What is your story of directions flowing down the chain wrong?

When I came back into the Army as an O last fall I was designated as the battalion's "student CSM" for the first 2 weeks of our initial officer training. For accountability purposes I was also a member of a squad. I was amazed to hear the very same order and instructions I gave out as the CSM get absolutely twisted by the time I heard them from my squad leader. It was a bizarre and eye opening experience.

In the beginning was the plan.
And then came the assumptions.
And the assumptions were without form.
And the plan was without substance.
And darkness was upon the face of the Enlisted Soldiers.

And they spoke among themselves saying,
"It is a crock of shit and it stinketh."

And the Enlisted Soldiers went unto their NCOs and said,
"It is a pale of dung and none may abide the odor thereof."

And the NCOs went unto their Sr. NCOs and said,
"It is a container of excrement and it is very strong, such that none may abide by it."

And the Sr. NCOs went unto their Company Commanders, saying,
"It is a vessel of fertilizer, and none may abide its strength."

And the Company Commanders spoke among themselves, saying to one another,
"It contains that which aids plant growth and it is very strong."

And the Company commanders went unto their Battalion Commanders, saying unto them,
"It promotes growth and is very powerful."

And the Battalion Commanders went unto the Post Commander, saying unto him,
"The new plan will promote the growth and vigor of the units, with powerful effects."

And the Post Commander looked upon the plan and saw that it was good.
And the plan became policy.

This is how shit happens.

MORAL OF THE STORY:
Say what you mean and don't leave room for misinterpretations.

My "favorite" is when the commander sets up a time to meet as a unit and each level of the chain sets an earlier time to be in formation. This a great...especially when the senior leader pushes the time back last minute ;)