Posted on Dec 4, 2015
What is the funniest example of unintended consequences that you ever saw while serving?
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Okay, this is not a photo of a gecko, but it reminded me of the geckos that roamed the walls of our housing in Hawaii. Basically, geckos are unobtrusive little lizards that live on insects and are rarely annoying except during mating season when they croak like bull frogs, especially in the middle of the night. What does this have to do with unintended consequences? Well, the wife of a major who joined our group in Hawaii was terrified of them and insisted that her husband kill them all before she would move into post housing. He did and that's when they discovered the unintended consequences. Did I mention that geckos eat insects? They do and without them cockroaches become a problem. Hawaii swarms with cockroaches which only the geckos keep under control.
I also had my run in with them that led to other "unintended consequences". A "friend" told me that cockroaches would infest my car and eat the insulation off wiring as well as the stuffing in the seats. Thus I would be well advised to keep moth balls under my floor mat to keep the cockroaches away. It worked. But it also kept me away. Can you imagine the smell inside a closed car baking under the tropical sun with moth balls inside?
Too often, unintended consequences are tragic. We've all suffered them because of bad command decisions. These were just humorous. Hopefully you had some of your own and can share them. We all need a laugh. I live near San Bernardino and could really use a laugh about now.
I'm laughing just thinking about what might have happened if the major's wife had awakened one night and found this fellow clinging to her wall...
I also had my run in with them that led to other "unintended consequences". A "friend" told me that cockroaches would infest my car and eat the insulation off wiring as well as the stuffing in the seats. Thus I would be well advised to keep moth balls under my floor mat to keep the cockroaches away. It worked. But it also kept me away. Can you imagine the smell inside a closed car baking under the tropical sun with moth balls inside?
Too often, unintended consequences are tragic. We've all suffered them because of bad command decisions. These were just humorous. Hopefully you had some of your own and can share them. We all need a laugh. I live near San Bernardino and could really use a laugh about now.
I'm laughing just thinking about what might have happened if the major's wife had awakened one night and found this fellow clinging to her wall...
Posted in these groups: 
HumorConsequence Management Assistance Team Training
Military Life
Housing
Dependents
HumorConsequence Management Assistance Team Training Military Life Housing Dependents
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 9
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If I tell you, do you promise not to tell anyone?
We were in Berlin for combat in cities training. The final day, we have the big offensive. At the end, we were all in mopp 4. We were sitting around waiting for all clear. The East Germans were watching us over the Berlin Wall. Some of the guys in my squad were annoyed. I said,"who cares, let 'me watch." The guys got paranoid. So (as a joke to create levity) I said," you know what we should do? We should moon them." I no sooner finished speaking and everyone stood up in unison and dropped trou. The East Germans have cameras inside those guard towers and took a picture of our bare asses. The day we left, the commander held up a picture and chewed out the battalion. Oops!
We were in Berlin for combat in cities training. The final day, we have the big offensive. At the end, we were all in mopp 4. We were sitting around waiting for all clear. The East Germans were watching us over the Berlin Wall. Some of the guys in my squad were annoyed. I said,"who cares, let 'me watch." The guys got paranoid. So (as a joke to create levity) I said," you know what we should do? We should moon them." I no sooner finished speaking and everyone stood up in unison and dropped trou. The East Germans have cameras inside those guard towers and took a picture of our bare asses. The day we left, the commander held up a picture and chewed out the battalion. Oops!
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SGT John Graham
SGT Kevin Hughes - Very immature. Did the Battalion C.O. hold an inspection to identify those involved? Imagine that picture in the unit history. This is a non-incident. Most veterans have mooned somebody I would wager. Difference is most will admit it...if forced to.
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Base commander decides to kill the local "pests" (some small annoying bird) who terrorize the skies with their mere presents. He kills them with poison.
Thousands of dead birds lying everywhere. Road, dorm roofs, cars, you name it, a dead bird prolly touched it. Oh, and the funny thing is: it was because his "commander car" was always parked under a tree near command post.
Motive found.
Mission failure
Thousands of dead birds lying everywhere. Road, dorm roofs, cars, you name it, a dead bird prolly touched it. Oh, and the funny thing is: it was because his "commander car" was always parked under a tree near command post.
Motive found.
Mission failure
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Out in the box at Ft Irwin, one of the other 12B in my company had walked off to some rocks to perform a Class 1 download. About 2 minutes later he came running tearing as* back to the vehicles and jumped onto the hood of a vehicle. Right behind him chasing Green Mojave snake.
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