Giving a challenge coin

**Hyperbuzzin** · 08-07-2017, 03:57 PM

Forgive me if I shouldn't post here and please move if necessary.
A friend's daughter is graduating boot camp this Friday at Parris Island and we were asked to join her for the ceremony.
I bought her a challenge coin that has her battalion number. Do I have to be military to give it to her or can a civilian give one?

**TuxAir** · 08-07-2017, 04:47 PM

I am not sure of the protocol on gifting one. Personally I see no issue with it. But I have always received one from a vet or active duty member in both military and civilian life. A quick search on the history and tradition of the challenge coin does not say anything about how one obtains one.

**BigCityChief** · 08-07-2017, 04:49 PM

Originally Posted by Hyperbuzzin

Forgive me if I shouldn't post here and please move if necessary.
A friend's daughter is graduating boot camp this Friday at Parris Island and we were asked to join her for the ceremony.
I bought her a challenge coin that has her battalion number. Do I have to be military to give it to her or can a civilian give one?

You certainly may give it to her and she should accept it with a smile. That was very thoughtful of you.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**Hyperbuzzin** · 08-07-2017, 05:40 PM

Thanks for the input guys.

I know what they mean to those who receive them and that is why I really wanted to get it for her.
And to be honest, it nearly brought me to tears when I bought it, knowing what she has done to get to this point.
As a bonus to visiting Parris Island today, to get an idea of where we'll need to go on graduation day, just before we went into the museum, what do we see but my friends daughter, Tabitha, marching right past us on her way to her barracks!!
I'm sure it made her mom much more proud of her than I was!!

**Rampo** · 08-07-2017, 05:49 PM

Not sure of the proper protocol. During my 30 year career, all the coins given/received were between military members. The coin is usually given in a handshake as an expression of gratitude. Personally, I think it is OK, and she will appreciate that you went through the effort to obtain the coin marked with her battalion number.

On a side note, when visiting Parris Island, be sure to visit the historic town of Beaufort. We were there in May and really enjoyed the downtown shops and restaurants.

**Hyperbuzzin** · 08-07-2017, 09:24 PM

We are staying in Beaufort. It is a nice place and Tuesday we plan on making a day of enjoying all it has to offer.

Here's the coin with the very soon to be new MarinePicsArt_08-07-10.21.50.jpg

**TuxAir** · 08-07-2017, 09:38 PM

OohRah! Semper Fi Marine!

**gun sane** · 08-08-2017, 07:19 AM

That's the same look the Princess gives me when she means business. Look out below!

**Rampo** · 08-08-2017, 09:36 AM

Hyperbuzzin, I bet you are very proud of her. Heck! I'm proud of her and don't even know her.

**Bama61** · 08-08-2017, 02:38 PM

Hyperbuzzin, there is nothing wrong with you giving her the coin and I know she'll really appreciate it.

**Hyperbuzzin** · 08-08-2017, 03:28 PM

Thanks again guys.
I'm from Pennsylvania. We just took a dolphin sightseeing tour and met a family here from Ohio who are also here for the graduation ceremony.
It was a boatload of proud people!!!

**John** · 08-08-2017, 03:34 PM

That's a great trip! I'm sure the ceremony will be wonderful to see. I'm sure she will be tired but hopefully you guys get to spend some time together and eat some good FOOD on family day!

The coin will be great. I have quite a few from my military and police career. The one that means the most is one that a family friend gave me right before deployment. It's a silver dollar, not a challenge coin, but the friend carried it with him during his tours in Vietnam and gave it to me before I shipped off for Iraq. I keep it in my pursuit bag at work to ride on the passenger seat now with me each shift.