Custom Challenge Coin of the Month- January 2019
43rd Sustainment Brigade CMRE (Rough Riders)
The
custom challenge coins of November serve as a shining example of a job well done. These particular custom military coins were presented to the 43rd Sustainment Brigade CMRE or the Rough Riders. This CENTCOM Material Recovery Element or CMRE was responsible for dismantling buildings and equipment in Afghanistan during the drawdown. Once it was decided that it was time for the majority of US troops to leave Afghanistan the 43rd Sustainment Brigade CMRE spent nine months during 2012 and 2013 in the tear down or retrograde effort. All of the building and equipment troops had used during the war effort either needed to be sent home, destroyed or left for the Afghani military.
The Rough Riders single handedly save millions of dollars by returning equipment into the Army’s inventory. Through air transport or over land and then sea the Rough Riders returned $400 million worth of equipment back to the Army inventory. They processed well over 22,000 containers, and closed or transferred over 150 US military bases in Afghanistan.
What sets the 43rd Sustainment Brigade CMRE apart is not only their massive recovery effort but that they were able to accomplish so much while keeping their unit and other troops safe. They would send forward retrograde elements ahead in order to eliminate the need for escorts. This excellent strategy saved the military $15 million and kept 2,500 soldiers from serving as escorts, a risky and often deadly job. Their “Make it Happen” motto truly represents the outstanding efforts of the men and women of this amazing unit.
Custom Military Challenge Coins
These
custom challenge coins not only represent an amazing recovery effort but are prime examples of the beautiful craftsmanship that Unit Coins provides. These military challenge coins are 3 inches long and feature gorgeous silver plating. Both sides of the military challenge coins contain color but the front is 3D with raised detailing. Covered in an epoxy coating these military coins are made to last. The truly amazing features to these custom challenge coins are the spinner centers. The centers of the custom military coins are attached at one point on the top and one point on the bottom with the rest of the piece unattached to the surrounding portions of the custom coins. This allows the center to spin about. The tops of these magnificent custom military coins feature their troop name and the bottoms their “Make it Happen” motto.
These military challenge coins not only serve as unique examples of the skills of the challenge coin maker, Unit Coins, but have beautiful history. The men and women of the 43rd Sustainment Brigade CMRE, or the Rough Riders accomplished an important aspect of the drawdown effort in Afghanistan saving troop lives by taking away the need for escorts. These brave soldiers returned valuable equipment back into US military hands and saved said military millions of dollars in the process. The Rough Riders went above and beyond to uphold their “Make it Happen” motto and did so with efficiency and in the safest manner possible. These men and women earned their custom military coins and honor us with their service.