”How did you get your first challenge coin?”

Check out some of the responses below:

I was a new firefighter when I carried an elderly woman out of a smoke-filled apartment. At the station the next morning, my captain handed me my first challenge coin and simply said, “You earned this.” -Martha

I had stayed late every night during my first month in the Navy, learning systems nobody bothered to learn. I passed all of them and my chief pushed a coin into my palm. -Elliot

I volunteered to fix broken radios during a storm after the power grid failed – again. Our emergency coordinator gave me a challenge coin for doing that. -Jamal

It was after my very first search-and-rescue mission in the mountains. We found the missing hikers (they got turned around and became lost) and our team leader gave all of us coins. -Paul

I bought some coffee for a stranded family during some freezing weather we had. I didn’t know a retired officer had seen me do it and he returned later. He gave me a coin from his own collection. -Hernandez

I spent several weeks organizing donated food for hurricane Katrina survivors. On the delivery day, our relief director thanked me with an OLD challenge coin that had traveled through three disasters. I handed it down a few months later to someone else. -Felix

I was the youngest and newest paramedic on the crew. I helped deliver my first baby in an ambulance and my partner gave me a coin wrapped in a tiny pink baggie. -Trisha

I trained every morning before sunrise with my ROTC unit lead. At graduation, he gave me a challenge coin and said I had become someone others would follow. -Thad

We had a community cleanup and I stayed behind to repair a damaged memorial wall. Our mayor returned later THAT evening and gave me a coin! -Nina

I had repaired helicopters for months without any extra help, and I made sure every bolt was perfect. Before deployment, our squadron commander surprised me with a coin for keeping pilots safe. -Harold

I was tasked with translating medical instructions for refugee families at our clinic. Boring but necessary. A doctor handed me a challenge coin and thanked me for bringing calm into chaos. -Ava

My commander said I hesitated during my first military exercise, but I don’t remember doing that. Back at camp he privately handed me my first challenge coin for overcoming fear. -BJ

We organized a fundraiser for an injured police officer and at the closing ceremony the organizers gave us all challenge coins. -Claire

We spent months mentoring younger cadets. Our job was to gut-check them! After their final parade the academy commander handed us challenge coins while the entire unit stood at attention watching us. -Isaac

If you haven’t alreay, submit your answer below!