Posted on Oct 15, 2014
What are your thoughts on challange coins? Not given out enough? People make to big a deal about them?
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I bring this up to ya'll because I just had a conversation with one of my Soldiers about this today. I had a discussion a long time ago with my Regional CSM who had us all out in a formation to recognize three people who were incredible Soldiers and how he doesn't "hand them out like candy", only giving his coins to the best Soldiers. He proceeded to give three HQ folks a coin and then tell the rest of us how awesome we were and to keep up the great work we do. Afterwards, I asked him if I could speak to him and if I could speak frankly. He said yes, so I told him that I understand that they are expensive to purchase but he should hand them out more liberally since they hold no actual value...just the value placed on it by the Soldier receiving said coin. He thanked me for my candid observation, but he was clearly not happy with my assessment of the situation. What say you...
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Morale Recognition
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 8
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The value of the coin is merely intrinsic, but it is a value to person receiving it (and gives a certain degree of 'bragging rights'). Hand them out like candy, and there would be no value at all to them. I would agree with your CSM on this one.
Coins are a great way to recognize excellence 'on the spot', and while they should not replace official awards where warranted, they do enable instant recognition.
Coins are a great way to recognize excellence 'on the spot', and while they should not replace official awards where warranted, they do enable instant recognition.
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The one thing that stuck out at me was "He proceeded to give three HQ folks a coin and then tell the rest of us how awesome we were".
It does seem that the HQ people get all the rewards while the workers bees generally get speeches and more taskings.. Sadly the flag pole seems to be magnetic, attracting all the awards..
It does seem that the HQ people get all the rewards while the workers bees generally get speeches and more taskings.. Sadly the flag pole seems to be magnetic, attracting all the awards..
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Personally...they hold no magic. What good are they if there's no documentation to support them. I promise you I can get 40 or 50 of any of them made up in no time at all - including the one's issued by POTUS.
Acutally, if those soldiers were so darned all-fired wonderful, why didn't the CSM take the time to write up the paperwork, run the paperwork thru the grinder to get it approved and get those soldiers a medal that might mean something?
Anyone can be wonderful on one occasion....I know a particular sailor that was a true dirt bag. Wouldn't do her PQS, much less her work...but dang if she didn't look particularly sharp for an inspection that just happened to have an Admiral conducting part of it. Low and behold she answers a few questions and voila! the Admiral wants to spot promote her. Thank goodness her PO1 had fully documented her previous 35 months of non-efforts and failure to execute.
If your troops are all that and a bag of chips...somebody needs to properly document that....not be a cheap bastard and hand out challenge coins like they mean something.....cuz they don't.
Acutally, if those soldiers were so darned all-fired wonderful, why didn't the CSM take the time to write up the paperwork, run the paperwork thru the grinder to get it approved and get those soldiers a medal that might mean something?
Anyone can be wonderful on one occasion....I know a particular sailor that was a true dirt bag. Wouldn't do her PQS, much less her work...but dang if she didn't look particularly sharp for an inspection that just happened to have an Admiral conducting part of it. Low and behold she answers a few questions and voila! the Admiral wants to spot promote her. Thank goodness her PO1 had fully documented her previous 35 months of non-efforts and failure to execute.
If your troops are all that and a bag of chips...somebody needs to properly document that....not be a cheap bastard and hand out challenge coins like they mean something.....cuz they don't.
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