What are your biggest "Lieutenant mistakes" that you made as a Lieutenant?

2016-01-27T21:58:57-05:00

So i was hoping this would be a fun thread for Officers of RallyPoint. We all made some big mistakes as Lieutenants (and maybe are still making them), and here is a place to share. Some of them probably felt like a big deal at the time, but maybe now you can laugh about them.

I'll start. I was an XO as a second lieutenant. My unit had 12 MK19 mounts for gun trucks, thing was, we didn't have MK19s. So my commander tasked me to turn them in. So, I did the paperwork, coordinated with DRMO, and turned them in (all without disposition orders). When we took the paperwork to PBO to post it, the PBO wanted to know why we turned in 33,000 dollars worth of MTOE equipment (not to us, CTA to us, but MTOE to other units in the BDE). It got pretty tense, and the commander and BDE 4 got involved. And eventually it settled down...

Response by LTC Yinon Weiss made Jan 27 at 2016 10:10 PM

2016-01-27T22:10:42-05:00

As a very junior and proud 2nd Lieutenant, I drove to the PX to get some gear. I couldn't find much parking, but luckily for me there was an empty parking spot right near the door. When I parked I saw a sign "General Officer", and thought "great, this is a parking spot for all officers", as in "any officer." So I parked my car (in uniform) walked in, did my shopping, and walked right back out to my car and left. Got some strange look but didn't think twice about it. Soon after that I learned that "General Officer" meant officers of the General rank (i.e. O-7 and above). I was mortified and paranoid about ever going back to that PX again.

Response by CPT Enrique M. made Jan 27 at 2016 10:33 PM

2016-01-27T22:33:27-05:00

I'll tell you when I make one, I just started.. can't wait to go look for chemlight batteries and boxes of grid squares.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 27 at 2016 11:31 PM

2016-01-27T23:31:35-05:00

It was the middle of the night at FOB Kalsu and we were loading up for another convoy escort mission. Having been on the road for several days already and dead tired, I somehow lost my soft cap. To this day I don't know where it went. The only thing I can come up with is that when I put my body armor on I left it sitting on the truck somewhere. I felt pretty damn stupid walking around with my ACH on when we got to the next FOB. Thankfully I only had to walk from the motorpool to the CHUs.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 28 at 2016 8:48 AM

2016-01-28T08:48:14-05:00

I'm guessing "Ensign Mistakes" count as well? Shortly after reporting to the TRAWING, I was walking to the VT offices (and not wearing my eye glasses-trying to look "cool" and avoid the SNFO ridicule) and saw an obviously senior person in khaki approaching from about ten paces away. All I could see was gold shinning on their collar and at six paces, rendered my best hand salute for the "lieutenant commander" I thought I was passing...the Chief was gracious enough to return the salute before saying, "Thank you...sir" with a knowing smile. I about wet my pants as I tried to make my apologies. He pulled me aside and suggested I look at the cover first...If I didn't see a device on both sides, stow the salute, and simply greet the NCO and hope I had enough sense to make out a Master Chief if I was unlucky enough to cross one.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 28 at 2016 9:34 AM

2016-01-28T09:34:02-05:00

I was an OCS graduate with 13 years prior service and then went into DCP, so I showed up to my first unit as a 1LT. They were down range for 4 months already when I caught up with them. I don't know if this is a mistake, but I can remember my BN CDR saying, "I'm sending you down to Mahmudiyah to work with the Iraqi Police. At least I know I won't have to worry about you getting killed."

I remember thinking: He either doesn't care about the new LT's life or he somehow thinks my CIB has magical powers to keep me from getting shot or blown up. That stuck with me for almost the whole deployment, until he chased me all over the country (I found out later) to pin a CAB on me. He told me he knew I would have a level head in the heat of battle. I got so offended by what he said, I couldn't see how simple his thought process was. It made me realize that the things I say may make sense in my head, but it doesn't always get received the way I intended it and my subordinates are not going to speak up voluntarily. I make it a point to get feedback on what I said to make sure it is understood and that I don't offend (when I don't mean to).

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 28 at 2016 10:34 AM

2016-01-28T10:34:06-05:00

As a 2LT in a CPT position (SQDN S1), I made plenty of mistakes, but the one I repeated most was tasking people to provide information without going through the S-3 shop. Our XO, MAJ Matthew Savoie, a great mentor, finally threatened to remove a certain portion of my anatomy if I did it again. I got the point and changed my ways quickly.

Response by MAJ Glenn Bergeron made Jan 28 at 2016 12:29 PM

2016-01-28T12:29:42-05:00

Convincing our vehicle driver to let me drive :) Caption reads: Oct 1992 D/1-325 D-40 gets mired. Driver - 1LT Bergeron TC - SPC Lasher

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 28 at 2016 1:50 PM

2016-01-28T13:50:13-05:00

So I was a a medical platoon leader and when I learned my platoon Sgt was training the battalion on "advanced lifesaving techniques" I thought hell yeah that's good stuff. What I didn't know was he was doing live tissue training using a FAST 1 on a Soldier. It's a device that implants a small surgical steel port into the sternum to allow quick delivery of fluids. Everything was going great until the device got stuck in the guy's chest and Next thing you know I was standing tall before the man. Should of lost my job, BC chewed me out, dusted me off, and sent me back to work. Better to be lucky than good I suppose.

Response by Maj John Bell made Jan 28 at 2016 2:09 PM

2016-01-28T14:09:57-05:00

As company XO at Camp Pendleton, ordered air support (helo extraction from the field) on the last day of the fiscal year. Company Commander on leave during the week in question. They didn't say "no!" at the air conference. But HMM didn't have money for fuel on the day in question (NEVER DO ANYTHING THAT COST LOTS OF MONEY LAST TWO WEEKS OF THE FISCAL YEAR) . Left the field with a raw 2ndLt in charge while I went to Battalion to sort things out. Tried Motor T, they didn't have the fuel either. Before it was all over, the division CG was yelling at the wing CG. Helos launched. The raw 2ndLt couldn't find the LZ. Weather closed in. The Company was stranded in the field as far as you can be (about 30 miles, have to go around impact area). End result: Battalion Commander pulled out his American express and fueled up three trucks at the MCX fuel station While standing in front of the Division CG, Wing CG, Regimental CO, and Battalion CO they asked what I learned from this. My first unfortunate response was to laugh (nervous laughter, but they didn't see it that way). That laugh was my biggest screw up as a 2ndLt. It was UGLY. Fortunately, none of those fine gentleman did any permanent damage to my career. Ran into the Division CG later after he had retired. He explained that the chain-of command all went to the club afterwards and had a good laugh at my expense.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jan 28 at 2016 5:59 PM

2016-01-28T17:59:36-05:00

I found out 70 Tanks do fly. errrrrrrrrrrrrr twice even! I yelled brace! Then the crew got mad hahahaha

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 30 at 2016 12:04 PM

2016-01-30T12:04:04-05:00

So that saying, "listen to and trust your NCO's?" That is true just as much as you should listen to and trust your fellow peer officers. There are good and bad apples in each group and I learned very quickly that there is an even better saying to live by: "trust but verify." That goes for enlisted, NCO's, officers, and civilians. One of my first experiences as an officer included NCO's lying about what training was completed, and then my PSG and myself looking like fools when the same "trained" enlisted Soldiers looked dumbfounded when we went to demonstrate that training in front of higher. Obviously it did not go over well for the leadership but it was a needed learning experience.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 17 at 2016 12:23 PM

2016-02-17T12:23:21-05:00

One of my Old LT did was Open the Ramp of a BRADLY in a Sand Storm, We could not Close the Gate After... Next day and all DAY.........Shoveling Sand Out the Vehicle...........

Response by SGT Richard Genberg Jr. made Feb 22 at 2016 2:21 PM

2016-02-22T14:21:34-05:00

Train up in Bliss for Iraq rotation, our PL was a Taiwanese immigrant with a heavy accent, and self admitted to not being a tactical genius or great with the English language. During the route recon training we passed a possible VBIED and called it out. Right after that cadre set off the simulated VBIED. As every VC reaches for the radio to call it out, over the air the LT says "The car, it have fireworks!!" He never lived it down...

Response by MCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 22 at 2016 3:07 PM

2016-02-22T15:07:00-05:00

Can an enlisted guy report one he witnessed?

It's 0600 hours, all roads on the map go either N-S or E-W... no variation on that. The sun is BLASTING us in the eyes. The Infantry LT made me get out of the jeep (yeah, it was a while ago...) to shoot an azimuth to ensure we were heading East.

"Sir... it's dawn... the roads go straight... the sun's in our eyes... can't you figure it out?"

I damned near made E-4 on that field problem... and I went out as an E-5!!!

Response by MSgt Rob Weston made Feb 22 at 2016 3:08 PM

2016-02-22T15:08:50-05:00

At a Wing Leaders call, I $h!t you not the you 2Lt said "in my experience" to the gazes of ever SNCO and officers Capt and above looking in disbelief that the you Lt actually said it and in a serious manner.

Response by 1LT Richard C. made Feb 22 at 2016 3:33 PM

2016-02-22T15:33:46-05:00

While working in the State Logistics Office, I packed up a bunch of handouts and reports to drive to a training site to help set up for a day of classes. Twenty minutes into my hour long drive, I receive a call to go back to the office and pickup another box of 'stuff' one of the other officers left behind.

How I exceeded the posted speed limit in the little green K car, I will never know. I made it to the class before the start time proud of my efforts. Only to have my Colonel pull me to the side and remind me that while operating a government vehicle, I was not to bring discredit to the military. I had passed him on the way at a 'high' rate of speed. Lesson learned.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 22 at 2016 8:35 PM

2016-02-22T20:35:17-05:00

My time as a LT was in a squadron that had so many LTs that any mistakes were overlooked or over shadowed by the guys with no prior service. We had 53 officers and almost all were LTs.

Response by SSgt Christopher Brose made Feb 23 at 2016 1:24 AM

2016-02-23T01:24:34-05:00

I hope I'm not committing an unpardonable faux pas by telling another lieutenant's story, but it's funny, so here goes.

My unit got a day at the grenade range on Camp Lejeune in the late 1990's. Perhaps about 20% of us actually got to throw a grenade that day. I was still practicing with dummy grenades when we were all told to go back to the unit.

You know how they stress safety at these things, right? Well, a young lieutenant couldn't help himself, and he poked his head over the berm to watch someone thrown a grenade. He caught a small piece of shrapnel in his neck -- not enough to actually injure him, but enough to draw blood and be noticed. Unfortunately for everyone else, he was the range safety officer, so we lost our safety officer, our medic, and our ambulance, all in one motion. Range closed.

For a couple of days after that, he had a bandaid over his adam's apple. I was SOOOOOOO tempted to ask him if he cut himself shaving, but I chickened out.

Response by SSG Nick Tramontano made Feb 23 at 2016 1:35 AM

2016-02-23T01:35:47-05:00

Response by 1LT Aaron Barr made Feb 23 at 2016 11:29 AM

2016-02-23T11:29:47-05:00

Couple of fun ones. First, I was buying some uniform articles after being commissioned and would've walked out of the clothing store with a GO's green cover had not the nice lady clerk there set me straight.

Second, while on battalion staff duty on the day my outgoing BC was having a party for the officers, I was tasked with bringing a keg from the officers club to his hooch. Being in Korea, we had no POVs so I had to use the battalion staff duty Humvee. Being as I was not permitted to drive as an officer, I had to buckle the keg into the back seat. We then drove past the battalion end of day formation with the keg in the back seat and visible for all. The XO was not pleased.

Third, and this one is anecdotal but a brother officer of mine talked about how he'd ordered a new PVT to find him a box of grid squares and the new PVT looked in the battalion HQ. The BC saw this and ordered the offending LT to get a box of old maps, cut out the grids with the little plastic scissors you get in kindergarten, and box them in a shoebox.

Response by CPT John Sheridan made Jun 22 at 2016 1:18 PM

2016-06-22T13:18:41-04:00

Preparing for deployment to Desert Shield, my company was the first from 2AD to deploy. I was the XO. We had a very short time to get everything ready to haul down to the Port of Houston. In the motor pool, preparing to deploy, and I see what I really didn't need at the moment. Four vehicles, the lead one with a little red flag with a star on it. I thought "crap! I really don't have time for this."

It was the ADC-S with the DISCOM Commander, Division G-4, and one of the FSB commanders. They were doing a tour of motor pools for deploying units. As soon as they got out of the vehicles, the General gave us the "as you were". He asked me how things were going and against my better judgement, I replied "not good sir, there's a lot of things we need that no one seems to have." I was pissed off at all of the various folks that were holding back on us.

The general asked "what do you need?" So, in an effort to get it over with, I started to go through my unprioritized list starting with a bunch of hand tools. He assigned each of the LTC/COL to get me what I needed. I was a little stunned. He and his Aide were the only one's left. Without prompting, said "Sir, I also need a power pack for one of our recon tracks, but third shop says there aren't any on post." His aide was looking at me with a look on his face that said "are you out of your f---ing mind?" The general asked "Lieutenant, don't you think a pack is a little more important than hand tools?". I paused and said "yes sir". He got in his vehicle and left.

About thirty minutes later, he returned with a third shop contact team and a pack.

Response by CPT John Sheridan made Jun 26 at 2016 8:10 PM

2016-06-26T20:10:32-04:00

This one wasn't me, but rather a friend and fellow 2LT. My battalion 5/20 Mechanized Infantry was on DMZ tour for 90 days during the summer of 1988. My buddy was platoon leader and commander at Guard Post Oullette. GP Oullette was in the US Sector right next to the Military Demarcation Line, up the hill and east of Panmunjom. It was continually staffed by an Infantry platoon, FA forward observer team, and an MI sensor team.

On the Guard Post, disassembled in crates, was a a few crew served weapons (M-2 and M-60's). Crew served weapons and automatic weapons were prohibited in the DMZ. Only MP's with semi-automatic weapons were allowed. We all wore MP arm bands and kept our selector switches on safe or semi. As long as the other weapons were kept disassembled and crated, they technically were not weapons.

My buddy's company commander told him to clean the weapons in the crates. He didn't understand and had his guys take them out and set them up. The NKPA guards filmed it and next thing we knew, the North Koreans filed a protest and called for an UNC-MAC meeting. To his credit, our battalion commander fought for the 2LT, but there was a matter of a bird and two stars that thought otherwise.

A few months later, my buddy PCS'd with his GO letter of reprimand to Fort Sill for a TRADOC assignment. I think being an Infantry LT as an assistant S-3 in an Field Artillery training brigade, wasn't considered a prime job. A couple of years later, he was invited to accept a reserve commission and go home. He did make 1LT, but I think that was because no one in his new command knew they weren't supposed to.

Response by CPO Randy Francis made Jun 27 at 2016 10:36 AM

2016-06-27T10:36:51-04:00

I had a friend who joined the Navy after medical school and he related this story to me. When he was graduating from OCS or whatever they call knife & fork school for doctors, one of his classmates went down to the Navy Exchange just prior to graduation. At the NavEx he purchased his dress uniform, except it was the one in the catalog - exactly the one in the catalog - which turned out to be a full commander's uniform. Cover, ribbons, SWO pin, and sword of a full commander. The morning of graduation the LT shows up in the passageway in his new uniform to the absolute dismay of his classmates. He was laughing as he told me the story and every time I was able to get him to repeat it to others he could never finish the story without busting out laughing. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why the Navy has Chiefs.

Response by SGT Paul Fraser made Jun 28 at 2016 12:39 PM

2016-06-28T12:39:59-04:00

Infantry Survival Training we had a 2LT demonstrate how to kill a Viper Snake by snapping it like a whip breaking the neck at it's weakest point behind the head. He used a Pine Snake (we were in Georgia) for demonstration and after snapping the snake he continued on with his talk still holding the snake by it's tail until it reached up and bit him on the hand................ Needless to say there were a few laughs from the students!

Response by SFC James Smith made Jun 28 at 2016 12:49 PM

2016-06-28T12:49:00-04:00

I was a infantry rifle platoon sgt in the the 82nd around 1975. We would typically get a fresh batch of recently graduated butter bars from West Point ... kinda like Spring rains. These guys were sharp and pretty and full if piss and vinegar. Unfortunately, they had no way to express their ferocity. I get my new guy. He was about 6'5", OCS and unpretty. He looked like a duck out of water. BUT, he was also calm and cool to the stress of trying to train our new volunteer Army. While several of these guys had all the answers, my Lt knew there were things to be learned in the real world.
One day I ask ... why he was such a good leader relative to others with more and better preparation. He was reluctant to answer, but I got a touch assertive. He explained he had been an enlisted PO Seabee. His platoon was assigned to clear off a hilltop for an arty firebase. There were guarded by a Marine rifle platoon. The hilltop was in growing danger of being surrounded by a larger force of VC/NVA. The Marine Lt looks around, assesses the situation and issues the order you might expect ... fix bayonets.
However, this command was quickly followed by ... we're getting outta here! The hilltop was abandoned, Tac air was called in and they returned to finish the firebase. The lesson ... accomplish the mission and take care of the welfare of the men.
Much more funny when watching my fellow platoon sergeants herd their kittens who often lost their mittens.

Response by CMSgt Bill Hamilton made Jun 28 at 2016 12:57 PM

2016-06-28T12:57:26-04:00

At one time in an Air Force long ago (LOL), there was a parking spot at the Officer Club's next to the Wing Commander and Vice Commander marked "Any 2nd Lt". This was started when General Curtis LeMay became CINC. He said when he was a 2Lt he could never find a parking spot at the O-Club and he wanted to have one for his 2Lt's. Now days we have one "All Ranks" club in the AF as the Airman, NCO and Officer's Clubs have been absorbed into one. Last time I looked there were probably 10 spaces for Wing King's, other commanders, and Chiefs at the "All Ranks Club".

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 28 at 2016 5:32 PM

2016-06-28T17:32:52-04:00

Had a capt that told the welders to stow the acetylene tanks out of view in a conex box, operational security he says so that possible hajis don't make a bomb. After the task was completed he wanted a sign put on the door saying: Warning Explosive.....

Response by SFC Fred Moore made Jun 28 at 2016 7:33 PM

2016-06-28T19:33:39-04:00

Telling MY LT's story......My only leg assignment was in Germany and I was the PSG..had a great PLT LDR in 1979...Lt ***Prautch...great West Pointer....anyway our Signal Co had to participate in a parade in a neighboring German AF kaserne...after many 'march thru'd practices and final parade, we were all very tired, and marching back to our installation....Our good LT and I were ranking personnel, and it was very dusty and hot as we plodded back...LT Prautch decided to boost the morale by getting us to sing cadence...and shouted out ' Hey anybody got a cadence to sing"...(dead silence) after which he said ' OH Well, I have a little one"........I was marching at the rear of the formation, and I couldn't let the moment go and loudly murmured " I guess we all have our sexual hang ups"....needless to say the whole marching formation came apart with everyone laughing their asses off......and a LT trying to find who said that......a year later while I was clearing to rotate back to the states, I bumped into him in a gasthase and we hoisted a few and somehow he brought up that moment and was telling me the story of the march and what he said...and I said again "I guess we all have our sexual hang ups"....he never knew who said that line and we both had a good laugh on it....hope he's wearing a couple silver stars right now....he was a natural borne leader......

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 29 at 2016 10:40 AM

2016-06-29T10:40:14-04:00

My arrogance resulted in the deaths of two of my NCOs in Pakistan. I was too overzealous and in a hurry to conduct a mission supporting the opening of a girls school. I failed to properly review all of the threats and disregarded inputs on avenues of approach. We got nailed by a massive VBIED.

Response by SSgt Leslie "Clay" Cooper made Jun 29 at 2016 11:49 AM

2016-06-29T11:49:22-04:00

Back in the summer of 80 somewhere just an hour and a half drive south of Cairo Egypt there we wuz with a communications detachment, Medical and Red Horse team together with 4449 MOBSS at an abandoned Russian Air Base for Operation Bright Star. The communications commander Major 35-10 arrives ordering us to be clean shaven and hair within regs by next morning even if we must go downtown Cairo. SMSgt Ross the real Boss of it all directed nicknamed Starky a Star Trek fanatic and the wizard for our power production shutdown all power to communications living areas. Yep! Major 35-10 got the message and within days learned when you’re in BFE you quickly learn how to survive in that environment. By the way, it was the Medical Folks who directed us not to shave and definitely under no circumstances go downtown to the local Barber Shop for a trim. As for Major 35-10? In two weeks he looked like he was ready for Woodstock!
By the way at this time the 4449 MOBSS was under the direction of the Pentagon not under any other Base or Squadron commander

Response by SSgt Leslie "Clay" Cooper made Jun 29 at 2016 11:51 AM

2016-06-29T11:51:30-04:00

Lieutenant mistakes?
I should've kept a diary

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 29 at 2016 8:18 PM

2016-06-29T20:18:39-04:00

fell for my NCOs' practice joke... and they put the joke on my going farewell plaque. ;)

Response by CAPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 29 at 2016 10:18 PM

2016-06-29T22:18:59-04:00

I was a 2LT Environmental Science Officer leading a slice element to JRTC at Fort Polk in the mid-90s. I hadn't slept for about 3 days and we were in the assembly area waiting to convoy into the box. Our company 1SG and I were in the last vehicle. A "highly experienced' 1LT was to lead the convoy into the box some 40 or so miles away. Waiting for our turn to depart, both the 1SG (I was driving the HMMWV) and I fell asleep. I woke up first and realized we were all alone - the rest of the serial left without us. I woke up the 1SG and we drove like a bat out of hell to get to the RP. We were sure our gooses were cooked. Problem was we never caught up the the rest of the convoy and we arrived to an empty RP. We had no radios and thought we had really badly screwed up. Eventually they came limping in, the highly experienced 1LT having gotten the entire convoy lost and we were there to greet them.

Response by CPT William Dean Sr. made Jun 30 at 2016 12:09 AM

2016-06-30T00:09:56-04:00

Not my mistake, but a big one for a 2lt TAC officer in the OCS company I was in. At Ft. Benning Infantry OCS in 1969 my company had just "turned Blue" the day before. While in class that day one of our Senior candidates fell asleep in class. He fell out of his chair and the Captain instructor was not at all pleased. At the end of the day we returned to the company area and were instructed to go to our rooms, take off our senior blue backings and scarves. Then return to the company assemble area. The 2LT had decided we needed to be punished so we were run to the large PT field in front of Infantyr hall. There we began circling the track at a double time.

Shortly a staff car with a flag on the front bumper came bouncing across the field. The 2LT. was summoned to the staff car by the driver. The driver came to our formation and told the Student CO to return us to our company area at a march speed.

Turned out that the LT. had forgotten to have us remove our very shiny Senior Candidate helmet liners with the blue decals. The 2LT was never seen again.
53rd Co. 5th Student Battalion OC. April 69

Response by LtCol Mac McCarty made Jun 30 at 2016 12:49 AM

2016-06-30T00:49:46-04:00

I took command of my platoon just a dusk on Christmas day. Twenty minutes later, we took two incoming Chi-coms, resulting in casualties. My Platoon Sergeant was off in a second to check on our wounded. The Skipper called me and asked if I could adjust 60mm fire on the suspected source ville.
"Roger." The rounds hit. I couldn't see a thing.
"Dammit, adjust."
"Roger, uhhh, right."
"How far right?"
"Uhhh, right, one village." That's when the Gunny dropped by and got me through the rest of the night.

Response by Capt Michael Greene made Jun 30 at 2016 5:10 AM

2016-06-30T05:10:55-04:00

Biggest LT Mistake?
When I was enlisted in the Navy, my shipmates aboard USS Midway invented a Christmas song, "The 12 Days of Midway," which ended "And a Maintenance Chief that wasn't worth a shit" referring to our E-7 Chief Petty Officer, who laughed it off.
Four years later, as a new 2Lt in the Air Force at the wing Christmas party, I was way too drunk, and suggested that all the officers sing "And a Maintenance Chief that wasn't worth a shit." I saw jaws drop. Sitting next to me was the Chief of Maintenance, an O-6, who got apoplectic shaking his head and exclaiming "What!? What!?" The sight of this made me laugh uncontrollably. The whole table got silent. I was fired the next morning.

Response by Capt Michael Greene made Jun 30 at 2016 5:36 AM

2016-06-30T05:36:04-04:00

As a 1Lt in Korea, I was TDY to a very remote location with minimal manning. There was just me and a LTC with a few dozen Es to fix fighter jets. Within days, the unit deployed for a few weeks in Philippines but one of the jets wasn't ready to go, so I was told to stay behind, fix the jet and send it to the unit in the PI. I had only a half-dozen guys--just the "sick, lame, and lazy" non-deployable stay behinds. Together we managed to fix the jet's many problems. Finally, we needed to install a classified radio that was locked in a vault. Problem: the guy with the key to the vault had deployed to school at an unknown location! We were crunched for time: the flight schedule demanded we launch within the hour or else be delayed another two days.
Being a gung-ho problem-solver, I asked if anyone knew how to get into the vault. A guy said he knew a way, so I said "do it" and walked away. We succeeded in deploying the jet that afternoon. But an hour later, a captain called me to her office and read me my Art. 31 Miranda rights for ordering a burglary of classified equipment!

Response by PO1 Jack Howell made Jun 30 at 2016 10:06 AM

2016-06-30T10:06:17-04:00

I was on watch one morning during my ship's 2010-2011 deployment to the western Pacific and my department head, a LT (O-3) who was in in charge of Operations Department, walks into CIC to see how things are going and talk to the TAO (another LT). He looks at her and says "Why do you always look like you're trying to **** me". There was stunned silence everywhere. I know what he meant, but that's not what it sounded like. The TAO was a female LT.

Response by COL David Pelkey made Jun 30 at 2016 11:50 AM

2016-06-30T11:50:52-04:00

My father, a retired NCO had a great story about a new LT. They were at a Grenade launcher range (whatever the predessor was to the M203). A LT comes up and says something like 'I wonder how far it would go straight up.' My dad didn't think too much about it until he heard the thump as the LT launched one into the sky. Everyone scattered. Dad said after the round came down and everyone was safe, some higher officer came up and drove the LT away. Last my dad ever saw if the LT was head down in the back of a jeep.

Response by GySgt Joe Strong made Jul 2 at 2016 11:20 PM

2016-07-02T23:20:41-04:00

Are non- LT's allowed to tell the story?
I had a great, gung ho, young LT who had a couple of moments.
The first one involved the acquisition of some .223 blanks, Smoke grenades, and simulators. He needed a place to store them and chose the Squadron Battery Locker. Would have been completely inappropriate, but unnoticed, had the CO not performed a weekly safety walkdown with his Staff every week. As the Unit Safety NCO with the Safety Officer deployed, that was a fun day as I was the one who opened the locker only to display the unfortunate combination of contents.
The Second one involved an issue of not listening to the Troops when they gave Safety pointers ( I was in the general area but not on scene for this one). We had a pintle hook trailer with a generator set we used to power an experimental Comm set-up. The whole thing required repeatedly moving from one site to another and dropping & loading the trailer.
It is supremely important to keep ones fingers and thumbs out of the Donut ring of the pintle, a fact which was repeatedly explained to and ignored by this really nice guy. It was a shame to medivac him and lose the potential he represented.

Response by Col Dona Marie Iversen made Jul 10 at 2016 9:04 PM

2016-07-10T21:04:06-04:00

Only two that I'll post!!!

During our medical indoctrination I stopped in the middle of a run to have a cigarette , DI slowly walked over came nose to nose "What the hell you doing Brooklyn?" My response was "Out of breath from running needed a cigarette break"! I was the token, 'let's ask Brooklyn what she would do" for the remainder of the training.

Next, checking into a hotel for a military conference, gave the Bell Captain $5.00 to take luggage to my room, I come off the elevator, see him standing outside my room door & said 'it's ok, you can open the door", he said they don't give Admirals room keys for AF LT's! Fortunately he was a super guy and each time I ran into him at the conference he introduced me to who ever he was with & proceeded to explain how we met...did my best to hide from him!

Response by CPT Robert Boshears made Jan 27 at 2017 1:26 PM

2017-01-27T13:26:55-05:00

To my knowledge, I was the only Reserve Officer called to AD into the 7th Infantry Division (during their COHORT time) and since I worked for a Federal Agency, and they had to let me go. This was many years after Vietnam (where I was enlisted) and over 10 years after OCS (I was an O3E), and had to learn a lot of things again. I thought Light Fighter indicated electricity conservation...it made sense. But the men in this great Division had their own way of greeting officers, and one morning a young PFC saluted me and proudly exclaimed "Light Fight Em". I was lost...so, I fighured the best way to Light Fight em, was to "Gut Beat Em". Poor kid must have thought I was a little off.

Response by SSG Ken Gilder made Feb 2 at 2017 5:35 PM

2017-02-02T17:35:56-05:00

I don't know if it was a mistake or not, but we had a 2LT as a detachment commander in Vietnam. Because of the nature of our work, he prescribed our duty uniform as fatigue trousers, white T-shirts, and low quarter shoes.

We were attached to another unit for quarters, rations, and logistical support, and that unit commander (a captain) did not like us coming to eat in his chow hall, wearing fatigue trousers, white T-shirts, and low quarter shoes. He put out a directive that, if you came to eat in his mess hall, you WOULD be in a complete uniform, to include bloused boots, or appropriate civilian attire."

Our lieutenant went to the manual of operations, and found an obscure paragraph, way in the back, that said something to the effect of "At the discretion of the detachment commander, civilian clothing may be authorized as appropriate." He authorized the whole detachment civilian clothing.

The captain was livid, and called our boss in Saigon, who was very jealous and protective of his people. There were rumors that our commander (a Lt. Col.), told the captain to "go fly a kite," but used language much coarser. Something about "urinating up a rope."

Response by MAJ Raymond Haynes made Jul 24 at 2017 10:39 PM

2017-07-24T22:39:27-04:00

I worked for a Major that said he wanted honest opinions without any icing on it. I made the mistake of taking him at his word.

Response by COL William Oseles made Jul 25 at 2017 6:23 PM

2017-07-25T18:23:58-04:00

At the Fort Bliss O-Club they used to have a parking spot right next to the GC's for 'Any 2LT'.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Jul 27 at 2017 8:33 PM

2017-07-27T20:33:12-04:00

I had been taught that mission accomplishment was job one. I found out the hard way that job one did not include jumping the chain of command. My military career was cut short for my repeated offenses of bullying senior officers while accomplishing my missions

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 27 at 2017 11:18 PM

2017-07-27T23:18:04-04:00

Staying a 1LT longer than necessary in the ARNG. The ARNG is sometimes a good ole boy military unit. I was selected to Captain in early 2003 yet I should have gone in the IRR and taken my Captain instead of just hoping to get ahead in the pecking order. If you are a 1Lt and your command climate does not favor you to get a vacancy promotion anytime soon, Go into the IRR and get your Captain and then immediately go back in the Army Reserve or National Guard. I was activated 3 months later for title 32 mobilzation with the CAARNG under Operation Noble Eagle III to be a QRF Platoon Leader at Dugway Proving Ground and they would not overslot you to O-3 and same a year later when I joined the ID ARNG and I volunteered to go to Iraq under title 10 in 2004/2005. I know the active Army can have you be a Platoon Leader and still be a Captain for short time. In the Guard it does not work that way. I had put in a 3 year promotion delay letter instead of going in the IRR and in February, 2006 I was in the IRR transferring to the USAR and I contacted my Military Police Branch manager and took my Promotion. Just my 2 cents worth!

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2017 8:36 PM

2017-07-28T20:36:09-04:00

I had a 2LT that got "removed" from the JOC in Afghanistan for showing a female officer porn he had on an external drive plugged into the NIPR or SIPR computer. After he was "reassigned" to the company TOC (night shift OIC), he spent his time honing his Guitar Hero skills. To cap it all off he got to go to Germany because he was lifting weights in the Motor Pool's makeshift gym and ripped his bicep from the bone.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 3 at 2018 5:27 PM

2018-09-03T17:27:59-04:00

Flying my tank twice in the desert. The drill the tank commanders use is to yell into the intercom BRACE!

Response by Capt Andrew Hairston made Feb 9 at 2019 10:32 AM

2019-02-09T10:32:08-05:00

As a young 2ndLt fresh out of The Basic School, I PCS'd out to 29 Palms for Comm School and was having a blast. When I got out there, it was about that time that we were changing seasons and going from sleeves rolled to sleeves down...but I was in 29 Palms. I always heard things were different out there like they don't switch from deserts to woodlands and what not. I knew we were staying in deserts, but does this mean my sleeves stay rolled also? Confused and not wanting to look like that stupid lieutenant, I decided I'll just run into the PX with NO blouse on. Aha! I can't look like the oblivious lieutenant then. Needless to say, there was a salty grunt MSgt in there that destroyed me for being in the PX in PT attire...

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 2 at 2019 7:06 PM

2019-09-02T19:06:54-04:00

I once stood at parade rest for a CSM...

Response by COL William Oseles made May 25 at 2020 1:23 PM

2020-05-25T13:23:09-04:00

At the Fort Bliss O-Club they used to have a slot reserved for 'Any 2LT' right next to the General's Reserved slots and before the COL's.

Response by MSgt Michael Lane made May 24 at 2021 7:31 PM

2021-05-24T19:31:00-04:00

Any time a senior NCO says don't worry Lt I got this or I got you covered. You better double check that shit yourself. I've seen many Lt's go down if flames for blindly trusting someone who said I got this don't worry about it.