Why Defense Secretary Jim Mattis Doesn’t Carry Challenge Coins: ‘I’m Saving Money for Bombs’

breitbart ^ | 12/31/17 | Kristina Wong

[ItsOnlyDaryl]

At a remote military base in Jordan earlier this month, U.S. Marines were abuzz with excitement — Defense Secretary Jim Mattis was in town. He would not be visiting Camp Titin, where they were training Jordanian forces — but he would be nearby at an international terrorism conference in Aqaba, Jordan, and for these Marines, that was close enough.

One recalled being deployed in Afghanistan years ago, and how Mattis, then-commander of U.S. Central Command, had been just feet away from him, delivering a pep talk.

[ItsOnlyDaryl]

If you'd asked me to predict what Mad Dog might say when asked this question, I would've said something pretty close to this.

[DugwayDuke]

Last I heard Challenge Coins were not, could not be, purchased using DoD funds. I know my last PM paid for his out of pocket.

[CodeToad]

Challenge Coins = Participation Trophies.

[Albion Wilde]

bump

[chris37]

I’m afraid to even ask what kind of useless, liberal BS symbolism a “Challenge Coin” is...

[wbarmy]

Not all of them. Some are well deserved and earned.

And very hard to get.

[jiggyboy]

Challenge Coins = Participation Trophies.

They're all participating in destroying ISIS though.

[sandboxshooter]

This.

[grobdriver]

A challenge coin is the antithesis of liberal BS.
It's a military thing.

Challenge Coin

and is hardly a "Participation Trophy".

[joma89]

This man is just simply awesome! We need more people to be emulate him.

JoMa

[simon says what]

Challenge Coins = Participation Trophies

Not true...
Many are harder to get than basic medals.
They reflect pride in mission and unit.

[jonascord]

"I’m afraid to even ask..."

It's a bar game, that's taken seriously.

Among Warriors, you carry a challenge coin, which is a 1 3/4" dia. or so brass and enamel disc with a unit insignia on it. If a bunch are in a bar, and someone hauls out and slaps down his coin, everyone else has to show he's a member of the Frat, by meeting the Challenge to show his coin.

You don't have one, you buy the next round.

Even civilian contractors have challenge coins, with corporate logos on them. It's sort of an "I was There" symbol, when skin ink was against regulations. Faggot Lefties don't know...

[aumrl]

proudly have 2

[JockoManning]

FINALLY, a patriotic SECDEF worth the name.

[COBOL2Java]

I’m afraid to even ask what kind of useless, liberal BS symbolism a “Challenge Coin” is...

I take it you've never been the military

[Always A Marine]

Challenge coins are bullshit, and I hated to see them spread from the Army to the Marine Corps. I’m sure they started out with good intentions, but they quickly got out hand like such “feel good” things invariably do. A Marine doesn’t need his personal effects weighed down with ten pounds of sentimental fake coins to know that he is respected by his brothers.

[chris37]

Nope.

[chris37]

Hah!

Well that’s kind of cool, have to say.

[chris37]

That’s cool.

I see that soldiers like them, so if they say it’s legit, then it’s legit.

[TheTimeOfMan]

Mattis is better than most of his predecessors - but he is still an ignorant idiot.