Did you know that there are close to two million active-duty military personnel and reserved forces in the United States?
It’s astonishing to think about how many millions of brave men and women have given their lives to make America the respectable country it is today. Without their sacrifices, this country wouldn’t be one of the top leaders in the entire world.
One of the most beautiful traditions that military personnel adopted is having military challenge coins. Do you want to learn more about this unique item? Read on to understand everything you need to know about military challenge coins.
The Story Behind Military Challenge Coins
While the exact origin of military challenge coins could date all the way back to the Roman empire, the most concrete story we have comes from World War I. Before a squadron took flight, a lieutenant ordered bronze medallions for everyone to carry. Since World War I was an intense and devastating event in world history, it should come as no surprise to hear that one of these planes got shot down by Germans.
The German soldiers captured the American soldier and took all his belongings so he would have no way to escape safely. Even though the run through the battlefield was treacherous, this daring soldier found his way to the French. Without any proper identification, the French were close to executing him due to concerns about this stranger being a German saboteur.
In the end, the American soldier stayed alive by presenting his bronze medallion with an American symbol on it.
Different Kinds of Coins
Since World War I, all soldiers who receive challenge coins view this gift as one of the greatest honors. Every branch of the U.S. military can receive a challenge coin made just for them. This means that there are Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, and Navy coins out there.
You can learn more about challenge coin navy here.
What Are Challenge Coins Rules?
Nowadays, there are certain rules that military personnel need to follow after they receive a challenge coin. Anyone who holds a challenge coin can challenge everyone else in the room. These people must be able to present their challenge coin by only taking one step and one reach of an arm within 15 seconds.
If everyone who was challenged can present their coin, then the challenger owes everyone dinner or a drink. If anyone who was challenged can’t present their coin, then they owe the challenger dinner or a drink. This game may seem lighthearted, but it represents the pride that military personnel have because they should always keep their challenge coins close to their hearts.
Military Challenge Coins Are an Important Piece of History
As you can see, there are lots of cool facts about military challenge coins. After reading this article, you can appreciate their value even more.
Want to broaden your worldview further? Check out our other articles.
