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.
Doggies festoon themselves with unit patches, badges, pogie ropes, and silly little colored beanies. They even blouse their dress trousers.
I mean, sh!t...
Challenge coins were handy in Army NCO clubs. It saved me some cash...
Semper fi. Somehow our armed forces flourished for a couple of centuries without these. Now they’re something special?