Custom Navy IYAOYAS Challenge Coins for Aviation Ordnancemen

IYAOYAS is a phrase closely associated with U.S. Navy Aviation Ordnancemen (AO), standing for “If You Ain’t Ordnance, You Ain’t Shit.” This custom Navy IYAOYAS challenge coin was created for a local chapter of Aviation Ordnancemen and combines the community’s identity with a bold skull, wings, and flame design.

What Does IYAOYAS Mean?

IYAOYAS is a well-known expression within the Navy Aviation Ordnanceman community. Aviation Ordnancemen are responsible for handling, maintaining, and preparing the weapons and ordnance used by Naval aircraft. The phrase has become part of the identity and camaraderie surrounding the AO rating, making it a natural addition to challenge coins created for Aviation Ordnancemen.

For this project, Embleholics wanted to create something graphic and vibrant that reflected that identity. The front features a winged skull surrounded by flames, while the number 68 represents the chapter that commissioned the design. The reverse identifies the group behind the coin, preserving the connection between the artwork and the people it was created for.

Challenge coins don’t always need to follow a traditional military design. When a coin is being created for a specific community such as Navy Aviation Ordnancemen, there can be considerably more room for personality, inside references, rating-specific imagery, and artwork that means something to the people receiving it.

Custom Navy IYAOYAS Challenge Coins

Embleholics creates custom challenge coins for Navy commands, squadrons, divisions, associations, and military communities. Aviation Ordnancemen coins can incorporate AO-specific imagery, command or squadron information, aircraft, ordnance, deployment details, mottos, inside references, and other elements important to the group.

You don’t need finished artwork to get started. A basic idea, sketch, reference image, or description is enough for our artists to begin developing the design, with revisions available to refine the artwork before production.

If you’re planning a coin for an AO shop, command, squadron, or other Navy group, see our custom Navy challenge coins for more examples and information about creating your own design.