Squadron Coin

LTC Edgar was on the first flight from the brigade out of Kuwait into Iraq. There were just a handful of squadron guys that went up as the advance party to begin inventorying and signing for all the equipment we were taking over from the unit we were replacing. Before the SCO (Squadron Commander) left he presented me with a Squadron coin for excellence. The tradition goes that if you have received a coin you must carry it on you at all times. It becomes part of the uniform. If someone calls coin check and holds up their coin, everyone else must get out their coins also and hold them up. It is bad juju if you’re the guy without his coin. When off duty it can be used to determine who buys drinks for all. But when on duty you just get the guilt trip about how it will be remembered that you don’t appreciate the coin or are not proud to be part of the squadron, and maybe a verbal rain check that you owe drinks. 

 

 Sina Mora is the 2nd Squadron motto and means without delay. The crossed sabers are the symbol for cavalry. The top picture minus the crossed sabers is also the unit crest for 2nd squadron. On the other side of the coin are the red and white colors of the cavalry. You also see a mounted cavalry trooper on his horse. There is also the silver oak leaf which is the rank of LTC the squadron commander and under that is the rank of command sergeant major for the highest ranking Non-commissioned officer in the squadron. 401 in the number of the coin.

What I described above is just one version of the coin tradition. Coins are also generally tied to the rank of the individual who awards them. My coin for example is from a Lieutenant Colonel. Another tradition of coin checks is to see whose coin trumps the other. For example a coin awarded by the brigade commander, who is a “full bird” Colonel (The next higher rank after Lieutenant Colonel), that coin would trump my coin. But then someone could walk up with a Generals coin and trump them both. This could be used to in the same scenario described above with buying drinks, but since I don’t drink, I have never been such scenarios. I just carry mine around so I’m not that guy who doesn’t have it and also because I do appreciate it.