The practice of a senior enlisted member presenting a coin or medallion to an individual actually goes back just about 100 years ago in the British Army. During the War of the Boars, the officers were the only ones authorized to receive medals. Whenever an enlisted person did a good job – typically the officer he was assigned to would receive the award. The Regimental SGM would sneak into the officer’s tent, cut the medal from the ribbon. He would then call an all hands to formally “shake the hand” of the exceptional soldier, and would “palm the medal” in the soldier’s hand without anyone knowing. Today, the coin is pretty much widely used throughout all of the military forces in the world, both as a form of recognition, and even in some cases as a “calling card.”
During the memorial service on 10 November 2009 for the victims of the tragedy at Fort Hood on 5 November 2009, President Barack Obama placed his Commander’s Coin on each of the memorials erected for the victims.
Military challenge coins are also known as military coins, unit coins, memorial coins, unit challenge coins, or commander’s coin. The coin represents affiliation, support or patronage to the organization minted on the coin. The challenge coin is a treasured and respected representation of the organization minted on the coin.
Commanders use specially minted military coins to improve morale, foster unit esprit and honor service members for their hard work.
Post time: Apr-22-2021