Military coins have a long and glowing tradition in the United States of America. You can trace the roots of the challenge coin to the First World War when a wealthy lieutenant provided his men with bronze medallions as a memento. The tradition carried on after the war ended and continues to this day.
It’s essential to know how to accept a challenge coin and understand the etiquette surrounding challenge coins. You don’t want to make the wrong move when you give your soldiers or employees challenge coins.
The good news is that you’ve found the right guide to learning more about what are challenge coins and the rules governing challenge coin etiquette. Keep reading to learn more today!
Table of Contents
1. Carry Your Challenge Coin At All Times
The first rule with challenge coins is to always carry them with you when you’re with your company or unit. Challenges can and will get called out anytime, so you must have your coin and be prepared. You can take four steps to reach your coin, but anything outside of that radius and you’re on the hook.
You’ll know ahead of time if the challenge is for one drink or a round of drinks. If a round of drinks is on the line, you’ll regret not having your challenge coin handy. You don’t want to get stuck with a hefty bar tab when army challenge coins are involved.
2. Don’t Lose Your Challenge Coin
Another point of challenge coin etiquette is how to handle losing your challenge coin. You’re on the hook to replace the challenge coin with your money, and you’re expected to do so as soon as possible. You can’t use losing your coin as an excuse to avoid the rules of the challenge coin game with your comrades.
The reality is that you’ll spend a ton of money on drinks when you lose your challenge coin. Always keep it with you and check your pockets to ensure you never leave it behind.
3. Always Control Your Coin
Cheaters with military coins will state that you should wear your coin on a necklace or chain to ensure you always have it and don’t misplace it. This is against the rules of the game, though you can wear it in a pouch around your neck. The rules require you to use your challenge coin as a coin rather than an accessory, so keep that in mind when you’re planning ahead.
It’s also a mortal sin to lack control over your challenge coin. It’s a sign of duty and honor to always know where your challenge coin is.
Take Care of Your Challenge Coin Today
Receiving or giving a challenge coin is one of the greatest honors you’ll experience in your service or a military career. It’s a sign that you belong to a special unit with strong bonds, but it also opens the door to paying massive bar tabs. Always have your military coins with you, and never lose challenge coins.
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