What are some of the best/worst ideas that the Good Idea Fairy has come with?

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 11:50:10 -0400

We have all been touched by the Good Idea fairy and every once in a while it is a legitimately a good idea but most of the time it is a failure. What are some of your experiences with ideas in the military?

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2015 11:53 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 11:53:21 -0400

While stationed in S. Korea under the 2nd Infantry Division, the outgoing General wanted to do his chain of command in full battle rattle with weapons and bayonets affixed in the middle of the day. Korea is humid and on top of everything else, it poured rain on us that day. Soldiers were dropping out everywhere, due to locked knees or the humidity, and either stabbing themselves with the bayonets or stabbing their buddies when falling. They stationed an entire company of medics behind the division to run up and grab Soldiers and drag them back to patch wounds and to give IVs.

Response by SGT John Rauch made Apr 27 at 2015 12:42 PM

SGT John Rauch — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 12:42:57 -0400

while in afghanistan, we knowingly drove our truck through a mine field. the locals told us it was a minefield, we all suspected it was a mine feild because it was a patch of flat ground with green grass, but nothing had been planted on it and the locals wouldnt go near it. I was the gunner for our LTC and told him not to go through, he said we are going through and threatened the driver with UCMJ action if he refused. luckily we were not blown up

Response by CDR Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2015 1:13 PM

CDR Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 13:13:43 -0400

During an overseas assignment the base decided that we should have a fireworks display for the 4th of July. The problem was that the host nation, which is mostly agricultural, was suffering through a fairly dry weather spell. Yes, you guessed it, the fireworks, which were launched on base, set a neighboring farmer's citrus grove on fire. Oops! $$$!

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Apr 27 at 2015 1:34 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 13:34:50 -0400

It was not that bad. For a company Christmas party I told the planning team I wanted karaoke with a gong as one aspect of our entertainment. You should try this because it was funny as hell. You will find out some people can sing, and some get gonged in 2 seconds. It was a vicious crowed as they started booing before the poor singer sung. It takes a life of its own.

Later I had to write a memorandum of record to why a military company bought a gong. I guess they accepted the purpose of the gong and nothing was further said.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2015 4:39 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 16:39:44 -0400

I was in charge of setting up a memorial ceremony for a unit on Ft Campbell. The detail i had was hard at work setting up one of our 20x40 tents, they were in the process of pulling the canopy tight and ratchet strapping it down. One of the corners didn't have quite enough slack to reach where it needed to, I turn my back for 2 minuets and here comes the good idea fairy with a sledge hammer in his hand, he proceeds the get his handy assistant to let him climb onto his shoulders chicken style. With the head of the hammer he proceeds to press against the canopy which isn't doing anything, he then proceeds to drop the hammer almost hitting his trusty assistant in the head. Then here come trusty sgt highspeed suggesting we get a broom and get two people doing this. I had to put an end to this before something bad happened.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2015 5:51 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 17:51:21 -0400

one acronym: ACU

We were doing squad exercises in dense brush, the LT was told that blank brass turn in requirement was upped from 40% to 60%... he decided that we will turn in 100%... and did I mention we started doing these a hr before dark?

Response by Sgt Ken Prescott made Jul 19 at 2015 9:31 PM

Sgt Ken Prescott — Sun, 19 Jul 2015 21:31:21 -0400

Spray-painting brown grass on the lawn in front of squadron HQ for a MCCRES. (Not an IG inspection, a MCCRES).

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 30 at 2015 12:59 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 12:59:36 -0400

The most common one that everyone in a leadership position has is; ten minutes prior to the ten minutes prior.