How do you earn challenge coins.

[lordmonar]

They aren't just given out for completing NESA.  You have to be on staff for the first time or a distinguished graduate.

When I went in 2007 everyone got a NESA coin.  The gave out specal coins for the DGs and Staff.

[James Shaw]

I hear that you can get them for excellent uniforms.

If you try for excellence in all you do it will be noticed and you will be justly rewarded. I carry one with me at CAP functions only. I am happy with the ones I have received.

[PHall]

I got two for just being there.

An Operation Deep Freeze coin for landing on the ice at Mc Murdo Station.

A coin my AFRC squadron had made for our 60th Anniversary. If you were a member of the squadron, you got a coin.

So sometimes it's just being in the right place at the right time.

[Fifinella]

^^Plus the major cool points for landing at Mc Murdo...

[BillB]

When Judy says "cool" she means it 20 below zero at McMurdo  Wow, this is my 1000th post

[SJFedor]

They aren't just given out for completing NESA.  You have to be on staff for the first time or a distinguished graduate.

When I went in 2007 everyone got a NESA coin.  The gave out specal coins for the DGs and Staff.

We did? I only got a DG coin in 07, and didn't remember seeing anyone else except staff get them. Students usually just get the patch and usually their ES qual badge (GTM, GTL, MO, etc)

[_]

They aren't just given out for completing NESA.  You have to be on staff for the first time or a distinguished graduate.

When I went in 2007 everyone got a NESA coin.  The gave out specal coins for the DGs and Staff.

We did? I only got a DG coin in 07, and didn't remember seeing anyone else except staff get them. Students usually just get the patch and usually their ES qual badge (GTM, GTL, MO, etc)

They did have general NESA coins for sale during canteen.

[desertengineer1]

Coins are also a general fraternal thing.  I keep an extra 5 or so squadron coins with me whan I go TDY and give them to the folks that support us when we're in town.

Coins are a relatively recent thing, appearing mainstream sometime in the early 1990's.  They were originally just a flyer fad, and heavily tied to debouchery activities.

When they started appearing in official circles I was not very happy at first.  "Coining" someone and catching them without thiers meant they owed you time in the bar - which should never be at doctrine level (i.e. Commander mandates that you hereby go get drunk).  I had a problem with some officers pushing the party thing down to people who I knew didn't drink (religion or other reasons).

But eventually that tamed, and it took a more respectable stage.

I have at least 100 coins from TDY's over the years.  Some I bought as remiders of places I've been.  Others were presented for a job well done.  As someone posted earlier, a few are cherished closely because they were presented as part of special recognition.

My coins from Iraq, several "of the year" awards, and a recent ORI Superior Performer award mean more to me than money ever will.  They DO NOT travel with me. 

[PHall]

When Judy says "cool" she means it 20 below zero at McMurdo  Wow, this is my 1000th post

20 below? Oh you mean during a heat wave! [insert shivering smiley here]

Actually it does get into the 20's during "Summer".