What is the craziest military urban legend you have heard?

LTC Christopher Carpentier — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 15:11:52 -0500

With everything from attempted suicide at basic training by buffer cord to an MP telling a general officer not to confuse his rank with the MP's authority, I am curious to know what are the craziest military urban legends everyone has heard. Did the buffer incident rwally ever happen in anyone's actual cycle?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2016 3:15 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 15:15:43 -0500

I heard one that a basic trainee huffed all the cleaning chemicals and jumped out of a window to his death.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2016 3:17 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 15:17:54 -0500

Saltpeter in the MRE chiclet gum.

Response by MSgt Stephen Council made Feb 19 at 2016 3:21 PM

MSgt Stephen Council — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 15:21:18 -0500

LTC Christopher Carpentier During the "Dark Years" of AF PT testing via the "bicycle test", I always heard about the "World Class Bicyclist" who was unable to pass the test. This rumor was put forth by all the people who tried incessantly to discredit the test. As an NCO and later a SNCO, I always challenged these people to tell me a name, tell me if they ever met this mythical person or even knew a single person who knew him or his name. No one ever could...

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2016 3:23 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 15:23:23 -0500

The one where the PVT tied a buffer cord around his neck and threw the buffer out the window.

Response by PO1 Brian Austin made Feb 19 at 2016 3:30 PM

PO1 Brian Austin — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 15:30:59 -0500

Saltpeter in boot camp chow. Could've explained the green scrambled eggs we were served.

Response by CW4 Angel C. made Feb 19 at 2016 3:33 PM

CW4 Angel C. — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 15:33:14 -0500

heard for years of a Paratrooper running down Ardennes naked during PT. I believed though cuz you know we got some characters in BRAGG

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2016 3:33 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 15:33:58 -0500

Hi, Colonel Carpentier.
The TIs during Basic told us in the event of WWIII, there was a plan in place to refit and field all of the static displays around the base. We really were at war if they had to put the F-100 outside our squadron building back together.

Response by Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2016 3:38 PM

Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 15:38:13 -0500

Sniper in I think the Vietnam war( I could be wrong about which war) shot the other sides sniper right through his scope. That's takes some skill.

Response by SFC Adam Potter made Feb 19 at 2016 3:42 PM

SFC Adam Potter — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 15:42:58 -0500

The General yelling at the Private on the DZ after a night jump, and the General points out he is General so and so. The Pvt asks the General if he knows who he is, and the general replies "no". The Pvt then says "F*** You!" and runs off into the darkness. If I recall the general was supposed to still be in his harness de-rigging.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2016 3:49 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 15:49:17 -0500

"There's no wind on the drop zone! " at the 1 minute warning.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2016 4:00 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 16:00:39 -0500

LTC Christopher Carpentier this could be a good one...

Response by SSgt Robert Marx made Feb 19 at 2016 4:15 PM

SSgt Robert Marx — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 16:15:46 -0500

I love the one where the Marine DI's informed all of us recruits that we were now ineligible to join the Air Force. The fact that we were in Parris Island recruit training meant that they would not take us. The drill instructors gave funny stories of how lax the AF was with little physical training and using an exercise bicycle for the fit test. I retired from the great blue Air Force about 3 1/2 years ago now. I think of the turd any one of my old DI's would lay if they knew!

Response by SGT Roberto Mendoza-Diaz made Feb 19 at 2016 4:26 PM

SGT Roberto Mendoza-Diaz — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 16:26:10 -0500

An NCO told Soldiers during a GI Party to wash the walls on the hallway at the barracks and a Soldier pulled the fire alarm purposely.

Response by SFC Eric Buss made Feb 19 at 2016 4:28 PM

SFC Eric Buss — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 16:28:41 -0500

My ARNG recruiter telling me I could change from Guard to Active while I'm at BCT. The Ranger Recruiter laughed at me pretty hard when I tried.

Response by SFC Eric Buss made Feb 19 at 2016 4:37 PM

SFC Eric Buss — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 16:37:05 -0500

In Iraq 2005 - the new ACU pattern is going to be better than the desert camo pattern.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2016 4:41 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 16:41:17 -0500

I was a Mud Puppy (Ft. Benning squared me away about high level brass) and grew up in an army town so I knew many old and young MP's so I never confused the MP Brassard with common fucking sense! Unfortunately, at Schofield _'94 or '95) we did have a buffer cord hanger (I think D or C quad) from like the 3 or 4th floor facing the center PT field on a Brigade run of all days (tons of folks there to see him). Tons of satanic shit too thanks to Dr. Aquino and his pedo's from the old Presidio. Just ask an 80's MP what the fuck went on there with those Pysops creepers!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2016 5:54 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 17:54:12 -0500

LTC Christopher Carpentier The ball at the top of the flag pole contains rice, a razor, matches, and a bullet. This is so the last person left to defend the flag will have the means to destroy it before it falls into enemy hands. The rice is to give the person substance for the fight, the razor and matches are to destroy the flag, the bullet id to be used either for defense or to kill yourself to avoid capture.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Feb 19 at 2016 6:07 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 18:07:35 -0500

Fort Irwin used to receive hardship pay until they moved the gate closer to Barstow. The teller of the story always insists it happened "right before they got there". The young SPCIC at finance who saved the Army the money was wisked away in zero illum and sent to witness protection like scheme for his protection. Have chased this for 22 years, never saw a shred of proof

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Feb 19 at 2016 6:52 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 18:52:24 -0500

Some Urban Legends turn out to be true. When I first went into boot camp, we were all told that in 3 days we'd get a 200 Million unit dose of bicillin suspended in oil shot into our hips. Woe be unto those who had the top rack and jumped out the next morning. The purpose was to just zap all recruits and not worry about VD screening, etc. because we weren't worth it. Turned out to be true as I collapsed in severe pain along with everyone else who had a top bunk. They'd kill 3-4 recruits a year who had penicillin reactions but having never taken it before, didn't know they were allergic. It was considered an acceptable loss.

Response by SGT Richard H. made Feb 19 at 2016 6:56 PM

SGT Richard H. — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 18:56:34 -0500

Sir, I'm pretty sure the buffer incident actually happened in the cycle just before pretty much everyone's actual cycle.

Response by SFC Maury Gonzalez made Feb 19 at 2016 7:12 PM

SFC Maury Gonzalez — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 19:12:27 -0500

Back in the early 1980's in Conn barracks, Schweinfurt a German Nazis fighter aircraft was supposed to be under the"secret basement" under the gym floor on post

Response by Sgt Tom Cunnally made Feb 19 at 2016 7:13 PM

Sgt Tom Cunnally — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 19:13:06 -0500

Lou Diamond on Guadalcanal

He mounted a mortar in an LCT and sailed out in the Slot in the Solomon's where he spotted a Japanese Cruiser and then brought down mortar shells on this Cruiser that eventually was sunk.

Response by SSG Jesse Cheadle made Feb 19 at 2016 7:15 PM

SSG Jesse Cheadle — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 19:15:42 -0500

No witnesses between 2 people so go ahead and say what you want, then request a courts martial in lieu of an A-15.

Response by PFC Colin Cooper made Feb 19 at 2016 7:17 PM

PFC Colin Cooper — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 19:17:30 -0500

A CPL hopped over barbed wire onto the flight area where a couple of Blackhawks were getting ready for a night mission. The SGM asks what he's doing, and he said that POTUS told him to get on that bird.

Response by LTC Christopher Carpentier made Feb 19 at 2016 7:55 PM

LTC Christopher Carpentier — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 19:55:21 -0500

When I was at Jump School in 1997, I remember hearing rumors of SEALs climbing the 250 ft towers after the duty day and doing pull ups on the horizontal bars that the chute was hooked up to. Of course no one ever actually saw them do this. The other rumor was that SEALS would activate the release shortly after exiting the aircraft just so they could deploy the reserve. I'm sure if that took place there would be all kinds of UCMJ involved. But great stories, nontheless.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Feb 19 at 2016 9:07 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 21:07:20 -0500

During the Vietnam War buildup, a trainee attending postal clerk school at Ft Ben Harrison, Ind was asked what he did in civilian life and he replies that he is a test pilot at Boeing aircraft. When asked what he's doing in postal clerk school he replies that's where he was sent. Why didn't he mention to someone that he was a highly qualified pilot? He responded that he was warned by friends to never volunteer for anything nor volunteer information after being drafted. He was quickly honorably discharged and returned to Boeing. (Not confirmed)

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2016 9:07 PM

SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 21:07:52 -0500

The "Bragg" Lady

Response by SFC Everett Oliver made Feb 19 at 2016 9:18 PM

SFC Everett Oliver — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 21:18:58 -0500

I remember a drill Sergeant telling us that a trainee from another Company had been busted impersonating a Sergeant Major. He had a Sgt chevron on one collar and a Major chevron on the other.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2016 10:50 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 22:50:06 -0500

The MP thing actually happened in front of me.. A Reserve Unit was assigned to the FLW MP's shortly after 9/11 I was patrol sup. When I got a call that the Post Commander, a MJ, had been stopped by a SPC/E-4 .. I arrived and was standing between the 2 vehicles when I hear.. No Sir.. You will wait here until I finish with your citation, then you may proceed. When he got back to me I said, what the hell was that... Oh, the General said he was late for a briefing with the SecDef, that is why he was speeding.. I went up to the window, Saluted, and told the General that he may be on his way and we would come to his office at his convince to issue the speeding ticket.. He laughed, smiled, returned my Salute and left. Later that day he called myself and my SPC went to his office.. He received his citation for 55 mph in a 45 mph zone. Shook both of our hands and said.. Great job, and gave us both his coin. .. It could have went a whole different direction had he not been a Soldier first.

Response by MSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 20 at 2016 8:21 AM

MSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 20 Feb 2016 08:21:46 -0500

Hahaha I swear to god, I hear the buffer cord suicide story every single time I meet an army vet of a specific nature. By that I mean I most often hear it from those that never finished Basic or never finished an initial enlistment. I first heard of it way back in 91.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 20 at 2016 12:51 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 20 Feb 2016 12:51:22 -0500

I once heard of a 2LT salute a 1LT but I've never seen it.

Response by SSG Steven Dowell made Feb 20 at 2016 6:44 PM

SSG Steven Dowell — Sat, 20 Feb 2016 18:44:55 -0500

My favorite was from basic. Somebody started the rumor that they fed the soldiers hormone infused food to make soldiers more compliment and to dumb down certain emotions. Still cracks me up.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 20 at 2016 10:35 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 20 Feb 2016 22:35:10 -0500

If you get pulled over and gently wisper "pumpernickle" to an MP, they have to let you go free.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 21 at 2016 12:15 AM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 00:15:26 -0500

We actually had this happen at my last AT, but after a power outage, one of our new 6-shop folks was sent to get a bucket for SIPR leaks. The poor SPC went around asking Majors and Lt Colonels if the bucket would be enough for anything they had.

It was a riot.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 21 at 2016 1:29 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 01:29:05 -0500

Heard that you can walk into any room and yell..ON YOUR FEET .. and even the WWII guys will try to jump up... maybe that one's true....

Response by SFC Pete Kain made Feb 21 at 2016 1:32 AM

SFC Pete Kain — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 01:32:05 -0500

It's against the Geneva Convention to us the .50 cal on dismounted troops.
LMAO on that one.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 21 at 2016 9:51 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 09:51:36 -0500

The Marine Corps commandant went for a morning run. When the he returned the sentry asked for his ID as he's is supposed to do. The commandant sayed, "you know who I am" but the sentry insisted and the commandant tried bypassing the sentry and the sentry detained the Marine Copra commandant. An officer passing by started to yell at the sentry, but the commandant stop the officer and told him to go get a set of corporal chevrons and the commandants ID from inside his house and the commandant promoted the sentry on the spot.

Response by LTC Christopher Carpentier made Feb 21 at 2016 11:51 AM

LTC Christopher Carpentier — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 11:51:41 -0500

So I'm surprised no none has mentioned "Stress Cards". In the late 90s, I remember hearing about these at Basic Training. But I never met a Soldier who was issued one and I never met a Drill Sergeant who was presented one. Did these things really exist or was it just a ploy from the old timers to explain how soft the Army had become?

Response by CSM Felipe Mendez made Feb 21 at 2016 4:57 PM

CSM Felipe Mendez — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 16:57:34 -0500

I remember one time in the big Island of Hawaii. We were in the training area (PTA) and the general was going through the gate and the guard salute him with his left hand. The general got out and ask for the supervisor. He them told the supervisor to give the soldier a four day pass, apparently he was over work and needed some time off. need to say that he was the same soldier that was caught by the airfield police hanging/swinging from his belt from the over head hoist. He hook the overhead crane to his belt and lift himself up, somehow he lost grip of the overhead crane control buttons and was swinging back and forward trying to regain hold of the crane hand hold controls.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 22 at 2016 4:05 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 22 Feb 2016 16:05:22 -0500

no urban legend. we had a 18 y/o kid drop dead of a heart attack during EMR while I was in basic training. apparently the guy had already had several heart attacks and either didn't realize what they were or lied about it to get in. we were running on the track and the guy failed to make one of the turns. just kept going straight and ran into the stand where the DIs were and collapsed. They stood around yelling at him to get his lazy ass up for a couple of minutes before they realized he wasn't faking.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 23 at 2016 4:46 AM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 04:46:18 -0500

I knew a CW5 that had been in for 38 years that experienced the MP saying those exact words to him. He politely asked for his supervisor and handled it through him at that point.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 23 at 2016 10:26 AM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 10:26:56 -0500

The Air Force only accepts the brightest, smartest, and best America has to offer... Um, 15 years later, this is not always the case.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 23 at 2016 12:15 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 12:15:23 -0500

In WWII, the 5 star rank was established since we didn't have the equivalent of a Field Marshall like our allies. But what to name it? General George Marshall flatly refused to be addressed as Field Marshall Marshall, so General of the Army was established. (It may be true).

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2016 11:53 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 11:53:43 -0500

A few from my days in the Navy. The aircraft carrier had a bowling alley near the engine room, there was a McDonalds on the lower decks, we would try and get the new guys to buy "elevator passes". A couple of my favorites from the flight deck were sending guys to get buckets of prop wash for the aircraft, grab buckets of steam for the catapults.
My all time favorite, we had to move an aircraft on the flight deck and told one of the guys to get the keys to the aircraft. It wasn't until he made it to the ready room and asked for the keys that he realized he had been tricked.

Response by LTC Tim Moore made Feb 24 at 2016 4:26 PM

LTC Tim Moore — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 16:26:37 -0500

Stress cards- never saw one.

Response by SFC J Fullerton made Feb 27 at 2016 7:34 PM

SFC J Fullerton — Sat, 27 Feb 2016 19:34:37 -0500

1988 or 1989- Fort Lewis Washington. A platoon of 2/75 Rangers were at thier PSG's house in the Hilltop neighborhood of Tacoma when a group of Bloods or Crips showed up and a firefight errupted between the Rangers and the gangbangers. Hundreds of rounds were exchanged in the melee, no freindly casualities, enemy casualities unknown.

Response by COL David Turk made Feb 27 at 2016 7:56 PM

COL David Turk — Sat, 27 Feb 2016 19:56:38 -0500

As a enlisted MP, I did tell a Major (not General), not to confuse rank with authority after I performed a traffic stop. He didn't accept that, and let me know in no uncertain terms. So the MP duty officer (1Lt) was called, and after reiterating my statement, told the Major that I was going to complete the traffic stop, and he had a problem with that, he could accompany the 1Lt to the Provost Marshal's Office and discuss it with the Provost Marshal at PMO's discretion (this was on a week night). The 1Lt stepped back and completed the stop. This was no urban legend.

Response by SGT Greg Gold made Feb 27 at 2016 9:54 PM

SGT Greg Gold — Sat, 27 Feb 2016 21:54:55 -0500

The Army buried a nuke warhead under every chemical weapons storage depot. In case of a massive accidental release of chemical weapons, the nuke would be detonated to incinerate the chemical munitions.

Response by CPL Jay Strickland made Feb 27 at 2016 10:38 PM

CPL Jay Strickland — Sat, 27 Feb 2016 22:38:38 -0500

We had a guy in AIT that was a habitual liar. One week his family was dirt poor, the next they were millionaires. So ourselves and the instructors got together and convinced him that he got selected for an additional skills identifier for our MOS(25S then 31S). In flight satellite repairer and that he was going to be sent to space to fix satellites in orbit. He bought it, he told his family. It was not until he told the drill sergeants that he realized we were pulling one over on him.

Response by SPC Troy Reynolds made Feb 27 at 2016 11:00 PM

SPC Troy Reynolds — Sat, 27 Feb 2016 23:00:27 -0500

Wasn't a general officer, but I have used the rank/authority line on a dui stop.

Response by SFC J Fullerton made Feb 27 at 2016 11:36 PM

SFC J Fullerton — Sat, 27 Feb 2016 23:36:27 -0500

How about ______ was a sniper in ______and had 100 confirmed kills. I've heard Captain Kangaroo, Mr. Rogers, and John Denver.

Response by SPC Greg Burnett made Feb 28 at 2016 9:38 PM

SPC Greg Burnett — Sun, 28 Feb 2016 21:38:29 -0500

Notch in old dog tags to jam between teeth.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 29 at 2016 2:55 PM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 29 Feb 2016 14:55:20 -0500

According to several locals and some conspiracy sites, a mermaid was captured in Beaufort, SC and it remains in the basement of the Naval Hospital (formerly the morgue) to this day.

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 8 at 2016 11:07 PM

2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 23:07:47 -0500

There is a pistol atop the flagpole at West Point inside of the "truck" aka the ball on top. It has one bullet. The last American soldier is supposed to climb the pole and shoot himself rather than surrender.

Response by SSG Ray Murphy made Sep 29 at 2016 12:14 PM

SSG Ray Murphy — Thu, 29 Sep 2016 12:14:46 -0400

My time both in training and on the trail, one suicide, by aspirin.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Sep 29 at 2016 12:52 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Thu, 29 Sep 2016 12:52:08 -0400

The Finance Specialist who suggested moving the Fort Irwin boundary a few miles closer to Barstow so the Army would not have to pay hardship/special pay to soldiers assigned there. Soldier PCSed immediately like he was in Witness Protection Program. Everyone swears it happened "right before they got there".

Sorry for the repeat post, I answered it so long ago I forgot I threw this up on the pithy altar already

Response by CPO Randy Francis made Oct 1 at 2016 9:32 AM

CPO Randy Francis — Sat, 01 Oct 2016 09:32:12 -0400

That Coasties have to be a certain minimum height - in case the boat breaks down they can just walk in.

Response by SPC Gary Welch made Feb 8 at 2019 7:55 PM

SPC Gary Welch — Fri, 08 Feb 2019 19:55:37 -0500

Best one I've ever heard is thiers a two beer limit( didn't know it was the first and last one)

Response by SPC Patrick Mitchell made Feb 20 at 2019 1:13 PM

SPC Patrick Mitchell — Wed, 20 Feb 2019 13:13:35 -0500

Response by SPC Patrick Mitchell made Feb 20 at 2019 1:15 PM

SPC Patrick Mitchell — Wed, 20 Feb 2019 13:15:02 -0500

Never had a stress card but a kid I knew who went to basic years later gave me one.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 20 at 2019 3:54 PM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Feb 2019 15:54:01 -0500

A kid tried to mail himself off base in tech school.