Posted on Apr 28, 2015
A Fish Story? Paratrooper Who Completed Final Jump With Pet Fish Receives UCMJ
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Army SPC Matthew Tattersall, the Paratrooper who gained fame just last week for celebrating his final training jump by bringing his pet fish along with him and filming the experience on a Go-Pro camera, has now faced the wrath of the UCMJ for his stunt.
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Posted >1 y ago
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My heart goes out to the parents of the fish in question. Where was the airborne physical? I want to see the jump record of said fish. Did the fish receive a "GO" on performing a PLF prior to the jump? Where is the secondary water containment device should the primary fail? I demand justice. Has the ACLU and the SPCA filed a lawsuit yet?
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PFC Ryan Battista
in case of becoming stranded on landing, the bottle functions as a handy, all-in-one hydration system/meal-ready-to-eat
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SGT Joshua Bressel
SFC (Join to see) He got a Wasabi stain!!!!! He is a Siamese Fighting Fish, after all! (Look close! He really is!)
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Doing anything that would risk injury, death, or cause a safety violation is strictly prohibited while conducting airborne operations. He broke the rules, was dumb (had the balls) enough to record and post it on social media, now he pays the price. Looks like he got a company grade Article 15 and the commander was extremely lenient on him, which in my opinion he should have been.
The kid is a paratrooper and made a great last jump he will remember for the rest of his life. I would have definitely recommended light punishment if I was his CSM and probably told the kid that what he did was pretty cool.
Airborne!
The kid is a paratrooper and made a great last jump he will remember for the rest of his life. I would have definitely recommended light punishment if I was his CSM and probably told the kid that what he did was pretty cool.
Airborne!
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LTC Scott Wilde
Now if he would have taken an OSCAR CICHLID down onto the DZ in his Cargo Pocket......I would understand the punishment !!!!
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SFC Kella Townsend
UCMJ for a fish, I suppose the novelty is wearing thin in the sand box wars. Sounds like the military is starting to eat their young.
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Sgt Dale Briggs
I understand safety, but I don’t see how this a big deal. Jesus, a shit detail or two would have been more appropriate.
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CPT William Jones
His CO did him a favor with the Art 15. He has been punished for violating the rules. So he cannot get further punishment and the art 15 comes off the troopers records.
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Uhm, doesn't leadership have bigger fish to fry? Or were they just bored? And give the fish his damn jump wings already!
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MAJ (Join to see)
Col (Join to see), apparently not, Dave! I guess this was the only one they could find out there on the DZ, so they're gonna fry it, and the SPC, too!
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SFC Familia Gonzalez
I was going to make a comment, but after reading your comment, I have nothing! Lol
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SGT Paul (Eric) Haines
The fish will probably go good with tartar sauce, but what goes good with fried Spec 4?
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They had to do it because they already busted a student from SCUBA school last week....
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SGT Jeremiah B.
Rule #1 of Diving: Always look cool. This animal is in clear violation by wearing fins and mask out of water. Disregard the specious claims that the real rule #1 is "never stop breathing." Clearly, death is preferable to looking silly.
<--PADI and IANTD certified.
<--PADI and IANTD certified.
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The hard line approach that I see some taking on this topic is a great reason for a good Soldier to leave the Army. Keep running them off by being unreasonable. I have done far worse as a young Private, but my leadership was wise enough to educate me without UCMJ.
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MAJ (Join to see)
No it clearly says in the new ADP people will die if a fish is Airborne.
The corresponding ADRP expounds on the situation saying the world will literally explode.
But if you actually read the TC that replaced the FM then you will get the idea that people will die of laughter as their minds are blown but the outrageously funny this stunt was.
Bottom line stop paralyzing the Army.
The corresponding ADRP expounds on the situation saying the world will literally explode.
But if you actually read the TC that replaced the FM then you will get the idea that people will die of laughter as their minds are blown but the outrageously funny this stunt was.
Bottom line stop paralyzing the Army.
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SGT Jason Warden
Sadly this could have ended in a simple smoke session and pat on the back for have huge brass airborne balls. Unfortunately today’s army favors putting everything on paper. This destroys many careers before they even get started and sets an incentive for good soldiers to jump ship as soon as their contract is up.
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SGT Thomas Fisher
PO2 David Hagwood Read what happened to him. Theyvdid not start with NJP. That only came about after he blew off the corrective action. So they had to escalate it even though it was essentially still a slap on the wrist when it was done.
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SGT Paul (Eric) Haines
One of the reasons I was glad I retired when I did. That was 2010, and the push for a paper trail on stupid shtuff had already reached gigantic proportions- while actively engaged in combat almost daily! A pattern of misconduct? Absolutely put that on paper. Occasional practical jokes, or even an isolated screw up? On the spot correction/corrective training is extremely valuable. Now this cat blew off his corrective training, so I think the company grade was a good idea. But damn, don’t slam good soldiers for a great prank!SGT Jason Warden
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SGT Paul (Eric) Haines
Actually, it was that moment that I woke up the morning after my terminal leave ended!!
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SGT Chip Hutchings
I am sorry the task, condition, and standards to qualify for the basic parachute badge was not met by the fish. I do not believe lowering the standard to allow the fish to qualify for its wings would be benifical to the fish, the soldier or the United States Army. I am sorry Goldy you are a no go at this station.
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SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S.
SGT Chip Hutchings You realize that thousands of fish, perhaps wrongly, denied jump status will be at your door stop tomorrow AM?
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SGT Chip Hutchings
Well I am not going to let that 1 jump chum I mean 1 jump chump take away my valor.
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