What was your favorite or most unusual non military award on departing your duty station?

Lt Col Charlie Brown — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 10:21:45 -0400

Mine was a pair of "brass ones" from the 608 Aerial Port Squadron.

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made Sep 21 at 2018 10:23 AM

Lt Col Charlie Brown — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 10:23:33 -0400

Response by MSgt Stephen Council made Sep 21 at 2018 10:32 AM

MSgt Stephen Council — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 10:32:54 -0400

Lt Col Charlie Brown When I retired my entire flight contributed to my farewell/retirement gift. I was speechless when I was called up on stage and presented with a stainless, custom engraved, Springfield Armories 1911. I treasure that gift and it has its own spot on the top shelf of my handguns safe. I enjoy showing it off and returning to the thoughts that it brings of a time when I was privileged to help lead the finest Intelligence flight in the Air Force!

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Sep 21 at 2018 10:52 AM

SPC Margaret Higgins — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 10:52:23 -0400

Lt Col Charlie Brown: I did receive a Birthday letter; from the Commander of my post; on my birthday- in the Army. The Birthday letter read: HAPPY BIRTHDAY FROM THE COMMAND AND THE UNITED STATES ARMY! (!)

Response by LT Brad McInnis made Sep 21 at 2018 10:52 AM

LT Brad McInnis — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 10:52:46 -0400

I got a speeding ticket.... not really an award I suppose!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 21 at 2018 11:23 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 11:23:27 -0400

16th Engineer Battalion beer stein.

Response by SFC Pete Kain made Sep 21 at 2018 11:36 AM

SFC Pete Kain — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 11:36:11 -0400

A .45 caliber Black Powder rifle from the Arty Battery, and a guide on from the Maneuver company I was attached to . good Times

Response by Maj Robert Thornton made Sep 21 at 2018 11:43 AM

Maj Robert Thornton — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 11:43:47 -0400

The OR crew stole my Air Force Anniversary coffee mug, then I got it back mounted on a wooden stand, still with the lip stain on the outside.

Response by CW5 Sam R. Baker made Sep 21 at 2018 11:45 AM

CW5 Sam R. Baker — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 11:45:24 -0400

They reside with special situations, mainly where Soldiers, not leaders and the unit "had" to give a gift or award, but more importantly presented me something because I was that mentor or leader that they respected. As a WO1 I received a machete on a plaque from the Soldiers that worked for me in the BN S4 shop in the Arms Room that was my additional duty, not my primary. The five Soldiers pitched in and got me this gift, it is one of the special ones. Another is the one I received from a CSM that he hand made for me on his own time and its a one of a kind gift made out of some very treasured walnut wood he had that I remarked was so beautiful. Additionally I have two other gifts that large numbers of folks were able to write on and share their support and bid farewell, and to be frank, these "awards aka gifts" trump any unit/service award that I've ever received.

Response by SSG Jose M. Hernandezsanchez made Sep 21 at 2018 11:53 AM

SSG Jose M. Hernandezsanchez — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 11:53:29 -0400

I don't recall getting anything that stands out from the other. But I did received a belt buckle from my very first duty station which has my code sign "27E" on it. But I also received a drawing when I PCSed from the school house which was very surprising, and funny.

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Sep 21 at 2018 11:56 AM

SGT Philip Roncari — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 11:56:45 -0400

Some very sound advice from my range NCOIC (which of course this very young and dumb knuckle head didn’t follow) that finally after many years was taken to heart,I owe that man a life time of gratitude,funny it was the same thing my Dad always stressed ,be honest to yourself and others.

Response by Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen made Sep 21 at 2018 12:40 PM

Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 12:40:08 -0400

An award called the 'Schedulers Cross'. It has the opening and closing sstatements of the Air Force Commendation Medal, but the narrative is essentially a roast of all the things you 'accomplished' as as aircraft Scheduler.

Response by CSM Richard StCyr made Sep 21 at 2018 12:59 PM

CSM Richard StCyr — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 12:59:19 -0400

I've received many things from the troops that I treasure and display, each took thought and effort, none are especially costly, but every time I see them I smile and remember them and the story attached to it., here are the oddest but awesome ones :

-One is a plaque that the guys made with all the cigarette brands they smoked and ID plates under them and in the middle is a fake marijuana cigarette with the caption "call CID"; It's cool because of the story behind it.

- One is a very nice walking stick with brass rings at different heights denoting who's butt would be chewed for the corresponding grass height. Again there's a story

- A small very high powered flashlight in a fancy shadow box with a brass plaque. Referencing an incident in Iraq that you'd have to have been there to appreciate. Again the story

Response by LTC John Griscom made Sep 21 at 2018 1:14 PM

LTC John Griscom — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 13:14:10 -0400

Two beer steins from Germany tours, Medical Regimental Crest picture, enameled cup from Okinawa, officers sword from last Army Reserve unit. Also, silver serving dish (what every bachelor needs).

Response by PO1 Don Gulizia made Sep 21 at 2018 1:24 PM

PO1 Don Gulizia — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 13:24:59 -0400

One of the most unique "going away" gifts that I received was when I left NORAD. I received a desk set made out of polished granite from actual granite mined from Cheyenne Mountain. Of course, I have half a dozen signed photo frames from previous commands. Oh yeah, I do have a signed "retirement" appreciation letter from my governor (at the time)...Arnold Schwarzenegger!

Response by Col Joseph Lenertz made Sep 21 at 2018 1:53 PM

Col Joseph Lenertz — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 13:53:15 -0400

A bell. The kind there used to be at motel check-in desks. My unit went TDY quite a bit, and we had real work to do, so I wasn't very patient at base finance one day while we waited as the finance folks milled around in front of us without coming to the service counter. A few of my lieutenants saw me lose my patience (as a major at the time) and start pounding the bell for service. I still have the bell with 2Lt and 1Lt bars welded on along with a nice quote commemorating my tirade when the finance person finally showed up. I remember being very hungry at the time.

Response by CPO Tim Dickey made Sep 21 at 2018 3:01 PM

CPO Tim Dickey — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 15:01:23 -0400

The picture is worth a thousand words

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Sep 21 at 2018 4:18 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 16:18:29 -0400

Lt Col Charlie Brown Unusual Category...As the outgoing Garrison Commander my Fire Department presented me with the white supervisor helmet with custom rank placard. My framed colors from 3 commands are the most treasured. I havent gotten rid of any memento much to my Wife's chargrin. They all mean some thing

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 21 at 2018 4:28 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 16:28:11 -0400

I was MED Boarded. I got a flag, DD214, and a certificate from transitions.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 21 at 2018 9:01 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 21:01:49 -0400

When I left the Stryker Program Office I was given a Gas Marker used by the NBCRV.

For all the gifts I paid in on I didn't even get an OER when I resigned to go to the National Guard.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Sep 22 at 2018 2:39 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Sat, 22 Sep 2018 14:39:18 -0400

Lt Col Charlie Brown Y’all are probably too young to have watched the TV series ‘F Troop’!

Apparently a Soldiers who was an artist did watch that show. His sketch (which he declined to sign), shows he did watch F Troop.