The challenge coin has a shield in the center. The shield has a Spanish galleon in the center with a lightning bolt to the right and an olive branch to the left. Under the shield along the bottom edge is a scroll with the legend "24TH WING".

The legend along the upper edge of the medal says "INTEGRITY SERVICE EXCELLENCE". Near the bottom of the medal are two horizontal legend lines in a smaller font size. The upper line says "Howard AFB". The bottom line says "Panama". The coin has a smooth plain raised edge, and a plain and smooth background.

The medal has latitude and longitude lines like a globe. Superimposed on the upper portion of the globe is an outlined head of an eagle. Below the eagle is a silhouette map of North and South America. To the left of the Americas in exploded view is an outline map of Panama. Along the lower edge of the medal it says "LOS PROFESIONALES" which means "THE PROFESSIONALS" in Spanish. The coin has a smooth plain raised edge, and a plain and smooth background.

The 24th Wing was a part of the 12th Air Force, which was the Air Force component of Southcom. It was based at Howard Air Force Base in the Canal Zone. In 1999, the 24th Wing had one flying component which was the 310th Airlift. The 24th Wing was inactivated on November 30, 1999.