The history of challenge coins is shrouded in mystery. It may have started when an wealthy American Aviator had medallions cast during World War I. When he crashed in France, the French didn't know who he was, but they knew he was allied when he showed them his medallion. Or it may have come from Vietnam where an American bar required "proof" that you were an infantryman for entry. That proof could be a bullet. But when people began bring in enemy grenades, they decided to issue coins as proof. In order to drink, you were "challenged" and had to show your coin. Today it's used as an "atta-boy" if you've done something good, but not so good as to deserve a medal. They might also be given as tokens of appreciation when you visit a unit.
I thought 10th SF was the first unit to do it? Substituted for the Pfennig ckeck at the club(s) in Germany. Don't remember seeing any other ones prior...
It’s crazy how you’ll often hear complaints about bad pay or crappy conditions, but something as simple as a coin can drive people to become superhuman. It’s fascinated me since I joined.
Yeah, combat vet here, I wasn’t thinking about a fucking coin or ribbon during. Nobody does. Coins don’t “motivate people to be superhuman.” Youre motivated to be superhuman to keep you and your friends alive, and then later on some dorky colonel or SGM comes through and tries to give you a cool coin which typically gets the restponse- at best- of “huh, cool”
When my National Guard unit was deployed, my SGT was a teacher in his civilian job. This earned him the Nickname "the Dean of soldiers" well I did a good job once so he made me a coin with his face on it and the words "the Dean coin of excellence". Still the best challenge coin I've ever gotten.
You gave me one of your challenge coins at the Texas Cyber Summit! When you did the hand off I completely dropped the coin and you said it was the worst challenge coin pass off ever. Absolutely hilarious!
I was in the Navy from ‘86 - ‘06. The first challenge coins I saw started showing up in the mid to late’90s. From that point on I was getting challenge coins at every command I served with.
I'm airline crew based in Ireland. Was able to upgrade a Navy reserve/Delta pilot to Business class last year. He very graciously gave me his challenge coin as a thank you.
Meh, kinda I guess? What he doesn’t mention is that getting coined can be used on award packages, too. And since these awards (quarterlies, etc) can go on E/OPRs, coins ultimately can help with promotion.
My mother has SO many coins from post 9/11. 2 presidential ones and a TON. from starred generals. She traveled for years shaking the hand of ever person she deployed. Was a hard time for my family. Father did 2 tours and that was his list war, vietnam his first.
They are the "me too" objects for military people lol. Grunts having challenge coins wasn't a thing in the Corps. It was and still is a POG thing. Just like Navy achievement medals. Every POG gets one.
Like the coins...though I'm not a vet, just grew up in and worked for several DOD contractors for years. At is point it's a little to much to see all the medal ribbons on our soldiers dress uniforms. Eisenhower had it right with his WWII picture in wiki with about 9 ribbons...Bedell has a few more and that's OK. Many of today's flag officers are running out of places to pin all their ribbons and badges.
Ive got an F35 one, from the defence company after the contract was finalised, it was a silver service dinner and we were serving the defence companies food and drink. year's ago...
That is a bit of a departure from the way I remember it. These were sold by the battalion to Marines for $5 or $10. The "challenge" in challenge coin meant that you could throw down (literally, throw down) the coin, and if the Marine you threw down to didn't have a coin, he pushed. If he did have a coin, he threw down and you pushed. Some salty dogs would carry a second coin, and double down, but that sorta defeats the purpose.
Challenge coins didn’t exist during the Vietnam War. The first I heard of them was at the 2014 Pop-a-Smoke Combat Helicopter Association reunion. Since then I collected a few and recently gave them to my son.
Im my unit you were honor bound to carry your coin. If CHALLENGED as to whether or not you had it on you and you didn't, you owed the CHALLENGEr a beer. If you were challenged and had it, the CHALLENGEd was owed a beer.
In my Infantry unit in the 80s in Schweinfurt West Germany whoever had the higher number on their coin had to buy the lower number a beer. Often the senior ncos, Command Sergeant majors, would give their coin to the lowest enlisted so that you never knew who had a lower number. It was very common to get challenged at bars everywhere throughout germany by fellow servicemen.
We have challenge coins in the fire department as well, usually they're traded when departments visit other departments, but usually widows will get one from every department that attends the funeral as well.
Piano burning!? I've never been in the military and I've never heard of that before . As an electronic keyboard and synthesizer repair tech, I'd love to hear Ryan explain that! 🙂
As a Brit I recall seeing President Obama stop to have a conversation with a Marine and as they shook hands you could see that something was passed from the President to the. Marine. It legit looked like a street deal going down.. 😂 . So after I hit Google that was when I learned about challenge coins! The marines bragging rights of having the POTUS challenge coin in your collection! Great content Ryan.
That's the point. When you are at the bar with your friends, you throw down your coin and challenge. If someone can't produce their coin, they pay for the drinks. If everyone has a coin, you pay for the drinks.
@robertmathias347 perhaps different units got different customs, but in my opinion, making a non recipient of a coin pay seems like hazing. Coins got value depending on who they come from, how much status the giver of the coin holds
I am a civilian employee of the Army Corps of Engineers. The Lt Colonel often issues "commander's coins" to district employees for exemplary performance, meeting career milestones, or participation in emergency response (such as flooding, wildfires in Maui, the 2017 Puerto Rico hurricane etc).
My brother worked as an interpreter for U.S. Army part of the NATO K-FOR mission in Kosovo. Worked for about 8 and a half years. He has more than a hundred various coins. So glad you did a video about them, will forward him this video.
I had the honor of being given an Army Ranger coin by an actual Army Ranger. He told me that if he ever saw me out, and I didn't have the coin on my person, I would have to buy him a beer. I told him I would leave it at home.
"and it kind of got out of hand because people were bringing grenades and stuff" is by far the most infantry thing I have ever heard another human say.
Every ship captain designs one for his command and does special ones for RIMPAC and other joint ops. We have a pretty decent collection. The bottle opener challenge coins are my personal faves!
I have a one from doing printing work for the union workers at Electric Boat. I helped design a coin for them and they let me keep one. Also got one from the Flogging Molly cruise.
I have a small collection of challenge coins myself that I've collected from historical events and museums, my grandpa even gave me his purple heart challenge coin
Must be an army thing. While I did see challenge coins in the Marines, 100% of every coin came from a POG. I once was handed a "you kill em, we grill em" challenge coin from a cook lol. Me and my buddies had a good laugh. In the military you have assets and liabilities, and if you're a grunt with a challenge coin, I'm guessing you're NOT an asset. How the times have changed.
Saw them mostly in AFSOC, then right after 9/11 the rest of USAF adopted the practice as well. In the 90's and early 2000's you traded unit patches, by 2010 it was coins.
The "challenge" part of the challenge coin is if you are out with the boys at a bar you can slam down your coin on the bar and call, "Challenge!" Then everyone has to bring out their coin and put it down to "meet" the challenge. Anyone who doesn't meet the challenge has to buy a round of deinks for everyone who met the challenge. If EVERYONE meets the challenge then the person who put down the challenge has to buy a round for everyone in the bar. So, it's a gamble. You may get a free drink or you may end up broke owning a huge bar tab. That's why they're called challenge coins instead of just "unit coin" or "military coin".
In my experience there are really two groups of coins. One is the challenge coin, the other is a coin of excellence. Challenge coins are very simple to have made online and even very small groups within the armed services have them made. Some even sell them to raise money for org days and such. Coins of excellence usually have "Presented by the Commander" or ..."for excellence" on them. They are typically given as something less than an official award like Ryan mentioned. Then the game becomes people that mix in challenge coins they bought/traded with ones they "earned" to make it look like they are a super trooper. This is similar to the ole PX ranger, but you dont get an article 15 for it. This is what happens when the "everybody gets a trophy" generation joins the military.
I know they go back to at least early Vietnam era bc a good friend of my fathers showed me his challenge coin collection once, one from an admiral and one from the commandant of VMI where he attended prior to going to Annapolis.
Ive collected coins from every squadron I served with on deployment (Navy) as well as every base I've been too. Evan have a few from admirals and other higher ranking officers.
5 years in the Navy never saw a single person get one. Was even sought out as an E-5 by the XO/CO (cant remember if he was still the XO at the time) so he could thank me for something the navy wouldn't want to give a medal for so if that wasn't a challenge coin situation I don't know what would be. Maybe it's more of a thing in the other branches.
Some Breweries and Brands have their own too, I know Budweiser does one (Because obivously...) Fernet Branca also do one. not sure of any others though
At Ft. Johnson a select soldier from each battalion recieved something called a Red Devil chip for being soldier of the month. Somehow I recieved two of them over my time there and I still have one of them.
There are plenty of clubs that have embraced them as well. The 501st Legion is probably among the most prolific, but costuming groups seem to have really taken to them in general. Local Ghostbusters, Stargate cosplayers, Mass Effect fans, it’s widespread. Hell, I’ve had a half dozen made over the years for work and fandom based things, and am getting one that can also be an ornament as a gift for guests at my wedding later this year. Just put the order in today.
About 35 years ago, my unit used them in a real challenge system (complete w/serial #s; loser buys). Didn't see so much of the atta-boy thing, or the give-to-visitors thing back then (and coins were more like the size of a silver dollar, not a frisbee). Haven't seen a real challenge routine since 1997.
Most meaningful coin I ever received literally goes everywhere with me almost 20 years on: I was personally coined by MoH recipient MAJ James A. Taylor (ret.) shortly after I returned from OIF II/III on memorial day 2005.
I found a USMC challenge coin on the beach with my metal detector. Never found a way to reunite it with its owner. Maybe they left it there on purpose, needed a place to leave a reminder of something they didn’t want to think about. I don’t think I’ll ever know.
What's the proper etiquette for holding challenge coins as a civilian? I gather that coins are given not necessarily obtained, but can they be inherited? Does it matter if it's issued by a civilian organization like a Church or a company?
Mr. McBeth I was wondering if you could talk about bicycle infantry and if they have relevance on the modern battlefield. From what I have gathered the Swiss disbanded their last dedicated bicycle unit in 2003, and it seems that bicycle units have not been talked about a lot. They were utilized in multiple conflicts in different roles, if I remember correctly the Danes utilized bicycle infantry in the defense of their homeland during WWII and other countries also did this. In Vietnam bicycles were utilized on the Ho Chi Minh trail to transport logistical assets to and from battles zones. The bicycle still seems like a relevant concept and tool since it has limited load bearing capacity and can provide space for stowage racks on the bike. They are also smaller and less noisy than other mechanical counterparts along with providing a smaller signature. Another thing would be that any infantryman would probably be able to fix the bike in the field due to the limited moving parts and ease of repair, I think that this would be very useful since it would free up more experienced service members to do other essential tasks. I am sorry that was long I was just wondering what you thought sir. Thank you
I think it is beautiful. What ever you say is good enough for me. You, the most level headed American hero is the best the Free World can get. And dam lucky as well, to have had your previous service. Kevin from sunny Mexico..
I couldn't help but notice the CID badge on the top shelf by your coins. I am assuming that it is a replica. I was an SA with the USACIDC in the early 80's. I got a replica when I was in Korea. I enjoy your work. Very interesting.
Guy I went to aviation school with went got one from the sec.def. At the time for pulling some E4 shit to get a truck out of a ditch when he happens to drive by
In the 19th century, officers paid their staff from their own pockets. The more wealthy an officer, the more staff they brought with them on tour. Today, this tradition is upheld at MCB Quantico at Marine officer commissioning ceremony; when a new 2nd Lt offers a silver dollar to their first salute. Which even today has become more symbolic than I understand it was 30 years ago. This is the origin of the challenge coin, how it became the challenge coin, I don't know.
I have a few, I don't brag about them because I don't like getting special recognition for simply doing my job. So my question is not what are change coins? by why. The last coin I got before retirement, I told the presenting Coast Guard Capt that with this and $1.50, I could get a cup of coffee.
All I got is knife maker coins hahaha. Btw. Ryan, did you see me telling you in a comment that I saw your CRKT knife being apparently up for sale again? The one with the belt cutter included in the flipper tab.
I got a coin from an EOD company that says thanks for not sucking. They have it to me for helping them with their comms since they didn't have their own commo guy.
Great explanation! I've earned several. The ones I'm most proud of are the ones I felt I've earned, not bought. How do I earn one of yours? Love your channel. Great research & knowledge!
The history of challenge coins is shrouded in mystery. It may have started when an wealthy American Aviator had medallions cast during World War I. When he crashed in France, the French didn't know who he was, but they knew he was allied when he showed them his medallion. Or it may have come from Vietnam where an American bar required "proof" that you were an infantryman for entry. That proof could be a bullet. But when people began bring in enemy grenades, they decided to issue coins as proof. In order to drink, you were "challenged" and had to show your coin.
Today it's used as an "atta-boy" if you've done something good, but not so good as to deserve a medal. They might also be given as tokens of appreciation when you visit a unit.
I got 2
1 from the raf and another from the hms scott
👍
They are not common anymore among Marine Infantrymen.....at least as of when I left. General Mattis has harsh words for them.
I thought 10th SF was the first unit to do it? Substituted for the Pfennig ckeck at the club(s) in Germany. Don't remember seeing any other ones prior...
Why are you not talking about the 3 Abrams blown up by Russians?
“A SOLDIER will fight long and hard for a bit of coloured ribbon,” Napoleon once said
It’s crazy how you’ll often hear complaints about bad pay or crappy conditions, but something as simple as a coin can drive people to become superhuman. It’s fascinated me since I joined.
Really wow@@bladfadsfblaadsfsadf900
Most challenge coins don't come from fighting.
Yeah, combat vet here, I wasn’t thinking about a fucking coin or ribbon during. Nobody does. Coins don’t “motivate people to be superhuman.” Youre motivated to be superhuman to keep you and your friends alive, and then later on some dorky colonel or SGM comes through and tries to give you a cool coin which typically gets the restponse- at best- of “huh, cool”
Gamers: *puppet meme*
"You had to bring a enemy bullet. But that got out of hand when people started bringing hand grenades."
Okay, I think there might be a story here.
When my National Guard unit was deployed, my SGT was a teacher in his civilian job. This earned him the Nickname "the Dean of soldiers" well I did a good job once so he made me a coin with his face on it and the words "the Dean coin of excellence". Still the best challenge coin I've ever gotten.
You gave me one of your challenge coins at the Texas Cyber Summit! When you did the hand off I completely dropped the coin and you said it was the worst challenge coin pass off ever. Absolutely hilarious!
You should get a challenge coin for that 😂
I was in the Navy from ‘86 - ‘06. The first challenge coins I saw started showing up in the mid to late’90s. From that point on I was getting challenge coins at every command I served with.
That pretty much jives with my experience working for USAF. Late 90's AFSOC had them, big Airforce in the mid 2000s.
So it’s martial Pokémon?
Remember challenge coins? They're back! In POG form.
I have my father in laws, NCO club entrance tab (coin) from Vietnam.
They are POG Slammers
I'm airline crew based in Ireland. Was able to upgrade a Navy reserve/Delta pilot to Business class last year. He very graciously gave me his challenge coin as a thank you.
Got mine from the commander of NORAD.
So challenge coins are basically adult merit badges.
Meh, kinda I guess? What he doesn’t mention is that getting coined can be used on award packages, too. And since these awards (quarterlies, etc) can go on E/OPRs, coins ultimately can help with promotion.
@@pazzoafno they can't. Coins are informal and have no function other than bragging rights.
Bsa?
@@namastezen3300 Used to be. Aged out
@@scribejackhammar eagle?
My mother has SO many coins from post 9/11. 2 presidential ones and a TON. from starred generals. She traveled for years shaking the hand of ever person she deployed. Was a hard time for my family. Father did 2 tours and that was his list war, vietnam his first.
They are the "me too" objects for military people lol. Grunts having challenge coins wasn't a thing in the Corps. It was and still is a POG thing. Just like Navy achievement medals. Every POG gets one.
Like the coins...though I'm not a vet, just grew up in and worked for several DOD contractors for years. At is point it's a little to much to see all the medal ribbons on our soldiers dress uniforms. Eisenhower had it right with his WWII picture in wiki with about 9 ribbons...Bedell has a few more and that's OK. Many of today's flag officers are running out of places to pin all their ribbons and badges.
Ive got an F35 one, from the defence company after the contract was finalised, it was a silver service dinner and we were serving the defence companies food and drink. year's ago...
I've got a handful from LM MFC. Several PAC-3, HIMARS and THAAD.
That is a bit of a departure from the way I remember it. These were sold by the battalion to Marines for $5 or $10. The "challenge" in challenge coin meant that you could throw down (literally, throw down) the coin, and if the Marine you threw down to didn't have a coin, he pushed. If he did have a coin, he threw down and you pushed. Some salty dogs would carry a second coin, and double down, but that sorta defeats the purpose.
Challenge coins didn’t exist during the Vietnam War. The first I heard of them was at the 2014 Pop-a-Smoke Combat Helicopter Association reunion. Since then I collected a few and recently gave them to my son.
"Challenge coins didn’t exist during the Vietnam War."
Think they did. Airborne units only.
Im my unit you were honor bound to carry your coin. If CHALLENGED as to whether or not you had it on you and you didn't, you owed the CHALLENGEr a beer. If you were challenged and had it, the CHALLENGEd was owed a beer.
In my Infantry unit in the 80s in Schweinfurt West Germany whoever had the higher number on their coin had to buy the lower number a beer. Often the senior ncos, Command Sergeant majors, would give their coin to the lowest enlisted so that you never knew who had a lower number. It was very common to get challenged at bars everywhere throughout germany by fellow servicemen.
We have challenge coins in the fire department as well, usually they're traded when departments visit other departments, but usually widows will get one from every department that attends the funeral as well.
Ryan, you should learn the people on the tradition of piano burning in the Air Force.
Piano burning!? I've never been in the military and I've never heard of that before . As an electronic keyboard and synthesizer repair tech, I'd love to hear Ryan explain that! 🙂
As a Brit I recall seeing President Obama stop to have a conversation with a Marine and as they shook hands you could see that something was passed from the President to the. Marine. It legit looked like a street deal going down.. 😂 . So after I hit Google that was when I learned about challenge coins! The marines bragging rights of having the POTUS challenge coin in your collection! Great content Ryan.
Got 2 from my service, my units from Afghanistan and one from the then Chairman of The Joint Chiefs of Staff.
If you got the lowest ranking coin at the bar during a challenge, you have to pay for all of the challengers drinks on the challenge round
It's if you don't have a coin.
@robertmathias347 why would you join a challenge having no coin?
That's the point. When you are at the bar with your friends, you throw down your coin and challenge. If someone can't produce their coin, they pay for the drinks. If everyone has a coin, you pay for the drinks.
I have ever heard of a ranking system with coins. Who is tonsay what a lower ranking coin is.
@robertmathias347 perhaps different units got different customs, but in my opinion, making a non recipient of a coin pay seems like hazing. Coins got value depending on who they come from, how much status the giver of the coin holds
U.S. Law Enforcement is big into them as well
I am a civilian employee of the Army Corps of Engineers. The Lt Colonel often issues "commander's coins" to district employees for exemplary performance, meeting career milestones, or participation in emergency response (such as flooding, wildfires in Maui, the 2017 Puerto Rico hurricane etc).
Solidified braggadocio.
You are a walking paradox sir, and I love it.
My brother worked as an interpreter for U.S. Army part of the NATO K-FOR mission in Kosovo. Worked for about 8 and a half years. He has more than a hundred various coins. So glad you did a video about them, will forward him this video.
The USPS challenge coin is awesome.
I had the honor of being given an Army Ranger coin by an actual Army Ranger. He told me that if he ever saw me out, and I didn't have the coin on my person, I would have to buy him a beer. I told him I would leave it at home.
So if the Millitary had Pokéman’s Gym’s ?
Pretty much
"and it kind of got out of hand because people were bringing grenades and stuff" is by far the most infantry thing I have ever heard another human say.
Succinct as always. Thank you.
Challenge coins have been part of Greek life at college for forever
Every ship captain designs one for his command and does special ones for RIMPAC and other joint ops. We have a pretty decent collection. The bottle opener challenge coins are my personal faves!
I have a one from doing printing work for the union workers at Electric Boat. I helped design a coin for them and they let me keep one. Also got one from the Flogging Molly cruise.
I served in the navy 1982-88 and never saw a challenge coin in all that time. I suspect the tradition became widespread in the 90's and later.
They're very manly friendship bracelets.
George's coin gets free drinks.
I have a small collection of challenge coins myself that I've collected from historical events and museums, my grandpa even gave me his purple heart challenge coin
Must be an army thing. While I did see challenge coins in the Marines, 100% of every coin came from a POG. I once was handed a "you kill em, we grill em" challenge coin from a cook lol. Me and my buddies had a good laugh. In the military you have assets and liabilities, and if you're a grunt with a challenge coin, I'm guessing you're NOT an asset. How the times have changed.
Never saw them in Navy either, other than some basic ones for sale at the NEX.
Saw them mostly in AFSOC, then right after 9/11 the rest of USAF adopted the practice as well. In the 90's and early 2000's you traded unit patches, by 2010 it was coins.
It's a local award for a good job done, usually by the CO, Brigade Commander or Commandant.
The "challenge" part of the challenge coin is if you are out with the boys at a bar you can slam down your coin on the bar and call, "Challenge!" Then everyone has to bring out their coin and put it down to "meet" the challenge. Anyone who doesn't meet the challenge has to buy a round of deinks for everyone who met the challenge.
If EVERYONE meets the challenge then the person who put down the challenge has to buy a round for everyone in the bar.
So, it's a gamble. You may get a free drink or you may end up broke owning a huge bar tab.
That's why they're called challenge coins instead of just "unit coin" or "military coin".
In my experience there are really two groups of coins. One is the challenge coin, the other is a coin of excellence. Challenge coins are very simple to have made online and even very small groups within the armed services have them made. Some even sell them to raise money for org days and such. Coins of excellence usually have "Presented by the Commander" or ..."for excellence" on them. They are typically given as something less than an official award like Ryan mentioned. Then the game becomes people that mix in challenge coins they bought/traded with ones they "earned" to make it look like they are a super trooper. This is similar to the ole PX ranger, but you dont get an article 15 for it. This is what happens when the "everybody gets a trophy" generation joins the military.
Challenge coins are what you get when your chain doesnt want to do proper award paperwork.
When I served (84 - 87) I never saw one of these coins, ever.
I was in the Navy from’86 - ‘06, an the coins started to become a thing around the mid to late ‘90s.
Also civilians are giving challenge coins at times
I know they go back to at least early Vietnam era bc a good friend of my fathers showed me his challenge coin collection once, one from an admiral and one from the commandant of VMI where he attended prior to going to Annapolis.
Ive collected coins from every squadron I served with on deployment (Navy) as well as every base I've been too. Evan have a few from admirals and other higher ranking officers.
5 years in the Navy never saw a single person get one. Was even sought out as an E-5 by the XO/CO (cant remember if he was still the XO at the time) so he could thank me for something the navy wouldn't want to give a medal for so if that wasn't a challenge coin situation I don't know what would be.
Maybe it's more of a thing in the other branches.
Some Breweries and Brands have their own too, I know Budweiser does one (Because obivously...) Fernet Branca also do one. not sure of any others though
I just got one from my commanding officer. It has the CMC and the captains insignia on it. Pretty cool.
At Ft. Johnson a select soldier from each battalion recieved something called a Red Devil chip for being soldier of the month. Somehow I recieved two of them over my time there and I still have one of them.
There are plenty of clubs that have embraced them as well. The 501st Legion is probably among the most prolific, but costuming groups seem to have really taken to them in general. Local Ghostbusters, Stargate cosplayers, Mass Effect fans, it’s widespread.
Hell, I’ve had a half dozen made over the years for work and fandom based things, and am getting one that can also be an ornament as a gift for guests at my wedding later this year. Just put the order in today.
They are also collectables. Idk how respectful it is but I've seen people collect them
I served 4 years in the USMC in the 1980s and never came into contact with any of these.
He forgot the part where people "challenge" others who should have a coin and who ever can't show their coin pays one round of drinks.
We also used them to decide who pays for the drinks (highest ranking does not pay)
Public safety agencies like police, sheriffs or firefighters also have challenge coins.
Words alone cannot do justice to the value of the callenge coins.
If someone gives you a challenge coin that's one thing, but I've known a lot of pogues who have a wall full of coins that bought.
I’m not in the military but have a few. They show up every now and then in coin lots I purchase.
About 35 years ago, my unit used them in a real challenge system (complete w/serial #s; loser buys). Didn't see so much of the atta-boy thing, or the give-to-visitors thing back then (and coins were more like the size of a silver dollar, not a frisbee). Haven't seen a real challenge routine since 1997.
Most meaningful coin I ever received literally goes everywhere with me almost 20 years on: I was personally coined by MoH recipient MAJ James A. Taylor (ret.) shortly after I returned from OIF II/III on memorial day 2005.
I knew a former SEAL that got really pissed off when coins got mentioned.
Not sure what to think about that.
I found a USMC challenge coin on the beach with my metal detector. Never found a way to reunite it with its owner. Maybe they left it there on purpose, needed a place to leave a reminder of something they didn’t want to think about. I don’t think I’ll ever know.
Reallly popular amongst IT Security folks too.
The person at a bar with the highest ranking challenge coin gets drinks bought for him.
If you don’t have your coin when challenged, you buy the next round. Immediate response and 15 second responses [2 coins].
I always heard the story about aviators from World War. I. Even if it's not true, you have to admit that it's a really great story.
What's the proper etiquette for holding challenge coins as a civilian? I gather that coins are given not necessarily obtained, but can they be inherited? Does it matter if it's issued by a civilian organization like a Church or a company?
Mr. McBeth
I was wondering if you could talk about bicycle infantry and if they have relevance on the modern battlefield. From what I have gathered the Swiss disbanded their last dedicated bicycle unit in 2003, and it seems that bicycle units have not been talked about a lot. They were utilized in multiple conflicts in different roles, if I remember correctly the Danes utilized bicycle infantry in the defense of their homeland during WWII and other countries also did this. In Vietnam bicycles were utilized on the Ho Chi Minh trail to transport logistical assets to and from battles zones. The bicycle still seems like a relevant concept and tool since it has limited load bearing capacity and can provide space for stowage racks on the bike. They are also smaller and less noisy than other mechanical counterparts along with providing a smaller signature. Another thing would be that any infantryman would probably be able to fix the bike in the field due to the limited moving parts and ease of repair, I think that this would be very useful since it would free up more experienced service members to do other essential tasks. I am sorry that was long I was just wondering what you thought sir.
Thank you
Before it was a pogue attaboy it was for members of elite units. They were numbered and registered to you.
“Less than a medal, but more than a pat on the back :D” 😭
Would love recommendations on what companies to go to for custom made challenge coins
He'll even some boy scout summer camps have one
Usually, only the REMF's get coins. If you're in the field, you never get coins.
Ryan, are you going to do a video about the expected challenges and feasibility of the plan to 'build a pier' to bring ocean bourne aid to Gaza?
I can’t do it now, but it’s on the list
Maybe. I think people can do it better than me.
I think it is beautiful. What ever you say is good enough for me. You, the most level headed American hero is the best the Free World can get. And dam lucky as well, to have had your previous service. Kevin from sunny Mexico..
I couldn't help but notice the CID badge on the top shelf by your coins. I am assuming that it is a replica. I was an SA with the USACIDC in the early 80's. I got a replica when I was in Korea. I enjoy your work. Very interesting.
Guy I went to aviation school with went got one from the sec.def. At the time for pulling some E4 shit to get a truck out of a ditch when he happens to drive by
In the 19th century, officers paid their staff from their own pockets. The more wealthy an officer, the more staff they brought with them on tour. Today, this tradition is upheld at MCB Quantico at Marine officer commissioning ceremony; when a new 2nd Lt offers a silver dollar to their first salute. Which even today has become more symbolic than I understand it was 30 years ago.
This is the origin of the challenge coin, how it became the challenge coin, I don't know.
Is there nothing Ryan posts that is not very interesting or insightful? I luv his channel.
The U.S. Forest Service has challenge coins. I have one for Region 4 and Smokey Bear.
I have a few, I don't brag about them because I don't like getting special recognition for simply doing my job.
So my question is not what are change coins? by why.
The last coin I got before retirement, I told the presenting Coast Guard Capt that with this and $1.50, I could get a cup of coffee.
Ryan is the News, without the Hype. 🇺🇸😊
When I was in middle school, I got a challenge coin from a Sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
All I got is knife maker coins hahaha.
Btw. Ryan, did you see me telling you in a comment that I saw your CRKT knife being apparently up for sale again? The one with the belt cutter included in the flipper tab.
I also heard during drinks, might get a free drink (friends pay) as a competition of know psople
I got a coin from an EOD company that says thanks for not sucking. They have it to me for helping them with their comms since they didn't have their own commo guy.
Last year we had a ball for the guards birthday, and people geeked when I whipped your coun
Union Pacific railroad also has challenge coins they hand out.
Well, don’t forget the bar thing too. Don’t get caught at the NCO club without one.
Great explanation!
I've earned several. The ones I'm most proud of are the ones I felt I've earned, not bought.
How do I earn one of yours?
Love your channel. Great research & knowledge!
Paraphrasing specialist hazard, “I got the 509th coin for aiding & abetting the enemy.”
I got a coin from a 4 star general and from sgm of the army back in 2013 those are the 2 biggest rankings ones i have
I always heard whoever had the "highest" or "rarest" coin got free drinks in military bars, probably not true but fun to imagine it is
I gave a Marine Corpsman Challenge Coin to my Platoons Docs.