What are some fun pranks and jokes you've had done to you or played on to new recruits?

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 22 Sep 2019 20:29:52 -0400

I'm not talking about hazing to the point of mocking or insulting someone, I'm certain we've all been there. I still hear the common "go find me some blinker fluid" and the new Joe will walk away, intent on completing this task. Do you have a hilarious joke you had played on you, new or been in awhile, or have a fun "welcome to the unit" prank.
Here's what I have (might be MOS specific):
- "Hey PVT can you go find me a box of ground guides"?
- "This humvee has been down for awhile so we need to pull start it, can you give it a shot?" (The cable for locking the steering wheel)
- "I'm working on the shortage annexes for the kits but I need another form. Can you go ask the Supply SGT for a PRIKY-7?" (Said as a Prick E-7...our Supply NCO laughed to the point of tears and played along)
- "Can you ask the LT for exhaust samples?" (Our LT without missing a beat, pulled out a sharpie and plastic bags and explained to write admin number for the vehicles on the bag and to make sure to seal the bag when done)
It's more convincing to have a story blend in the joke. What are your experiences?

Response by CW5 Jack Cardwell made Sep 22 at 2019 8:31 PM

CW5 Jack Cardwell — Sun, 22 Sep 2019 20:31:50 -0400

Go to the supply room and get some BA1100N batteries.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 22 at 2019 8:39 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sun, 22 Sep 2019 20:39:39 -0400

I young trainee was told to go the 1SG's office for a PRIK E-8. He was in front leaning rest for a very long time.

I have heard of the Aggie Corps of Cadets putting a pig in the commander's room at night.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 22 at 2019 8:50 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sun, 22 Sep 2019 20:50:59 -0400

One of my fellow 2LTs got kicked out of the tank range because he failed to respond to a Range Control radio call. His E-7 told him to turn a range fan on to blow away the smoke and was looking for a switch in the tower lol

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 22 at 2019 9:00 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sun, 22 Sep 2019 21:00:46 -0400

On graduation day we tied up one of the trainers and put him in front of the Regimental Commander's window lol

Response by SPC Jon O. made Sep 22 at 2019 9:20 PM

SPC Jon O. — Sun, 22 Sep 2019 21:20:03 -0400

We use to send new "cherries" privates to the armor to retrieve back blast bags for TOWS.

We would have newbies jump up and down on our ITVs to check track tension.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 23 at 2019 6:54 AM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 06:54:38 -0400

a mile of flight line, gallon of carpenter's level bubbles, go to S1 for an ID10T tag

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 23 at 2019 7:28 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 07:28:27 -0400

When I was a specialist cave rat (a CBRN Soldier that spends his duty day in the CBRN cage/room), My supply clerk buddy and I worked together on this.:

I was improcessing a new recruit While he was reading some paperwork, I snuck across the hall and had my battle break open a Chem light into a cup and bring it over and place on the desk.

I signaled him to knock it over. We immediately put on masks and I hovered a radiac meter over the spill. There was enough background radiation to cause so ticking while we said Oh Shit, OH Shit (slightly harder words). The poor kid was scared and did not know what to do as he tried to quickly assemble his still unfitted mask.

Response by SPC Cody Parker made Sep 23 at 2019 10:14 AM

SPC Cody Parker — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 10:14:52 -0400

13B here. We would have the new privates conduct a “Boom Test”. Said test consisted of having the private shimmy all the way to the end of the cannon barrel (Paladin) and test that the barrel was sufficiently clear acoustically (scream BOOM TEST as loud as possible down the barrel). Meanwhile, those of us at the other end would hold have the radio mic held up to the breach and broadcasting to the battalion. Generally this was followed by having said newbie run to the Brigade SGM’s office to get the keys to the impact area so we could start training.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 23 at 2019 10:20 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 10:20:17 -0400

Cue 700 responses about grid squares and exhaust samples

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 23 at 2019 10:24 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 10:24:29 -0400

The best story I have here is one that actually backfired on me. When I was a platoon sergeant I sent one of my newest soldiers to check the turn signal fluid on a truck. What I had forgotten about was the tendency of humvee turn signal gaskets to dry rot. The soldier came back to me, sincerely, and said it was half full. I thought she picked up on the joke until she said she couldn’t find it in the 10 manual and wasn’t sure if the level was good.

So now I have to figure out what the hell she looked at and what’s going on, and sure as grandma’s got gout that turn signal was half full of water from rain the night before. I felt so bad I changed the gasket myself and bought her lunch.