The Rules: Officers BUY their 1st salute with a coin, Enlisted EARN their 1st coin

[Craig]

**** Time to learn Navy Traditions and Courtesies ***
Officers BUY their 1^st salute with a coin, Enlisted EARN their 1^st coin

 

The Navy Challenge Coin tradition:

The United States Navy has a deep tradition concerning coins.  I will explain both the enlisted coins, and also the officer’s coins.  The tradition honors both totally differently.  Time for you to learn the difference.  

Enlisted:

The challenge coin has a proud history in our military.  Just to help you understand this history and the tradition behind what a challenge coin is, I wanted to post this link to NBC news.  It will give you the true meaning, and they explain it so well. 

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/28663038#28663038

 

However, thanks to our sucky economy, the Navy has cancelled presenting most awards to our sailors, one of which is the challenge coin.   Below is the official Navy message that was posted about 3 month ago. Sailors now can not earn a challenge coin.

 

Believe me, it really ticks me off because it is a tradition for sailors to collect them.  I have a huge collection that I received while I was in the Navy.   I truly cannot understand how our government can send Millions of $$$$ to countries that hate the U.S., but yet, it cannot spend 1/1,000,000 for a coin to those that defend it.

 

The only ones that were originally presented challenge coin in boot camp were those sole Honor recruits, but now they won't be getting one either.  The supply has been exhausted.  However, you can still get boot camp challenges coin at www.PIRGifts.com

 

Here is the official Navy message:

http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/reference/messages/Documents/...

 

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Officers:   

When a newly-commissioned naval officer receives their first salute, they must give (pay) a silver dollar to the recipient of that salute.  It a long standing 19th century tradition.  Navy tradition states that you have to buy your first salute, and then, earn every salute thereafter through your performance by gaining the respect of your subordinates.  Today, a naval officer “Pay” for their first salute is considered a way to show respect for those superior enlisted personnel who helped the officer achieve a commissioned status.

 

Tradition dictates that the first salute should be rewarded with a full sized Silver Dollar (No SBA’s, Sacagawea’s or Presidential, quarter sized alloy dollar coins).  It is usual that the Silver Dollar be one with some significance, usually minted in the year of Commissioning or an anniversary of the Officer’s Birth Year or the 100th anniversary of the Commissioning, etc, Thus a Mid being Commissioned in 2008 might give out an older US Morgan Silver Dollar in 1886.  (The 100th Anniversary of his birth year).  There are several gaps in years of issue.  There were no Silver Dollars minted between 1905 thru 1920 and 1936 thru 1971. 

 

Have you watched the movie “An Officer and a Gentleman” and Louis Gossett Jr (Sergeant Foley) and Richard Gere (Zack Mayo)  ? 

 

In the scene where the new graduates of Foley's class receive their "first salutes," you can see them giving Sergeant Foley a silver dollar prior to each salute.  It is also a tradition for the Drill Instruction (D.I.) to place the silver dollar of their memorable students in their right pocket; you can see that Mayo's dollar is placed in Foley's right pocket, rather than the left pocket as it is for, for example, Ensign Della Serra.

See that video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DS1IprW5ATA

Cool traditions huh?

 

Craig

PIRGifts.com (Providing 100% funding for NavyDEP.com)

NavyDEP.com – Our Mission: Remember - Honor – and Teach

“To Remember the fallen; Honor those who serve, and to Teach our future sailors the value of freedom.”

[hoosiermamma]

Thank you Craig for posting this.  I did go on Ebay and by my son one of the USS Reuben James challenge coins as he is in a 900 division!  The level of tradition in the Navy does run deep.

[encourager]

Craig, I agree with you about this statement:  

I truly cannot understand how our government can send Millions of $$$$ to countries that hate the U.S., but yet, it cannot spend 1/1,000,000 for a coin to those that defend it.

I did purchase a couple of coins.  I collect Christmas ornaments from places we visit and I am hoping he will be come a collector of challenge coins too.

Sylvia