Have you ever done something as a fresh enlistee or junior officer that left you saying "I can't believe I did that!?"

2014-04-15T16:37:24-04:00

Have you ever done something really stupid or out of place when you were a fresh enlistee or junior officer?  Something where, when you look back, all you can say to yourself is, I can't believe I did that!  Please share your stories!<div><br></div><div>Here's one of mine:</div><div>On the second to last day of BCT, my Drill Sergeant took me and a few other guys to the PX.  While we were in there, a Colonel came near us so we snapped to attention.  He kept moving as if to get by us... seriously, that's what he was doing, and we kept rotating in place to continue facing him.  We also looked confused and idiotic I'm sure.  The Colonel corrected us and he went on his merry way.  That one stuck with me... I can't believe I did that!</div>

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 15 at 2014 5:16 PM

2014-04-15T17:16:43-04:00

Not only did you have to reconcile what is proper but that also he is a human.   Humility comes from knowing that leadership is a patchwork quilt of incongruent emotions.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Mar 4 at 2021 11:57 PM

2021-03-04T23:57:35-05:00

CW2 Jonathan Kantor During basic, on the way to a shower point, I saluted the PLT Ldr with a bar of soap in my right hand! SGT Philip Roncari SFC William Farrell LTC Private RallyPoint Member SGT Private RallyPoint Member LTC Stephen F. LTC Stephen C. PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSLSP5 Jim Curry

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 5 at 2021 1:16 AM

2021-03-05T01:16:47-05:00

I was a first lieutenant that branch transferred from military police to armor. Our battalion went to Fort Irwin to do our tank tables. Moving from one tank table to another I forgot to put the M2 Browning Calibre 50 machine gun on safe. Our tank moved forward to do different phases of the 50 calibre tank table. As the tank was moving from one position to the next, my chest hit the trigger and I had a negligent 2-3 round burst discharge of my machine gun. I was kicked off the range by the master gunner for the duration of gunnery. This was a safety violation. Nothing more came of it but it was embarrassing for me and my crew. SSgt Private RallyPoint Member CSM Charles Hayden SP5 Jim Curry CW2 Jonathan Kantor

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 5 at 2021 10:19 AM

2021-03-05T10:19:33-05:00

Yes, luckily we'll before social media