What are your thoughts on challange coins? Not given out enough? People make to big a deal about them?

SPC(P) Jay Heenan — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 23:38:01 -0400

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...

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 16 at 2014 12:00 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 00:00:01 -0400

Sorry but I have to agree with the CSM's reaction. Giving out a coin by a senior official has a lot of value to it. It's not about the expense of the coin, as you stated, but it's the fact they are hard to get. Handing them out much more often detracts from the value or even prestige of earning one.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 16 at 2014 1:25 AM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 01:25:36 -0400

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.

Response by MSG Wade Huffman made Oct 16 at 2014 8:01 AM

MSG Wade Huffman — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 08:01:56 -0400

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.

Response by COL Vincent Stoneking made Oct 16 at 2014 8:13 AM

COL Vincent Stoneking — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 08:13:33 -0400

While I have to agree with SSG Private RallyPoint Member - their "value" comes from the fact that they are given out sparingly (the same should hold for actual awards .... ), I also agree with SFC Chris Smith - I personally never have been impressed or motivated by them. The ones I have are actually in a cigar box in a closet. Of all of them, there are only 2 that carry any actual meaning for me.

A big issue I have with them is what was outlined by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member - they are often, in my experience, handed out by someone based on a fleeting interaction. And often after someone has decided that "I'm going to give out three during this tour of the exercise." And often by someone who has no knowledge of that Soldier or their actual performance.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Oct 16 at 2014 9:05 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 09:05:28 -0400

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..

Response by SFC Steven Borders made Oct 16 at 2014 9:08 AM

SFC Steven Borders — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 09:08:23 -0400

It sure meant a lot to my daughters and myself. But that is just me. My middle daughter received a coin for running the whole way with the company on a family run day from my BN commander. She was ecstatic, my oldest received one from a head commander at the Fort Belvoir Army Hospital for volunteering to help out with a program.

I have only received two myself, besides ones that I collect from other countries I go to.

All in all I think it just depends on the person receiving the coin.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 16 at 2014 10:38 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 22:38:08 -0400

Well I would say it really depends. First off there is a budget for battalion levels and higher to purchase coins. As a company commander I decided to purchase my own coins at both of my commands. I did not hand out many coins during my first command and am still selective but more liberal with my current coins. I do not want to give them to everyone in the company as then they are just company coins rather than something that someone earned. I figure when I received a coin from my 1 star during deployment I got it because I earned it. Then I saw that everyone was getting one with their end of tour award. I have to say it lowered the value of the coin in my mind. Just like awards: if everyone gets one then why bother having them at all as they are pretty much worthless and do not really recognize those who worked really hard to earn them. Yes coins do not have point value or be worn on your uniform, but it is a great way to recognize someone on the spot and show that they are doing something that is above and beyond what is being asked of them.

Response by SPC(P) Jay Heenan made Oct 16 at 2014 10:54 PM

SPC(P) Jay Heenan — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 22:54:53 -0400

Well here is my take as a junior enlisted Soldier (even though I am as old as most Commanders LOL). As a junior enlisted Soldier, I have no clue how many coins you have given out like candy prior to putting one in my hand. I view them as my Commander, General, CSM, etc. took two minutes out of their busy day to say thank you for doing a great job. It is a morale booster because I realize that sometimes, personal money is spent and definitely their time has been spent thanking little ole me for doing my job well. They stopped doing the many duties they are required to do and thanked me specifically. I personally care about every coin I have ever received. I hold the coins at a higher value than the many COA's I have received over the course of my career. Generally speaking (at least me), we don't compare coins at the end of the week so there is not 'tally sheet' being kept. I guess it really comes down to the individual Soldier and the importance they place on receiving the coin.