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)

[UBU'sMom]

I've never done power ball. So I'm sort of clueless.But I'm excited! My son suggested the ravenal bridge for the coin also (I had suggested it early on). I'm ready everyday, just trying to come up new ideas.

[britefuture]

I like that patch CO-TwinSalorsMom. It would seem that the Atom is a very popular symbol for our Nukes. I recognize the symbol that's in the upper left but not the other two. Anyone know what they represent? 

[CO-TwinSalorsMom]

The propeller is for MMs

The atom is for ETs

The Latitude/longitude globe is for Ems

And to make them nuke specific because these also are for Regular navy MMs, EMs and ETs  Can add to the other side the quad at GC that is a circle, as all rates start school there or something about Rickover or his portrait?

I like the shape of the patch also, so not a round coin.

[UBU'sMom]

Very cool! I like that

[BoyWonderMom]

I love the idea of having the coin a different shape as CO-Twin's patch

[MichianaMom]

What about something like this; with the coin being round and then the shape cut out in the middle?

[MattsMom]

I like the unique ideas, too. My son also mentioned the Rickover building, but I could not locate a picture that would look good on a coin.  He really likes the latitude/longitude globe for EMs. 

[B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)]

I also like the idea of a different shape or the cutouts like MichianaMom said.  I have that coin too!

[CO-TwinSalorsMom]

I saw on Navy news.com that they OK'd funding for the use of challenge coins again.Does that help you at all Craig?

[Cybermom]

I love these ideas, but my only fear is that as Craig said at the beginning, what looks great large scaled isn't clear when you reduce it in size; a cutout in the center will remove surface area on which to have design elements.  While my son is in GC, so many others went through NY, so I'd think it would be difficult to reference both places with a visual image.  Of course my kid's suggestion was to somehow incorporate Charlie the Gator...smh!

I'm a fan of simple, but I'm also a visual person, has a prototype (pun intended) been done yet, or perhaps a hand sketch that could be scanned in?

[Craig]

Woo-hoo!!!!  We have our 1st winner on the Sept 6th:  GRU_took_darsatm

$100 will be paid.  I need to know if you want a check, or Paypal for payment.  I will send you a PM, please let me know how you would like your winners!!!!

1.  Each of you will choose two numbers from 1 to 35.  
1st $100 winner:
On September 6th,  2014 (Saturday),  Colorado is doing it’s normal Power Ball drawing.  The “red” Power Ball number can be anything from 1 to 35.  Whatever number is chosen wins the $100.  
 
To check which Red Power Ball was drawn, just go to:
https://www.coloradolottery.com/games/powerball/

Here is a snap shot of the screen.  #18 was the Power Ball!!!

Congrats GRU_took_darsatm

[B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)]

Congrats GRU_took_darsatm!