The 17 people that I need to help me design a new coin....

[Craig]

Dear Nuke Moms….
I need some help understanding the Nuke ratings…. 

A lot of you guys remember me from the boot camp era, I run a website called NavyDEP.com.  That website started in 2007.  To keep that website running and free for the future sailors I sell boot camp challenge coins on www.PIRGifts.com   I know some of you probably bought one for your sailors as a PIR gift. 
 
Many of the sailors I worked with on my website now have gone on and made their way to the fleet.  One item that many sailors in the Nuke rating ask is if I could make a coin for them since there is really not specific rating coin for the MM(n), ET(n), or EM(n) rating.

For some reason they lump all the MM(n), ET(n), and EM(n) nukes with the regular Navy MM, ET, and EM’s together.  Let’s face it, they are totally different.  They deserve their own rating challenge coin that is specific to them.  I know I would.  My old rating is the same way.  We have CTI, CTM, CTN, CTR, CTT all lumped in with the CT rating.  We are totally different.

So, this is where I need your help.
When I design coins I make them special.  I tell a story.  I want the sailors to be proud of having them and carrying them.  However, I don’t know the 1^st thing about the Nuke group. 

To have fun and to keep a flow of ideas going I will reward three (3) of you with a $100 each.  Contest will end in about 4 weeks ~ 13 Sept 2014.

Yes, being a sailor we have all sorts of contests to keep things fun, and let’s face it, I need help understating.  The front of the coin is geared to Goose Creek, or, Ballston Spa.  I know some of your training is at one, and some of your training is at the other.  The back will be for their specific rating.   

So what I need is:
I need 17 people that want to help me.  These people need to give really good info for me to understand the below.   I need honest effort.  Saying something like “Put an anchor” doesn’t really help.  I need specific things that mean something to Nukes.  This will be their coin.   

1.  What is something that is important in Goose Creek? (building? symbol? etc…)
(a picture or web link will help greatly)

2.  What is something that is important in Ballston Spa? (building? symbol? etc…)
(a picture or web link will help greatly)

Depending on your rating:
3.  What is three things that is important to a MM(n) that could be on a coin?
3.  What is three things that is important to a ET(n) that could be on a coin?
3.  What is three things that is important to a EM(n) that could be on a coin?

4.  I need to randomize the number to fairly let three people win the $100 money.  I’ll tell you more how the Colorado Power Ball lottery will chose the random number once I know who the people are…  But in the mean time.  When you sign up, give me two numbers between 1 and 35. Do not use a number that is already taken by the person above up....

Big thing:  You are working together as a team, so just throw ideas out there.  Give me anything you can think of.  Later on, the team will chose what's important and what's not.  The reward will be given to three random people, not to the one who can draw, or came up with the best idea.  All ideas are the best to me.  

So just to get things started.  I need 16 more people (with a total of 17) that want to do this. Once I find out who the 16 people are, then I’ll give you more info….  I will make a post in the discussion are, just reply to it, and the first 16 people (by date/time) order will be the ones I use. 
btw:  Since I pre-discussed this with B'sNukeMom to gather her thought, she is already on the list.

Since everyone has to pick two numbers, please let me know so we can get this part hammered out.  I love having fun, and this is the part we need to get finished 1st.

• B'sNukeMom  Picked 19 & 22
• Wendy & Family Craig picked 14 & 17
• Lynn Picked 12 & 21, 8isenuff had that number so Craig picked one. 
• UBU'sMom Picked 9 & 26
• Cybermom Picked 5 & 16
• CO-TwinSailorMom Picked 6 & 20
• TheBoyWonderMom Picked 15 & 23
• Nuke_ELT Picked 24 & 28
• A's_momma_Erin Picked 4 & 8
• 8isenuff Picked 7 & 21
• MN Mom of MM Picked 3 & 33
• 1proudmama/EM/S8G/1403 Picked 11 & 30
• britefuture Picked 31, but needs to pick another one, 11 is already used. Now 27
• MichianaMom Picked 2, but needs to pick another one, 11 is already used, 25
• MattsMom Picked 32, but needs to pick another one, 16 is already used. 29
• Christy Picked 10 & 29, 29 already used, Craig picked 13
• GRU_took_darsatm  Picked 18 & 34

1. - Lynn #1
2. - MichianaMom #1
3. - MN Mom of MM #1
4. - A's_momma_Erin #1
5. - Cybermom #1
6. - CO-TwinSailorMom #1
7. - 8isenuff #1
8. - A's_momma_Erin #2
9. - UBU'sMom #1
10. - Christy #1
11. - 1proudmama/EM/S8G/1403 #1
12. - Lynn #2
13. - Christy #2  - Edit WINNER of 2nd  (9/10/2014) Power Ball Draw!!!
14. - Wendy & family #1
15. - TheBoyWonderMom #1
16. - Cybermom #2
17. - Wendy & family #2
18. - GRU_took_darsatm  -  Edit - WINNER OF 1st (9/6/2014) Power Ball Draw!!!!
19. - B'sNukeMom #1
20. - CO-TwinSailorMom #2
21. - 8isenuff #2
22. - B'sNukeMom #2
23. - TheBoyWonderMom #2
24. - Nuke_ELT #1
25. - MichianaMom #2
26. - UBU'sMom #2
27. - britefuture #1  - Edit - WINNER of 3rd (9/13/2014) Power Ball Draw!!!
28. - Nuke_ELT #2
29. - MattsMom #1
30. - 1proudmama/EM/S8G/1403 #2
31. - britefuture #2
32. - MattsMom #2
33. - MN Mom of MM #2
34. - GRU_took_darsatm
35. -  DEAD NUMBER (Extra)

[CO-TwinSalorsMom]

ops picture didn't post try again

[MN Mom of MM]

Craig I would like to be in on this.  Numbers I choose are 3 and 33. 

[CO-TwinSalorsMom]

arial you can see the X shaped barracks and the circular quad where they have Power School Graduation.

[CO-TwinSalorsMom]

guessing 6 and 20

[Craig]

All,
The information should be posted in this thread.  I want everyone to see what everyone else is posting.  This isn't a who provided the best info, it's all just a team effort and everyone should just brainstorm and provide me any ideas you can think of.  It looks like you guys have done a bunch already.
 
Once we get all the idea's down, then we will hash out what is the best things that can be done.  I need to explain to you what is possible, and how we can make things work. Etching metal is not easy, it is really hard.  Please also keep the terms very basic.  I don't have the knowledge like you guys.  

I still need random numbers from these members.  Look at the above list for what's open.  I will post them on the order received after this post

• Wendy & Family
• Lynn
• Cybermom Picked 5 but I need one more number
• 8isenuff Picked 7,  but needs to pick another one, 23 already taken.
  
  Please keep posting away.  I am looking at everything.
  
  For those that don't know, here is how a challenge coin gets made:
  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/28663038#28663038
  
  This is sad..
  I know some of you still wonder how important a challenge coin is to a sailor. I will let this recent new report explain it. This happened 2 days ago.
  
  PIRGifts has been contacted by various Naval official requesting our USS Marvin Shields Ship-13 coin. Strangely enough, we are the only vendor that currently mints a coin in honor of Marvin Shields and the ship named in his honor. The actual ship, USS Marvin Shields DE-1066 has long been decommissioned so there wasn't a need or source available for the coin, except for PIRGifts.
  
  PIRGifts is proudly donating several coins to replace the challenge coins that were stolen.
  http://www.king5.com/news/local/Community-rallies-around-disrespect...
  
  

[Craig]

8isenuff - I truly don't know what I'm looking for.  I need you guys to tell me what I need.  I'm going in really stupid on this, so want I though is you have 3 different rating, at two different facilities.  What I thought is I need one of the sides of the coin for Ballston Spa, and the other for Goose Creek.  But it seem like there is more to just the rating side.  

So, can you guys tell me the various options that there can be for a coin.  I might not be able to do all of them, but I will be able to start thinking of how I need to etch them.  I am such a perfectionist, I really want the guys and gals to be proud of what I make.  I don't put out junk to sell.  I make things for sailors to truly enjoy.  Again, I do this as a hobby, and for fun.  

Please make all suggestions in this thread.  This is the only place I will be looking.  
Thanks again for all the help....  Have fun thinking of ideas....  Woo-hoo....

Craig

[1proudmama/EM/USSLincoln/CVN72]

I'll take numbers 11, and 30 

[Cybermom]

May I put in for 16? Thanks.

[britefuture]

Hi Craig. I'd love to help. Can I have #'s 11 and 31. My son is in BS and is MM. I will brain storm and post ideas after work.

[BoyWonderMom]

Craig, I bought this two coins at my son's power school graduation. One is for A school which include MM,EM,ETs. The other one is for Power School which again include all three. Just wanted to give you an idea of what's out there. We sure are in need of one for the particular jobs they have, will be sending ideas for MM's soon.

[BoyWonderMom]

Power school

[BoyWonderMom]

Front for both coins