What's your list of the dumbest/most aggravating things you've done in your military career?

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Tue, 20 May 2014 06:25:14 -0400

We've all either had to do or have unintentionally done some dumb things during our career - especially us former 2LTs. Not to mention all the dumb/boring aggravating duties we've been assigned. Please share if you dare.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2014 6:37 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 May 2014 06:37:24 -0400

The dumbest thing I ever did was let my bad attitude dictate my career path. Let me explain.

My first PSG had a saying "Career progression is not an option, in this platoon you will always be doing something to further yourself personally and/or professionally." As an E-5 I was disgruntled with the military and was 100% positive I was not reenlisting. I was in a bad unit with bad leadership (looking out and caring only for themselves and their high ranking buddies). Because of my bad experience I developed a bad attitude toward the military and I stopped developing myself. I spent four years and ten months as an E-5 missing nine different opportunities at making cut-off before I decided to change my attitude. This delay caused me to miss out on the promotion board to E-7 in 2012, finally getting my "first look" and making the list in 2013.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made May 20 at 2014 6:37 AM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Tue, 20 May 2014 06:37:40 -0400

Ok, in no certain order:

1. CQ in any way shape or form, but especially when I had to enrage some 1SG by waking them up in the middle of the night to pull their troop out of the drunk tank.

2. As the Adjutant General's driver, putting the 2 star plate in the holder upside down - cost me 100 pushups. Yes really - guess what rank I was - you got it!

3. Having to do an Article 15 investigation to determine if a soldier was dead in garrison - really. Unfortunately he was, and everyone knew it but there was no body as he drown in a very rough river. The soldier's body showed up 5 months later and at least he was able to buried with honors.

4. After my Co commander threw a fire cracker in the Bde commander's tent during annual training, actually admitting to the old man that we had done it. Again, guess what rank.

5. My PSG and I getting lost for 5 hours in Korea because we mistook a cow path for a road on the map then got stuck. 2LT with a map and compass theory proven yet again.

By now you're probably wondering how I ever made 1LT. Thank God for good OERs

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 12 at 2016 7:15 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 19:15:42 -0500

Missed curfew as a SPC on Camp Casey, South Korea pre 9/11. Carried rocks from the CQ area to "Doo-Doo Creek" for 45 days as my daily job. Gentlemen's agreement in lieu of paper article 15. Became stupid strong.

Response by CPT Earl George made Jun 28 at 2016 10:06 PM

CPT Earl George — Tue, 28 Jun 2016 22:06:46 -0400

I pissed off the new Battalion Executive Officer and as a result got every shit detail requiring an officer for about 6 months. The worst was the inventory of the Battalion ammo dump. When I reported to the Bn ammo NCO(E-6) and told him who I was and what I was supposed to be doing, his reply was," Sir, Who did you piss off?"

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 30 at 2016 10:51 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 10:51:34 -0500

Pissed off the CSM of the unit when they returned from deployment by ... wait for ir.... Being on his damn grass lol

Response by SFC William Stephens made Nov 30 at 2016 11:28 AM

SFC William Stephens — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 11:28:24 -0500

1. let my howitzer net in the last firing position when we "MARCH ORDERED" the platoon in Korea
2. Eat a cake pan of brownie full of x-laxs when I was a new private.
3. Conducted the "BOOM CHECK" in front of the BN commander on Friday motor pool close out.
4. Was so bad, my chief made me dig a powder pit out side the position during Desert shield, Chief of Staff of the Army landed his Helicopter by my powder pit, and I challenged him and his staff before they walked into our position.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 30 at 2016 2:55 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 14:55:12 -0500

Reporting late to work............three days in a row. What can I say, I like my sleep.

Response by SFC James Myers made Nov 30 at 2016 4:14 PM

SFC James Myers — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 16:14:04 -0500

Dbl arm intervals for police call of a damn field three times

Response by MCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 30 at 2016 4:26 PM

MCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 16:26:10 -0500

Coming back in the service after a break, getting my orders changed from 10th Mountain Division to 2nd ID in Korea. While still on curfew, I had my first (and only) Soju experience.

I come to in the MP station with my Platoon Sergeant looking at me. I had been picked up trying to break into our chow-hall walk-in cooler with my e-tool... all while dressed in a pile cap, with camo all over my face (and glasses!!), a black karate gi top, and my BDU pants that were bloused into jungle boots. Not a good way to impress Top and the commander in my first two weeks in Korea.

I still managed to show up as a PFC, and leave as an E-4(P) that made E-5 three weeks after leaving. I still don't know how I did that...

Response by SSG Kurt Edwards made May 22 at 2017 10:02 AM

SSG Kurt Edwards — Mon, 22 May 2017 10:02:53 -0400

Accepting a medical discharge instead of fighting it so I could accept my orders to go to CID.

Response by MSG Frank Kapaun made Feb 4 at 2018 2:19 PM

MSG Frank Kapaun — Sun, 04 Feb 2018 14:19:18 -0500

1. I married an army Nurse Corps Captain.
2. I had two children with said Captain.
3. I waited until after we had two children wit said Captain to divorce her ass.

Response by SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA made Feb 4 at 2018 5:00 PM

SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA — Sun, 04 Feb 2018 17:00:37 -0500

I've edged some sidewalks with e-tools, and I've raked a lot of sand zen-style. These weren't even punishments.

Response by SFC Greg Bruorton made Feb 4 at 2018 5:30 PM

SFC Greg Bruorton — Sun, 04 Feb 2018 17:30:03 -0500

I was working the day shift in a Communications Center on Fort Bragg as the shift supervisor, commonly called a "trick chief." Through the center walked about seven E7s with a major behind them and into an adjoining office. I got to wondering about the purpose of the meeting and why I wasn't invited.

I figured the noise and clatter of teletypes and message clerks would muffle my gripes and groanings on why I was excluded from the meeting, but my voice must have carried well. After the meeting, the major called me into the office and gave me a royal-butt chewing--one that I found so humiliating it left me speechless. I learned a valuable lesson from this experience--keep my mouth shut despite what I may think because the answers weren't there--and evidently not my business.

Response by Cpl Scott McCarroll made Feb 4 at 2018 5:54 PM

Cpl Scott McCarroll — Sun, 04 Feb 2018 17:54:44 -0500

I was at 29 Stumps. I was a PFC and walking past the commissary when a lady called me over (I saw a blue sticker on the bumper) I asked her how I could help her, and let her know that I was going to my class. She then basically ordered me to put her groceries in her car. Of course I was late to my class. When I got there the Gunny asked me why I was late, I told him what had happened. Apparently this was not the first time. So I just caught up and figured that it was done, a week or so later,as we were getting out of class to go to chow, the Gunny came over and told me to report to the Base Commanders office, by the time I got there I was wondering WTF did I do. The XO told me to report to the Commander. I was sweating bullets as I walked in to his office and in my very best Boot Camp voice reported. He told me to stand at ease. This was about the time I saw that the lady who I had helped was in the office. He said to her you have something to say to the PFC. She apologized, I was sent on my way, however I heard him putting her place and that because she was his wife did not in any way shape or form give her the Authority to boss people around. I did miss chow but had a grin on my face for the rest of the day.

Response by CPT Griff Tatum made Feb 4 at 2018 10:07 PM

CPT Griff Tatum — Sun, 04 Feb 2018 22:07:31 -0500

Having to square away service members that know right from wrong, that just chose to take the wrong. Duties will be duties but in the end it is a business of people and they can be the most aggravating part of it all.

Response by CPL Mark Andersen made Feb 5 at 2018 4:44 PM

CPL Mark Andersen — Mon, 05 Feb 2018 16:44:41 -0500

As a young PV2 who thought he knew everything - I told an E-5, "No," when he ordered me to watch the CQ desk while he ate lunch. After two weeks I was a professional rock painter, with two more weeks of extra duty to go.

Response by SFC Francisco Rosario made Feb 5 at 2018 4:49 PM

SFC Francisco Rosario — Mon, 05 Feb 2018 16:49:00 -0500

Went to buy beer after a few too many with my buddy who drove to the shoppette. And then I watched him urinate inside the walk-in cooler at the 24hr shoppette at Ft. Bragg. He got arrested and the MPs gave me the keys to the car after I paid for the beer. The MP asked me, have you been drinking? I said yes, he then said ok, here are the keys go back to the barracks and stay out of trouble. A few minutes later im being pulled over by the same MP and he asked me, have you been drinking? I said to him, “I told you that I had been drinking when you gave me the keys to the car”. He said I know, I screwed up and just came to help you back to the barracks, you are not in trouble so don’t worry. This was in 1989, it was a different Army back then. NEVER did it again.

Response by SGT Aric Lier made Feb 5 at 2018 6:08 PM

SGT Aric Lier — Mon, 05 Feb 2018 18:08:49 -0500

I was walking across the street when this lady about hits me... Im like watch where you're going ya stupid Beach.... she gets out and berates me after about hitting me... " do you know who I am?? Im General so and so wife!!! I asked her do you know who I am??? she was like well no I said Good STFU! and left.... go ahead 6 months I meet a girl at the club ... we date... I liked her!! she takes me home to meet the parents and who do I see....

Response by SPC Gary Snowden made Feb 8 at 2018 9:35 PM

SPC Gary Snowden — Thu, 08 Feb 2018 21:35:52 -0500

Short round over Ft Sill firing range got us all in trouble on the Gun , lit up I40 well though. Wasn’t totally our fault bad batch fuses

Response by SSG Julius H. made Apr 18 at 2018 11:35 AM

SSG Julius H. — Wed, 18 Apr 2018 11:35:54 -0400

Kosovo 05...the photo speaks for itself