The Challenge Coin is a small and interesting part of the military eco system. Wikipedia has a full description of the coins and their history. Anyway, the reality of these coins during my service has been that the coin represents an impromptu award for recognition of actions taken but without the formal award process. Coins are typically marked with the rank of the person handing them out. In my career, I have now earned 3 such coins. Two of them are from the battalion level [LTC/CSM] and the other is from division [Major General].
I hold my first coin most dear because 1) it was my first, 2) I worked the hardest to get it and 3) two stars is going hard to top. My second coin was earned because I had the winning design in the LTC's contest. So, as advertised, I received the first minted coin for my victory. My last coin, well, that is why I'm writing this update. It is a "special" one. Before I go into the actions taken to be the recipient of the coin, I want to elaborate more on the receipt of a coin.
Everyone in which I have questioned within my unit and upcon unit have agreed, the receipt of a coin is almost universally given for a special/specific action which was recognized by command. I've heard of recipients being recognized just about anything, however, I've never heard of a coin being given because someone wanted rules broken. Typically, rules are in place to maintain control, organization, and harmony. With receipt of this, my latest coin, there is a deviation in that universal assumption.
So, lets paint the picture. I'm in my full battle-rattle, standing in my bunker, doing my part at the Entry Control Point [ECP]. I am the ranking person at the point at this time. It was late morning and we receive a guest. A SSG approaches our bunker with a piece of wood in his hand. When he reaches our position he slaps the wood item face down against the bunker and requests for the soldier in charge. This question was vague since he could have been asking for the Sergeant of the Guard or for me. Anyway, I didn't think about this distinction when I answered as who he was seeking. His question was simple and reasonable (IMHO).
This SSG described that their battalion commander was coming in at a later time that day and would like to mount an augmentation to the camp welcome sign. The idea was intriguing and thus I wanted to hear more. So, he flips over the sign to further drive his point home. The sign he produced indicated, "AND NOW WITH MORE MOUNTAIN". I just about lost it. I thought it was too damn funny. After granting permission, he reached out and shook my hand. Within his hand was a coin from his unit. It was so quick & quiet that the other guards didn't even know that I got it. Regardless of the coin, I would have granted it. Likewise, I still would have helped him put up the sign.
So, you're likely sitting there questioning the "breaking the rules" part of the awarding of this coin; which rules? Well, a guard can be given two types of orders; general and special. Each of our general and special orders are posted inside our bunker. Two of the special orders were written with tower guard in mind, but are easily converted over to the bunker used at ECP duty. The rules in question were somewhat as follows:
- Guards shall not modify their tower in any way
- Guards shall not vandalize their tower
Since the welcome sign was part of my bunker (i.e. tower) this vandalizing was also a modification. Having permitted this SSG to put up this sign was an explicit violation of both. The interesting thing is that the SSG mentioned that the battalion commander was not on site, therefore, the LTC couldn't have been the granter, therefore, the battalion CSM must have been the wheel greaser. Regardless of whom authorized the coin's dissemination, I'll happily take a 10th Mountain coin any day for any reason.
I thought it was interesting and anyone which has received such a coin will likely find this odd.
Read More......
