This exchange happened while I was signing copies of CONTROL POINT at the USMC exchange on their base in Quantico, Virginia. I’m setting up the table when who should walk in but one of my editor’s brother: Captain Sherbo, US Army! It’s nice to see that military service is part of the Penguin/Ace family. CPT Sherbo was kind enough to exchange one of his ROTC class coins for my SOC coin.

CPT Sherbo and I exchange coins

L — My SOC coin. R — CPT Sherbo’s ROTC coin. Your coin gets mine!

Really psyched to have a coin from a family member of my publisher and an outstanding company grade officer in the US army. Hope the SOC coin travels with him on his future tours, as I know his coin will stay in my collection wherever I go.

Remember, your coin gets mine! If you’re mil­i­tary, law-enforcement, or a member of another orga­ni­za­tion that uses chal­lenge coins and want to trade with me, email me at myke (at) mykecole (dot) com.

This chal­lenge coin exchange is with my friend Eric, retired from the Monterey Police. The US Coast Guard is the only branch of the US military that serves double duty as federal law enforcement, making all of us police officers (though not all of us work in that capacity). As a result, I feel a special kinship with members of the “thin blue line” and I am delighted to add this challenge coin to my collection. Even better, Eric has included a uniform sleeve patch as well. Thanks, Eric!

L — Monterey Police Chief’s coin. R — SOC coin. Your coin gets mine!

Love this coin. I’m really pleased Eric liked the book and I hope the SOC coin gets pride of place on his shelf.

Remember, your coin gets mine! If you’re mil­i­tary, law-enforcement, or a member of another orga­ni­za­tion that uses chal­lenge coins and want to trade with me, email me at myke (at) mykecole (dot) com.

I figured I’d bow out for an entry and give the floor to my friend and colleague Jon Sprunk. I’ve known Jon for years. We’re both represented by the same agent and see one another from time to time at cons. We both love cons to the point where I asked him to share his thoughts on them here on my site.

We’ll get to that in a moment, but I first wanted to introduce Jon.  His first fantasy novel, Shadow’s Son (Pyr Books) was published in 2010, followed by the sequels, Shadow’s Lure

Shadow’s Master

and Shadow’s Master. He is also a mentor at the Seton Hill University Writing Program. Shadow’s Master is just released and available on amazon, B&N and at your local bookstore.

I’ll let Jon take it from here:

I love reader conventions, especially sci-fi and fantasy cons. There’s something about them, a zany mixture of geekdom and sex appeal, that creates an intoxicating atmosphere. I’ve been to several now, and like a moth to a flame, I can’t get enough.

I like both large and small cons. The big ones like DragonCon are just awesome in their sheer volume and the things you’ll see. It’s like a Super Bowl that you can participate in. Despite the thousands of people, everyone at a SFF con is super-nice. They’ll wait in line for six hours to meet a favorite author or artist. They’ll wear things that will shock and amaze you, especially considering so many of the costumes are homemade. And the party only gets wilder after the official events are over.

But small cons are fun as hell, too. I’m blessed to have some great ones near me, like Balticon and Confluence. While they don’t get the hordes of people that a Comic Con will get, they have just as much energy and enthusiasm. And the personal connections even a small-name author like myself can make with readers at a smaller con are priceless.

So if you love books, movies, comics, and costumes, do yourself a favor and find out what SFF cons are running in your area. And if you have the means, sign up for one of the mega-conventions. Either way, you’ll have a great time.

It’s good to get pulse checks like this from Jon. I spend a lot of my very limited funds on hitting cons. Much of that is business, but a lot of it is feeding my fan side and getting some rare and much needed social interaction. Good to see Jon’s feeling much the same way.

This means that the government of my country has entrusted me with training, weapons and authority to use force to accomplish certain very limited goals/tasks. There is, of course, a continuum of force, but it ranges up to and includes deadly force (the taking of another person’s life).

The government (at least in the US) is the instrument of the will of the American people. So when I say that “the government” entrusts me with these weapons, training and authority, I am keenly aware that it is really THE PEOPLE (all of you) who are trusting me.

That responsibility weighs heavily on me.

There are times in my life when I am tempted to use force outside of work. I have been insulted publicly, sometimes in front of people whose esteem I value. I have been threatened. About a week ago, a homeless man attacked me. These are situations where some, I think, would feel that using force is justified.

Not for me. No way.

The Coast Guard are the only military service that straddles the line of both warfighters and police officers, and I believe that members of the military and the police have a special obligation to swallow their pride and never, EVER use force outside of authorized work-related situations that absolutely require it (and are ordered/sanctioned by their chain of command).

This is because the person who slapped your face in the bar, who called you a loser, who insulted your mother is a member of the population you SWORE to protect and to serve. With your life if necessary.

I’m not some kind of super-ninja. The fighting skills I learned first as a mercenary and later as a uniformed service member are in many cases not a whole lot better than the average brawler who picks a fight with me in a bar. My weapons training is probably a little better than most Americans, but there are plenty of gun-enthusiasts out there who can shoot better than I can, even in tactical situations. Many folks are bigger and stronger and tougher than I am.

But that doesn’t matter. The people of this country said to me “Myke, we trust you to protect us. We are spending our money to give you specialized training and authority to keep us safe.”

And if I use those skills against them? If I choose to brawl instead of swallowing my pride and accepting some embarrassment and maybe a fat lip? If I strike out against one of the people I swore on my life to protect and serve?

I’ve got a word for people who do that.

Traitor.

If I feel that my life, or someone else’s life, is in real and imminent danger off duty, I will use force. If I am on the job, and force is necessary, authorized by my command, my jurisdiction, authority and substantive laws (and it is prudent, necessary and the minimum level required by the situation), then I will use force.

Otherwise? I will never, ever, EVER strike another human being, under any circumstances. I will accept a black eye. I will shrug off a split lip. I will endure any insult.

I am a member of the US military in the one branch that also wields law enforcement authority. This gives me a special responsibility that I always keep foremost in my mind. Sometimes people joke with me, “I bet you could kick s0-and-so’s ass.” “Man, that guy’s really lucky you were in a good mood.” “Do what Myke says or he’ll beat you up!”

Can I be honest? I don’t like those jokes. Because they don’t reflect my commitment to NEVER use violence outside circumstances where its application is both critical and authorized.

I can part with pride. I will never part with honor.

The latest challenge coin exchange is with my buddy Rob, an airframe mechanic who works on the most enduring and reliable flying platform in the military. You all know it as the Blackhawk, but we use a variant, the Jawhawk.

This is a great coin to add to my collection, and I hope Rob enjoys having the SOC coin in his.

L — Rob’s Blackhawk Anniversary coin R — My SOC coin. Your coin gets mine!

Remember, your coin gets mine! If you’re military, law-enforcement, or a member of another organization that uses challenge coins and want to trade with me, email me at myke (at) mykecole (dot) com.