The worst 'curveball' thrown at you by the military?

CH (MAJ) William Beaver — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 03:37:08 -0400

In your branch of the service, are you able to describe the worst 'curveball' you were thrown? How did you feel? How did you respond?

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 14 at 2015 3:58 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 03:58:32 -0400

When I first started playing baseball the pitcher threw a hard-breaking curve ball and panicking I stepped over the plate. The rest is history. LOL Curveball 1 Oddball 0.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 14 at 2015 5:37 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 05:37:31 -0400

Never really had a big curveball thrown my way...I always learned to expect the unexpected, expect the worse and adapt and overcome...everything else is what it is...Just give 110% in everything you do until it's done

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 14 at 2015 6:30 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 06:30:07 -0400

Hey, I set a record in high with an unassisted triple play to end the game. I remember teachers picking on me, saying it is only down from there... the coach even told my brother that I am a legend but that is not true...lol (in my own mind, what little there is) lol

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Apr 14 at 2015 7:07 AM

SCPO David Lockwood — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 07:07:27 -0400

I wouldn't say I was thrown a curve ball. My job taught me to expect anything and everything and keep those in the back of my mind and ready to respond at a given moment.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 14 at 2015 7:59 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 07:59:44 -0400

Getting kicked out of Navy Sub School as an E-2 then it just kept curving from there.

Response by MSgt Michael Durkee made Apr 14 at 2015 9:30 AM

MSgt Michael Durkee — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 09:30:40 -0400

A definite curveball was when I made E-7 while working at Headquarters Air Combat Command, once I sewed on the stripe they sent me down to Squadron/Base level where they needed more Senior NCOs. Upon signing into the Squadron, I was told that I would be heading to Combat Skills Training at Ft. Polk, LA and subsequently off to Kabul, Afghanistan.

That was the beginning of my last year of Active Duty, rather than being able to work through Transition Assistance for my retirement...I was manning a "Ma Deuce".

Response by TSgt Tim (lj) Littlejohn made Apr 14 at 2015 10:28 AM

TSgt Tim (lj) Littlejohn — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 10:28:43 -0400

This is just an exercise, if it was war it would all be different! That curve ball got thrown a lot.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 14 at 2015 10:50 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 10:50:15 -0400

The change of mission in the Field Artillery community from fires and A2C2 to Civil-Military Operations, Information Operations, and non-lethal targeting. It ended up being a rewarding experience, but the FA School did not adapt officer training fast enough, and NCOES apparently did not even try.

Response by SGT John Rauch made Apr 14 at 2015 1:01 PM

SGT John Rauch — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 13:01:40 -0400

2 weeks before deployment, after a year or two of training for Iraq, we were informed that we would be going to afghanistan instead.

Response by SFC Douglas Davis made Apr 14 at 2015 9:04 PM

SFC Douglas Davis — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 21:04:41 -0400

Two days after shipping my household goods from Germany I was involuntary extended for a Winter Reforger.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Apr 14 at 2015 9:07 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 21:07:07 -0400

I was OIC for Ft Hoods 2000 Single Soldiers' day. I had to figure out parking for 6000 cars, routes for 20 buses, venues for 2 concerts, 20 food booths, many porta potties ambulance, air medevac plan, we had about 20,000 folks. I told the MPs there was a slight hill to Belton Lake that was going to cause an accident. Sure enough their was an accident and the biggest MP in the world was directing traffic. I had asked the ambulance crew if they knew how to guide a helicopter medevac in and got the stupid look. Sure enough I had to guide in a helicopter. And all these generals wanted a personal brief.

Response by SSG Genaro Negrete made Apr 16 at 2015 1:48 PM

SSG Genaro Negrete — Thu, 16 Apr 2015 13:48:36 -0400

In 2006, PFC Negrete was stationed in Yongsan. I was excited to deploy and flex my combat medic muscle and all that. The MP company I landed in wasn't on a deployment rotation. Curve ball #1 was when I get told by my 1SG I'm going to another MP company down south for THEIR deployment into Iraq. This wasn't too bad, I was excited to be a part of that effort.

I arrive at this new unit to find that PFC Negrete has been assigned to HQ platoon...there by making him the Senior Medic. The other platoons had PFC's as well. Except for one. A SPC w/ prior NG service as a medic at Guantanamo bay. No medical NCO at all. There's curve ball #2; PFC Negrete is now in charge of medical support for an MP Company in Baghdad, in charge of two PFC's just as new and a SPC w/ experience that won't step up.