Published on: 05 Mar 2018
Last modified on: 21 May 2024
Serving the members of the military that make it home is a top priority at Custom Challenge Coins. Having had long-standing relationships with members of the armed forces, we have seen first-hand the effect that having the right opportunity to connect with others can have on service members.
Consider these three stats about military veterans:
An estimated 30% of war veterans will experience PTSD at least once in their lives. Every year, nearly 45,000 Americans take their own lives. More than 50% of people are deeply unhappy with their current place of work.
Think these three statistics are unrelated? Think again.
Many service members that return home struggle with the mental, physical, social, and behavioral problems that can accompany military service. Support for our military veterans is not providing enough of what veterans need to make the transition back into civilian life all of the time. In some cases, the big difference in how a service member turns out is having someone to talk to.
Although the problems that are associated with military service make it difficult to ask for help, there is one thing that all service members get that makes a world of difference: camaraderie. Former military service members are still there to help each other, no matter what. They just need a way of connecting with each other.
Challenge coins can be an effective way of bridging the gap between service members, leading to that chance to get help. If you are or know a service member, here is how getting them a challenge coin can make it easier to get the help that they need.
So, what exactly are these custom coins, also referred to as challenge coins?
Challenge coins are decorative and collectable coins that commemorate special events. They began, primarily, as a military tradition, and many associate challenge coins specifically with branches of the military
In the past (and still to this day!) members of a regiment were each given a single coin. When a soldier showed their coin, it automatically meant that everyone else in the room needed to produce their coin as well. If someone had lost their coin, or simply didn't have it on them, they would be responsible for buying everyone a round.
Each batch of coins is custom made to the customer’s specifications. In this case, coins were designed with military themes. Many even carried the emblems of the different armed forces.
These custom coins not only helped to develop a strong sense of camaraderie among military members. As time progressed, the coins began to take on a more significant symbol.
After the end of their military service, military veterans often produce their coins in a civilian environment. This signals to the other vets in the room that they need someone to talk to. Perhaps they're going through a tough bout of PTSD, maybe they're feeling depressed, or they might just be looking for a friend.
Whatever the reason, showing custom coins and challenge coins in the "real world" is a sign that help, in any form, was needed. It is also a symbol of mutual respect and friendship -- a way to find people that know exactly what you're going through, because they've been there themselves.
The high success rate of the military challenge coin made custom coin culture has exploded in recent years.
Not only are they incredible collector's items, they can also help to celebrate a special occasion or work as a part of your employee recognition program.
Today, there are many types of coins for people from all walks of life.
For example, there are coins for firefighters, police officers, Masonic members, veterans, and even standard corporate coins.
Especially popular are suicide prevention coins, which usually come with either a yellow or white ribbon placed subtly in the design.
Whenever someone is feeling suicidal or depressed, all they need to do is present the coin to a person that they trust. The coin will serve as an unspoken signal that the person in distress needs immediate attention -- without them having to do anything other than hand the coin over.
In short, no matter which type of profession you want to help commemorate, chances are that there are already several custom coins for it.
Now that you know all about the different types and uses of challenge coins, let's take a look at how they actually help people.
For those who once served in the military, it's easy to feel forgotten or overlooked. It's also hard not to feel like a burden upon a return to civilian life.
These coins help veterans -- and their family members -- to open up the lines of communication. In some cases, challenge coins are even used as recruitment tools.
When a new member of the military gets their challenge coin, it's like getting an acceptance into an exclusive club. Some may even choose to have a special ceremony to commemorate the occasion.
Challenge coins are also a wonderful and effective way to boost employee morale, and to make the people working for you feel valued.
The flexibility of the meaning of challenge coins makes them the perfect solution for nearly any workplace issue. Displaying a challenge coin often means that someone wants to be heard and taken seriously. It is essentially saying, “This is the symbol of what we stand for. We are in this together. Now is the time for us to come together.” In that context, revealing a challenge coin means that you are calling on others to come together and handle something important
Is someone dealing with sexual harassment at work, or is a survivor of assault? They can simply hand their coin over to a human resources representative to signal safely and without drawing attention to themselves that they need help.
Want to incorporate more employee feedback in your leadership style at the office? When an employee hands you their coin, it can signal that they're having a problem or see an issue that needs addressing privately.
We hope that this post has helped you to better understand the meaningful -- and sometimes truly lifesaving -- history behind challenge coins.
Now that you know more about how they can help to unite veterans, your employees, those struggling with mental illness, and much more?
It's time to have your own custom coins created.
That's where we come in.
We offer a wide range of classic designs, in addition to working with you to create custom artwork that will make your coins stand out.
Spend some time on our website to learn more about how our years of experience, dedication to quality craftsmanship, and expertise in dealing with sensitive issues surrounding challenge coins can help you to create the perfect pieces.
We offer your 100% satisfaction guarantee, and our glowing testimonials speak for themselves. Reach out to us to get your custom price quote today.
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