What's the weirdest thing you've seen in the Military?

[Squid]

I've often wondered why AFROTC kids on campus are wearing flight suits to class.

it's not only for pilots, it's for ANYONE in a flying billet (i know a tube rat in E-3's that did that her last semester of college), missileers maybe too!

 

[Future Herc Driver]

The missile dopes wear flight suits too, dont know why either. They are also trying to get their own version of "wings" to replace the pocket rocket they currently wear.

 

[Mayday]

Couple of the strangest things I ever saw in the military...

1. A Navy LT chewing a young Marine's ass for failing to salute him (a Marine missing a salute? A squid caring?? No offense to anyone...)
2. A USMC Ch-53 being unloaded from a Ruskie Antonov AN-124 (See pics below.)
3. A Marine F/A-18 refueling from a civilian 747.
4. Three full-bird Colonels in the USAF processing and carrying my bags to the plane when MAC-flighting as a Lance Corporal. I was horrified and pleaded with them to let me carry my own stuff, to which one replied "Son, this is my only job today, let me do it..."

 

[smittyrunr]

it's not only for pilots, it's for ANYONE in a flying billet (i know a tube rat in E-3's that did that her last semester of college), missileers maybe too!

UAV guys, too... and I hear they all have to have current flight physicals

 

[Gatordev]

Couple of the strangest things I ever saw in the military...

2. A USMC Ch-53 being unloaded from a Ruskie Antonov AN-124 (See pics below.)

Hey Mayday, was this about two weeks ago? I saw the Anatov over there and wondered what the hell it was doing there, but I had to fly to the boat, so I ran out of time to go look. Interesting. We've loaded some of our -60s on a C-5, but never w/ the Ruskies.

As for O-6s doing the dirty work... After I got commissioned, my CO at the NROTC unit (O-6 P-3 FO) caught a ride up to D.C. for the day from his O-6 buddy who was the CO of the VP RAG (the actual flight was a training hop/out and in). Another ENS and I were invited along for the flight. We landed at Andrews where the Air Farce had a mini-van waiting for the Captains. I wanted to go visit the Air and Space Museum, and the closest Metro station was the Pentagon, so the plan was one of the O-6s would drive the rest of us, drop me off at the Pentagon, and they'd take off and do what they needed. So here's two Captains in the front seat, and two Ensigns in the back. We roll up to the Pentagon where two Army Majors were standing, and they see two O-6s in the van and an Ensign (me) who hops out, and says, "Okay, sir. I'll come back here and you can pick me up in 4 hours." The look on the Majors' faces as I saluted them walking by was priceless.

 

[illinijoe05]

Couple of the strangest things I ever saw in the military...

1. A Navy LT chewing a young Marine's ass for failing to salute him (a Marine missing a salute? A squid caring?? No offense to anyone...)
QUOTE]Although this is a second hand story....
My friend (usmc 2nd Lt) was walking back from the pool while at TBS in civies, when an Academy Midn Greeted him with "Good Afternnoon, Private" the 2nd Lt just kept walking but to his surpirse heard the MIDN turn around and say "Private, I am a Midshipman, do you know what that means...?" The 2nd Lt smirks and says "No, what does it mean" The Mid follows with "It means that you show me proper respect by greeting me correctly and adress me as sir" An ass chewing and a lot of apologizing ensued.

 

[Mayday]

Hey Mayday, was this about two weeks ago? I saw the Anatov over there and wondered what the hell it was doing there, but I had to fly to the boat, so I ran out of time to go look. Interesting. We've loaded some of our -60s on a C-5, but never w/ the Ruskies.

Actually, this was maybe 4 or 5 years ago. I've learned since then that the Air Farce is charging so much for C-5 transport (well, the tasking of C-5's is so difficult these days too, of course), that many units of Uncle Sam's Misguided Children find it cheaper and more convenient to contract the Ruskies. In fact, they [the Russians] are desperate enough for funding that they're willing bargain with the C.O.'s of individual units just to guarantee a contract of shipment - read, talk 'em down as low as you want. So, we'll probably be seeing it more and more as word gets around the upper levels.

The Mid follows with "It means that you show me proper respect by greeting me correctly and adress me as sir" An ass chewing and a lot of apologizing ensued.

Reminds me of once (back before there was dirt, I swear) when I was either a PFC or LCpl in P-Cola and saluted a Navy candidate on the way into the NEX because I didn't notice the little golden bar was a little smaller than an Ensign's. Unfortunately for him the candidate did me one better by saluting me back, the poor dumbass. The GySgt behind him with the telltale Smokey Bear saw the whole affair and, ignoring me, lit into him for the error. "Oh, you wanna salute 'Trees' do you? Who the hell do you think you are?!..."
When I walked back out more than a few minutes later the candidate was still there, apparently left for some defined amount of time, standing at the POA and repeatedly saluting trees - of the literal sort...

 

[Gatordev]

Ahh, okay. From the pics, that looked like K-bay, so I was assuming it was the other day. The whole "Cost-wise readiness" argument for using them makes sense.

 

[peanut3479]

it's not only for pilots, it's for ANYONE in a flying billet (i know a tube rat in E-3's that did that her last semester of college), missileers maybe too!

It's definitely not just flying billets. I did my pre-application flight physical at the AF base in my hometown, and the enlisted personnel working at the aerospace medicine unit were wearing flight suits...

 

[esday1]

Reminds me of once (back before there was dirt, I swear) when I was either a PFC or LCpl in P-Cola and saluted a Navy candidate on the way into the NEX because I didn't notice the little golden bar was a little smaller than an Ensign's.

Similar story, my first salute, five weeks or so before getting my commission:

I was in the summer PLC-combined (10-week) class, so halfway through our class the new batch of 6-week PLC candidates come on deck. It happened that I had the Candidate Platoon Commander billet a couple of days after the 6-week candidates picked up, so I had on 2d lt's bars on top of those dorky red felt things on my collar. One of the juniors saluted me while we were running up the ladderwell and they were running down. I didn't return it, just hoped like hell for both of our sakes that no staff members had seen it.

 

[etnuclearsailor]

Couple of the strangest things I ever saw in the military...

1. A Navy LT chewing a young Marine's ass for failing to salute him (a Marine missing a salute? A squid caring?? No offense to anyone...)
QUOTE]Although this is a second hand story....
My friend (usmc 2nd Lt) was walking back from the pool while at TBS in civies, when an Academy Midn Greeted him with "Good Afternnoon, Private" the 2nd Lt just kept walking but to his surpirse heard the MIDN turn around and say "Private, I am a Midshipman, do you know what that means...?" The 2nd Lt smirks and says "No, what does it mean" The Mid follows with "It means that you show me proper respect by greeting me correctly and adress me as sir" An ass chewing and a lot of apologizing ensued.

What the crap are they teaching at the Academy these days???? As an Officer Candidate, I do not expect to be addressed as sir or saluted, and I would NEVER chew any enlisted person for something as lame as that. Good grief...

 

[etnuclearsailor]

Actually, this was maybe 4 or 5 years ago. I've learned since then that the Air Farce is charging so much for C-5 transport (well, the tasking of C-5's is so difficult these days too, of course), that many units of Uncle Sam's Misguided Children find it cheaper and more convenient to contract the Ruskies. In fact, they [the Russians] are desperate enough for funding that they're willing bargain with the C.O.'s of individual units just to guarantee a contract of shipment - read, talk 'em down as low as you want. So, we'll probably be seeing it more and more as word gets around the upper levels.



Reminds me of once (back before there was dirt, I swear) when I was either a PFC or LCpl in P-Cola and saluted a Navy candidate on the way into the NEX because I didn't notice the little golden bar was a little smaller than an Ensign's. Unfortunately for him the candidate did me one better by saluting me back, the poor dumbass. The GySgt behind him with the telltale Smokey Bear saw the whole affair and, ignoring me, lit into him for the error. "Oh, you wanna salute 'Trees' do you? Who the hell do you think you are?!..."
When I walked back out more than a few minutes later the candidate was still there, apparently left for some defined amount of time, standing at the POA and repeatedly saluting trees - of the literal sort...

So would the proper response to an errant salute be to not salute back?
Everyone should be taught that an anchor on the cap means a chief, midshipman or officer candidate. The lesson should go: "Squid OFFICERS look like this:..."

 

[Dunedan]

Way back in a past life I was enlisted in the USAF. As an airman, I was on the "halls and walls" rotation where, when it was your turn, you'd spend a day cleaning, mopping, etc...

Anyway, I got to mow the lawn around the shop one day, and as there was quite a bit of lawn, we had a riding lawnmower. While mowing, I was smoking a cigarette. So this Major that I don't know from Adam, was driving by, stopped his car, got out, and chewed my a$$ for smoking in a government vehicle. That's definitely the strangest chewing out I ever got...

I'm glad the Navy's not nearly as anal as the Air Force...

 

[Dunedan]

So would the proper response to an errant salute be to not salute back?
Everyone should be taught that an anchor on the cap means a chief, midshipman or officer candidate. The lesson should go: "Squid OFFICERS look like this:..."

I realize that the rules in OCS are different, but it's my understanding that anyone in uniform may, if they choose, salute anyone else (regardless of rank). Any comments on this?

 

[nittany03]

I realize that the rules in OCS are different, but it's my understanding that anyone in uniform may, if they choose, salute anyone else (regardless of rank). Any comments on this?

I thought that as well, and it's also tradition that all ranks salute a Medal of Honor winner, no matter what their rank.