Hooah
We just got coined.
In the military, whenever a leader wants to recognize a particularly valiant / meritorious / etc. action by a soldier as part of a larger effort, he gives a coin. Coins are elaborate little medals that usually have the unit insignia on one side, and the particular operation (in this case, Operation Iraqi Freedom), on the other. People get them for bravery under fire, building a facility in record time and under budget, tuning and poking at the division network until we get ping times of <15 ms clear across Baghdad, etc.
Gen. Chiarelli came into our office today, told us that our efforts were saving soldiers’ lives every day on the streets of Baghdad, and gave us 1 Cav OIF coins.
Then he gave us combat patches. Combat patches are normally only given to soldiers that serve with 1st Cavalry in combat. He decided to break tradition and give them to civilians, because he felt we deserved them and that we’d become part of this division.
I choked up while I shook his hand, and told him that it was an even greater privilege to serve alongside such dedicated and honorable people.
And I meant it. These soldiers are the best coworkers I’ve ever had, bar none. They’re smart, driven, thoughtful, disciplined, and focused. I won’t miss Baghdad, but I’ll miss working at D-Main.