewer ribbons than my privates returning from AIT as they got the GWOTSM and I did not.

first coin i got was at my first Marine Corps birthday ball, everybody got one. I was a PFC with 10 months TIS

I got my first coin about six months after I joined. It was Fort Hood TX, I was asked to introduce my Section SGT during her induction into the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club. I was so frighten that I froze in the middle of my intro for about 20 sec. The III Corp. Commander was in the audience and I remember looking at him and seeing him gesture to get me to start back up, I continued on and got off the stage. I was presented a coin from the III Corp. Commander and CSM after the ceremony was over.