Sergeant Major Diverts Surveillance Drone To Check For Uniform Violations

2015-10-29T10:42:00-04:00

From Duffel Blog:

The air is hot and stuffy inside the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) ground control trailer at FOB Masum Ghar, located in the heart of southern Afghanistan. Two soldiers from the 205th Military Intelligence Company deftly pilot their unmanned aerial vehicle over the wastes of the Panjwai District searching for targets, while Brigade Sgt. Maj. Steve Knott vigilantly watches over their shoulders.

The tension lining the men’s faces is a visible reminder of how stressful their three-month tour has been. The UAV crew has been tasked with overwatching a company of infantry, silently moving through the fields and grape-rows surrounding a high value target compound and preparing for their assault. In the trailer, Knott is straining his eyes, looking for anything out of the ordinary, no easy task given the grainy resolution of the screens.

Suddenly the sergeant major leans forward and jubilantly shouts, “Right there!” before jabbing his finger at the screen. The air is electric with excitement, and the pilots deftly reorient the drone’s cameras to focus on their prey.

Thousands of feet below the aircraft, the image clears to reveal Private First Class Todd Armstrong. The soldier is struggling to climb over a low wall that had just been cleared for IEDs, pulling security with his M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW), and simultaneously maintaining a low silhouette while carrying almost 70 lbs of gear.

The soldier’s boots are unbloused. Additionally, it appears that one of the sleeves on his combat uniform was rolled to allow better access to his wrist-mounted GPS.

Knott smiles a wolfish grin and sprints out of the trailer into the main BDE Tactical Operations Center, grabbing a hand-mic from the nearest radio operator and declaring, “We got another one!”

After calling the company commander on the ground and ordering him to halt his men in place, the sergeant major begins a hasty lecture about uniform standards and the dangers of improper supervision by leaders. He also tells his UAV operators to swoop even lower in their search for infractions.

Approximately 15 minutes into the sergeant major’s tirade, as the aircraft continues to buzz loudly over the stalled infantry, the unit commander interrupts the transmission to report that they had been compromised and were currently receiving heavy small arms and RPG fire.
“Roger, understand ‘troops in contact,'” Knott tells the commander. “But let me just add that you need to inspect your soldiers better prior to going on patrol.”

As multiple medical evacuation requests began to flood the radios, Knott leaves his post to wait at the landing zone for the incoming wounded to ensure they are still wearing the proper protective gear.

The firefight lasted mere hours, but the Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) included four Field Grade Article 15’s, two Letters of Reprimand, and seventeen counseling statements. When the weary Soldiers finally returned to base, they were directed to immediately stand in a formation where Sgt. Maj. Knott received the Army Achievement Medal for his action during combat.

Read more: http://www.duffelblog.com/2014/07/sergeant-major-uav/#ixzz3py5AFrrj

“We got another one!”

Response by SFC Bhrett Sikkema made Oct 29 at 2015 11:06 AM

2015-10-29T11:06:03-04:00

The comedic relief of Duffleblog. all they left out was whether or not it was low light and if they had there PT belts on.

Response by SFC Kevin C. made Oct 29 at 2015 11:13 AM

2015-10-29T11:13:42-04:00

Damn it stop posting these stories, it is too hard to know if I'm suppose to get on my soapbox or not.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Oct 29 at 2015 11:52 AM

2015-10-29T11:52:13-04:00

In other news, all Army drones will now be equipped with intercom systems so that CSM/1SG can provide constructive feedback to those being watched.

Response by SGT Jerrold Pesz made Oct 29 at 2015 12:15 PM

2015-10-29T12:15:21-04:00

I know that this article is satire but I have unfortunately seen some "leaders" who really were that anal.

Response by SGT John Rauch made Oct 29 at 2015 12:20 PM

2015-10-29T12:20:06-04:00

this actually happens. duffle blog or not.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 29 at 2015 12:44 PM

2015-10-29T12:44:25-04:00

I thought SGM/CSMs could just simply "sense" a uniform violation? Kind of like Spider-Mans spider sense.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Oct 29 at 2015 12:53 PM

2015-10-29T12:53:16-04:00

How I love Duffel Blog and satire. It often reeks of truth!

There was this crusty old Master Chief in Hawaii who would stand on his front porch of base housing with binoculars. He would face the field where Motorcycle Safety Training took place and watch for safety violations. Once spotted he would make his way over to the field to give ass chewings.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 29 at 2015 2:25 PM

2015-10-29T14:25:06-04:00

for a second there (upon reading the below responses) I thought actually this really happened....I reckon I would have received a reprimand for saying to him, come on out there with us and receive fire and see how many uniform infractions you see in a friggin firefight 'sarge'.

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Oct 29 at 2015 2:41 PM

2015-10-29T14:41:41-04:00

I was intensely reading this until I saw the source.....almost got me...

Response by CPT Pedro Meza made Oct 29 at 2015 2:44 PM

2015-10-29T14:44:17-04:00

Please tell me that this is a joke, because if it isn't then soldiers and family members need to do their part and report and and report the MSG to all the congress people that represent soldiers and family members.

Response by TSgt Philip Howard made Oct 29 at 2015 3:43 PM

2015-10-29T15:43:12-04:00

I have had to deal with many anal retentive types who had an almost childlike glee in catching people in petty Mickey Mouse crap. Back in the day I had one overzealous NCO who would stop you in town, and make you go back to the barracks to put a belt on if your pants had belt loops. Or he would make you tuck your shirt in if it was out. Crazy stuff.

Response by SPC David Cruson made Oct 31 at 2015 12:09 PM

2015-10-31T12:09:39-04:00

Whiskey Tango Fox!! Over.

Response by SSG Howard Fair made Aug 24 at 2018 3:35 AM

2018-08-24T03:35:26-04:00

I have seen some CSM/SGM that did crap like this

Response by SGT Robert Whatley made Aug 28 at 2018 5:07 AM

2018-08-28T05:07:21-04:00

Ok is this a joke?