What is the best prank you have pulled on a new butter bar?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 11 Jul 2015 05:25:22 -0400

All in fun 2LT's. We've all been new somewhere at sometime.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 11 at 2015 5:27 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 11 Jul 2015 05:27:01 -0400

I’ve had a brand new butter bar working a ball ping hammer looking for soft spots in the armor of an M1A1. He was fresh out of ROTC and I thought Top was going to smoke me hard until he couldn’t contain his own laughter.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jul 11 at 2015 5:28 AM

PO1 John Miller — Sat, 11 Jul 2015 05:28:33 -0400

I had an Ensign convinced that a ship sailing alongside us on the USS Nimitz was an actual pirate ship (the ship in question was displaying the Jolly Roger flag) and that she should inform the Officer of the Deck and Tactical Action Officer and advise that we attack it.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 11 at 2015 11:20 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 11 Jul 2015 11:20:44 -0400

Not necessarily a butter bar, BUT while a cadet was doing a lane walk with our LT we buried his ruck in the center of our patrol base. Upon his return, and after some very frantic searching, he asked where his ruck was. He was handed a map, compass, protractor, 8 digit grid, and an e-tool and was told happy hunting.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jul 11 at 2015 12:05 PM

PO1 John Miller — Sat, 11 Jul 2015 12:05:29 -0400

For those of you not familiar with it, check out Grunt Style on Youtube, and in particular 2LT Dick:

Response by 1LT William Clardy made Jul 11 at 2015 12:26 PM

1LT William Clardy — Sat, 11 Jul 2015 12:26:56 -0400

Once upon a time, at a border-patrol camp far away, some NCOs conspired to expropriate the camp OIC's BDU cap. The first time he went looking for his missing cap, the lieutenant found that it had somehow been run up the flag pole. The second time, the camp cooks got into the act, presenting the lieutenant with a dessert they had created in his honor: the Butterbar Ice Cream Special, consisting of a scoop of ice cream served in an upside-down BDU cap which had been soaked and then frozen to preserve its shape...

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made Jul 11 at 2015 12:45 PM

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. — Sat, 11 Jul 2015 12:45:04 -0400

Not 2Lts per se .. but the newly-commisioned...
Medical Drs are inducted as Capts and have to go thru a baby officer school at Ft. Sam.
When the 91A10 students got bored we would go over to where their training area and find one walking around with his briefcase in his right hand. At which time we would approach and deliver 1 ea snappy salute. About 80% of the time the newly minted Capt would attempt to hit themselves in the head with the briefcase...

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Jul 11 at 2015 12:55 PM

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL — Sat, 11 Jul 2015 12:55:29 -0400

Wow, let's see ok LT, go and find a box of Map Grids to give to the CO.

Response by CPO Joseph Grant made Jul 11 at 2015 3:09 PM

CPO Joseph Grant — Sat, 11 Jul 2015 15:09:41 -0400

We had a new ensign that had duty one night. Came in wearing anti-C's and wearing an Emergency Breathing Apparatus while he was sleeping. Screamed, hey, we've got a live one here. Poor Ensighn damn near pooped himself.

Response by CN Terri S. made Jul 11 at 2015 3:34 PM

CN Terri S. — Sat, 11 Jul 2015 15:34:30 -0400

Newbie was introduced with hemroid cream switched for toothpaste!!! We all had it and continued the tradition! !

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 11 at 2015 3:59 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 11 Jul 2015 15:59:10 -0400

I don't recall ever being pranked as a butterbar, but I think that was because I was a student the whole time and screwing with me would have been detracting. Now I feel left out. Womp womp

Response by CPT Chase Sanger made Jul 11 at 2015 4:24 PM

CPT Chase Sanger — Sat, 11 Jul 2015 16:24:00 -0400

I think we all know that every 2LT is not the same. Some are prior service, some went to West Point...some went to one of the Country's 6 Senior Military Colleges where they were part of a Corps of Cadets, wore uniforms every day of the week, lived in barracks, observed reveille and retreat daily, and were constantly being trained by both active and retired NCO's and Officer's. Everyone comes from a different background, and I think all 2LT's get unfairly grouped into a category. Just a friendly observation :) But to the point of MOS knowledge and true active duty "experience", yes 2LT's are almost always lacking and need strong NCO's to show them what right looks like

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Jul 11 at 2015 6:18 PM

Capt Seid Waddell — Sat, 11 Jul 2015 18:18:09 -0400

I was fortunate in that my first NCOIC had my back and deftly guided me away from my own novice mistakes. He taught me a great deal about leadership and team building, and we are still in contact today.

It was a good thing that I got that experience right off, because his replacement was quite the opposite and was continually laying traps for me to step into – but by then I could handle it.

I did have a Capt. that told me a fresh 2LT joke every morning to keep me humble. When I made 1LT they just became LT jokes. He had a million of them; they lasted until I shipped out and he never told any of them twice. I kind of enjoyed the imagination they showed.

One prank I remember fondly was going to lunch on a day the base hosted a conference of AF planners. Generals came from all over, and their flag cars were parked in a line in front of the O Club with their drivers standing in front of each car. Each Airman popped a sharp salute which I returned as I came by each car. Each one waited until I got to his car to salute, and they had me going like a wood chopper as I proceeded down the line. By the end I don’t know which of us was laughing harder. I thought it showed imagination and initiative.

I also remember one SSgt in my outfit that had perfected the left-handed salute that was so good you almost didn’t notice it.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 11 at 2015 6:56 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sat, 11 Jul 2015 18:56:59 -0400

My first field problem as 2LT was a disaster as they took out the batteries of my NVGs. I was mortified to move the tank without night vision while the rest of the platoon told me to move here and there. I had a buddy 2LT who was tricked into turning on the range fans. He was looking all over the tower and was kicked off a range for missing a radio check. I was going through aviation training when an instructor told an E-2 to ask the 1SG for a PRC-E8 radio. I guess he was not amused at PRICK-E8 radio as subsequently the soldier proceeded to do a lot of push ups.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 11 at 2015 7:38 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 11 Jul 2015 19:38:08 -0400

2LT, go get some frequency grease from the tactical operations center (TOC). I want the frequencies on all of your radios thoroughly lubricated before close of business today and dont ask me any questions.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 12 at 2015 12:47 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 12 Jul 2015 00:47:58 -0400

I was running a range and had two as the last to fire on the range. I told them they had to police their brass before they could leave the range and as they picked up their brass I walked behind them dropping brass and then pointing out to them the brass they had failed to pick up making them go back about three times to pick up the "missed" brass...

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 12 at 2015 1:16 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 12 Jul 2015 01:16:59 -0400

Send the new Private to get written authorization from the new LT to request reticle fluid from maintenance for the gunners primary sight on the tank. Two for one!

Response by SPC Michelle Nelson - Thompson made Jul 12 at 2015 4:49 AM

SPC Michelle Nelson - Thompson — Sun, 12 Jul 2015 04:49:04 -0400

Medic's are notorious pranksters. Go out to check the brake fluid on the Deuce 1/2. They always came back 30+ minutes later saying it was full. Yep, the fluid on the air brakes was full!

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Jul 12 at 2015 10:19 AM

SFC William Swartz Jr — Sun, 12 Jul 2015 10:19:36 -0400

One of the main initiations that I and other NCOs always conducted with brand new, fresh-faced, 2LTs that we were "entrusted with", always occurred during our (back then) Tank Table XII, Platoon Gunnery. I would always be the ring leader, lol, and would by "hook or by crook" acquire the 2LTs PC prior to our last night run; I would remove the pin on or sew-on rank, for later presentation, and during our last engagement firing the main gun, the pc would be loaded on the end of the main gun round and fired down range. Later, after we had conducted our AAR and given our score and then having the traditional steak and eggs meal, I would lead a progression of the platoon members to the 2LTs bunk area, and on top of my "field pillow" (similar size to the pillow used in a wedding for the ring bearer), we would present to the 2LT his rank and welcome him into the Armor brotherhood lol. Of course for the rest of the time until we maneuvered back to the rear, young 2LT always had to wear his Kevlar/ACH unless the CO or one of his peers got him a new pc!!!

Response by SrA Matthew Knight made Jul 13 at 2015 7:21 AM

SrA Matthew Knight — Mon, 13 Jul 2015 07:21:13 -0400

The only thing we ever did that I can think of was told him his bars were upside down. He stared at it for a little bit trying to figure out how we could tell.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 14 at 2015 10:54 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 14 Jul 2015 22:54:41 -0400

I've come to appreciate the standard initiation of jokes as an LT. Most of the time, it's about seeing where your limits are and how much you can take. Someone is testing you, even if in the most jovial manner. I, myself, find there's a potential platonic bond to be made there.

Response by CPT Pedro Meza made Jul 20 at 2015 4:01 PM

CPT Pedro Meza — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 16:01:42 -0400

As an FA instructor in the mid 1980's, I would have the academy Butter Butters go from Bay to Bay asking for elbow grease to lube the self propel howitzers. Don't know why but they were the easiest.

Response by SGT Richard Ruvalcaba made Jul 22 at 2015 10:19 PM

SGT Richard Ruvalcaba — Wed, 22 Jul 2015 22:19:22 -0400

We were at the railhead and I asked if he had the box of reticle and Kanter valves.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 26 at 2015 8:56 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 26 Jul 2015 08:56:20 -0400

Butterbars are hubris too... lol

Response by SFC Joseph James made Jul 26 at 2015 10:56 AM

SFC Joseph James — Sun, 26 Jul 2015 10:56:12 -0400

Right before deployment I told my FSO that he heeded to go down to supply and sign out his MILES

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Jul 26 at 2015 4:21 PM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Sun, 26 Jul 2015 16:21:39 -0400

Let's not forget things like "Mail Buoy" watch, searching for "relative bearing grease" etc... While Academy and ROTC officers will have learned these already, OCS/OIS Ensigns don't know about it...

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2015 11:44 AM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 11:44:18 -0400

Hey fellow LT your rank is upside down :)

Response by SGT James Allen made Sep 30 at 2015 9:53 PM

SGT James Allen — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 21:53:36 -0400

Road wheel pressure gauge was always a classic. Boom checks on the main gun was the one I always got the LT's on.

Response by LCpl Donald Faucett made Nov 25 at 2016 7:00 PM

LCpl Donald Faucett — Fri, 25 Nov 2016 19:00:57 -0500

I felt sorry for them. Many an enlisted had more time in grade in the chow line than a brand new Lt.

Response by PO3 John Keas made Nov 28 at 2016 10:30 PM

PO3 John Keas — Mon, 28 Nov 2016 22:30:02 -0500

Tell the Butter Bar to tell the E8/9 to go do something...That always works...

Response by Cpl Carlos Fernandez made Dec 8 at 2016 2:12 PM

Cpl Carlos Fernandez — Thu, 08 Dec 2016 14:12:06 -0500

In Israel as part of the 22 MEU we hung the LT's ruck sack high up on a tree pole and saw him going crazy looking for it & it was above his head. What a laugh.

Response by SGT James Colwell made Dec 8 at 2016 2:20 PM

SGT James Colwell — Thu, 08 Dec 2016 14:20:50 -0500

I was the Gunner on our Platoon Leader's Bradley. Our first time on a live fire exercise, we were given permission to expend our remaining ammo. He asked what we should shoot. I told him I had a cow in my sights at about 1200 meters. I thought he was going to launch straight out of the TC hatch! We did not shoot the cow, but we scared it! He ended up being one of my best Platoon Leaders.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Dec 31 at 2016 3:35 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Sat, 31 Dec 2016 15:35:00 -0500

SSG Private RallyPoint Member B Company's commander was a nuisance to the troops. Whenever they had a little beer party going in the summer at NTC, they would bury one can in the warm sand for the captain if he happened by!

Response by GySgt Melissa Gravila made Dec 31 at 2016 6:33 PM

GySgt Melissa Gravila — Sat, 31 Dec 2016 18:33:06 -0500

Sent him looking for the keys to the humvee in 29 palms (took everything I had to keep a straight face)

Response by Cpl Casey Meyer made Dec 31 at 2016 10:04 PM

Cpl Casey Meyer — Sat, 31 Dec 2016 22:04:14 -0500

Ok that's too funny, no disrespect meant.

Response by 1SG Clifford Barnes made Jun 11 at 2017 9:06 PM

1SG Clifford Barnes — Sun, 11 Jun 2017 21:06:28 -0400

That's true to a point but most of the ones I dealt with after the playing understand the fun because the respect was always there. We maintained our professional character

Response by SSG Robert Perrotto made Jul 20 at 2017 3:38 PM

SSG Robert Perrotto — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 15:38:29 -0400

"Go to supply for me and get a box of grid squares"

Response by Cpl John Barker made Jul 20 at 2017 5:16 PM

Cpl John Barker — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 17:16:06 -0400

One of our Gunney's flipped out and told our 2nd LT to go stand in a corner...and he actually did it!

Response by SPC Todd Rhoades made Jul 22 at 2017 11:27 AM

SPC Todd Rhoades — Sat, 22 Jul 2017 11:27:57 -0400

It was always "all in fun" we had a lot of West Point cadets come to Drum. So our LTs got a break, sometimes, I think our PLs and COs liked being included in our antics, performed with all due respect possible and only when circumstances were appropriate, it made the unit tighter, brotherly love.

Response by SFC Forrest Parks made Jul 22 at 2017 11:31 AM

SFC Forrest Parks — Sat, 22 Jul 2017 11:31:00 -0400

Don't remember his name, but we had a new 2nd LT for our mortar platoon. He like to leave his cap laying around and always had soldiers go get it for him. Well....there I was in the CP one day and there was the LT's cap just laying there. Fast forward to formation and the walk from the CP to the motor pool. Lt is passing soldiers and they are saluting him but with this puzzled look on their face. LT finally get to formation and still can't figure out why everyone has these puzzled looks when they see him. It finally dawns on him that they are looking at his cap. I had taken it and turned his butter bar sideways. The soldiers weren't sure what rank he was.

Another time, he picked up my cap by mistake and had to "correct" soldiers that weren't saluting him. Why would they salute a SPC?

One last thing was when we were out at NTC. He decided that he could better maneuver and control the platoon from the TC hatch of my 577. He was used to talking on a hand mike and not through the CVC. Every time he would try to talk to the platoon, he would toggle the intercom switch and not the radio. When he would say "turn right", I turned right. When he would yell "TURN RIGHT" after the platoon didn't respond to his first command, I would turn HARD right. When he yelled for the platoon to stop. I stopped, immediately. After he picked himself up off the floor and adjusted his flak fest and CVC from the sudden fall, he decided that he was probably better off in his HUMVEE. Later, some of the other guys asked me why I was driving all crazy weaving in and out of the battle formation. I had to explain to them why.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 22 at 2017 1:45 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 22 Jul 2017 13:45:29 -0400

Just got my FSO with the old ACOG batteries. Sent him to another Lt to ask for them, and then he got sent to that LT's PSG. It was classic.

Response by Cpl Rc Layne made Jul 22 at 2017 2:23 PM

Cpl Rc Layne — Sat, 22 Jul 2017 14:23:52 -0400

Etool qualification.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 22 at 2017 4:20 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 22 Jul 2017 16:20:36 -0400

As a 2LT in Iraq, I was the shop officer providing maintenance for the area surrounding Baghdad. One of my shop foreman tried this while briefing me about a forklift that had just came in for repairs. He tried to pull one over on me by saying they needed about 8 inches of fallopian tube to fix the equipment. Without missing a beat I responded that fallopian tube was very difficult to get in theater and they would need to order the next higher assembly. I then added in that he should order one for me too. He looked at me for a moment before realizing the next higher assembly would be a woman. Needless to say they never tried to pull one over on me again.

Response by Maj Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 22 at 2017 5:33 PM

Maj Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 22 Jul 2017 17:33:39 -0400

I never had anything pulled on me when I was a 2Lt, probably because I was a 31-year old former E-6.
I had one colleague who was in our maintenance hangar office one night by herself. A couple of NCO's thought they would scare her and started beating on the walls next to the office. She came out with her .38 drawn. They didn't mess with her again.

Response by CPT Joshua Hill made Jul 22 at 2017 7:56 PM

CPT Joshua Hill — Sat, 22 Jul 2017 19:56:00 -0400

Some of the ones I recall:

Track tension spray
Keys to the training area
BA-1100-Ns
Box of grid squares
Chem light batteries
Checking for soft spots in the armor
Checking the shocks on various tracked vehicles (jumping up and down on the deck)
Can of squelch
Frequency grease

It baffles me as to how anyone can make it through any commissioning source and or OBC without hearing about these.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 22 at 2017 8:48 PM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 22 Jul 2017 20:48:41 -0400

When deployed, we had an enclosed Xbox network. A new one had come in with a new flight crew and they needed another CATV cable. I did not know this at the time. So a LT walks in with a red cable (meant for SIPR) and asked if they could use it. Me, being a smart ass; sure, jus spin out all the SIPR bits.

He walks down the hall spinning the cable. When asked what he was doing, informed the Maj or LtCol; Spinning all the SIPR bits out so we can use the cable with the XBoxes.

Response by CWO4 Jim Doran made Jul 23 at 2017 1:50 AM

CWO4 Jim Doran — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 01:50:58 -0400

The A-1 Skyraider has a funnel in the cockpit. It's connected by rubber tubing to a small pipe hanging out of the fuselage, pointed aft. This is the pilot's inflight urinal, known as a relief tube. When I was an AO3 (E-4) one of our Ensigns (=2LT) pissed me off. After he started the engine, I crawled under the fuselage with a crescent wrench, loosened the lock nut on the pipe, turned the pipe 180 degrees so it pointed into the slipstream and tightened the nut. When that Butter Bar took a leak it all blew right back at him.

Response by PO1 Eric Booker made Jul 23 at 2017 2:10 PM

PO1 Eric Booker — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 14:10:20 -0400

I was a boat Capt and the CO's Gig driver. We had a new Ensign who took over as the boat officer and he seemed to be "ripe" for the picking. We were at anchor in Hong Kong and the old man wanted to take a ride. We were good to go on the boat so I found the Ensign and asked for the keys to the CO's gig(33' boat) that he should have gotten from the former boat officer. He said "Oh they must me in my stateroom" like he knew what I was talking about. I knew he was full of crap so I kept going with it. He came down and said "I can't find my set right now...is there a spare". "Yessssss...yes there is" was my reply. Go find the 1st Lt and ask him for his(a "mustang" LCDR with 28 years in). I then called the 1st Lt and told him he was on his way...so he was in on it as well. Ens got up there and 1st chewed his ass for losing them and then said "Well...NOW you'll need to go as the CAPTAIN for the master set as they're in his cabin". By now the Ens was almost in tears...but went up to the CO's cabin and knocked. He asked the Captain if he had the master set of Gig keys to which the old man just started laughing and asking who sent him up. He then informed him that there were no keys and walked with him out to all of us who were standing around the boat and we all had a good laugh. That Ens is now the CO of an AEGIS cruiser so apparently he wasn't TOO badly damaged!lol!

Response by SGT Sunny Lalingua made Jul 23 at 2017 2:28 PM

SGT Sunny Lalingua — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 14:28:16 -0400

Not a butterbar but a well-hated Captain, eventually, he got relieved for cause via an IG. About a year before that though, he had taken his Detachment out to the woods for three weeks during which time he removed all of the higher ranking NCOs leaving only his E-5's in control. One night, he had planned for his Sr. NCOs to attack his position but did nothing to group his remaining NCOs together. The Sr NCOs attacked as planned but no one defended and they captured the command. The seniors duck taped both the captain and his exec, stole their pistols, and departed. No one came to rescue them.

Response by LTC Orlando Illi made Jul 23 at 2017 2:47 PM

LTC Orlando Illi — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 14:47:51 -0400

When I was Troop XO I asked a newly Commissioned West Point 2LT to go to the Squadron Motor Officer and ask for some spark plugs for an M113A1 ACAV

Response by SGT Matthew S. made Jul 23 at 2017 3:44 PM

SGT Matthew S. — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 15:44:38 -0400

We were down at NTC, when one of the Soldiers in my Platoon relieved himself of the byproducts from his previous MRE in a CONEX container that happened to be sitting near us. I don't know who exactly came up with the idea, but a short while later he told our brand-new LT that he had found WMD's in that particular CONEX.

Poor LT went over there and started photographing & documenting the pile of turds in the otherwise empty container and was nearly finished with his initial report when the joke finally dawned on him. We never figured out why half the Platoon rolling on the ground, doubled-up with laughter didn't tip him off that something was amiss.

Response by MSgt George Cater made Jul 23 at 2017 5:52 PM

MSgt George Cater — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 17:52:31 -0400

Heaven forbid that I would do such a thing to any second lieutenant entrusted to my care and expecting (plus deserving) my trust and my best. Besides, I never had a lieutenant that I thought would fall for some prank, much less deserve it. But I'm only speaking of Marine Corps 0302 Second Lieutenants... That 6 months at TBS and graduating the IOBC turns out a pretty good lieutenant.

Response by MSgt Richard Randall made Jul 23 at 2017 6:18 PM

MSgt Richard Randall — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 18:18:00 -0400

I was a maintenance flight chief on Minuteman ICBMs in North Dakota. Maintenance teams would dispatch up to 100 miles in the North Dakota boonies to repair an off alert sortie. I was an E-6 with about 12 years of field experience supervising a bunch of two person maintenance teams. Someone at SAC thought it would be a good idea to have “flight officers” made up of brand new 2LTs. Flight officer training was about 3 weeks long where the newly commissioned 22 or 23 year old lieutenants would learn little more than “the pointy end goes up.” I had the task of taking a rather attractive young 2LT to Hotel 09 for her first field trip. After a journey of about 90 miles through blowing snow and temps in the teens we finally arrived at the launch facility (silo) where we were cleared to enter by the on-site team chief and Flight Security Controller.

After I parked the truck she looked at me and said, “I really have to pee.” I told her the latrine was downstairs in the soft support building right next to the Pepsi machine. She said she’d be right back.

She climbed downstairs (the SSB is below grade) and within 30 seconds came up and got back in the truck. She looked over with a really red face and called me a “mother*^@*%.” That was it. I couldn’t stop laughing and neither could she. I explained you either do your business by the fence or take the folding toilet seat with little plastic bags but YOU were responsible for disposing the contents. She chose the latter. Another lesson well learned.

Response by 1SG John B. Enlow made Jul 23 at 2017 7:57 PM

1SG John B. Enlow — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 19:57:46 -0400

As a SSG assigned to 1/4th Infantry in Germany, I was instrumental in getting a newly assigned PFC and 2LT at the same time. While working with the crew in the motor pool, I sent the new PFC to ask the 2LT if he'd remind the Commo NCO that he still owed me a can of squelch. The incident ended with the 2LT threatening the Commo NCO with a write-up if he didn't get it.

Response by TSgt Gwen Walcott made Jul 27 at 2017 12:34 PM

TSgt Gwen Walcott — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 12:34:48 -0400

Hide their badge (left on their coat) after they were already inside the security area and watch them get jacked up during a badge inspection or have them panic when it came time to leave the area

Response by SPC Todd Rhoades made Aug 14 at 2017 11:43 PM

SPC Todd Rhoades — Mon, 14 Aug 2017 23:43:55 -0400

West Point Cadet, Sapper Platoon, litter rappels. Long drop with a sudden stop.

Response by SFC Shannon Meloy made Oct 15 at 2017 10:00 PM

SFC Shannon Meloy — Sun, 15 Oct 2017 22:00:30 -0400

Blinker fluid works all the time. ForPMCS

Response by SSG Oscar Medina made Nov 27 at 2017 2:53 PM

SSG Oscar Medina — Mon, 27 Nov 2017 14:53:07 -0500

Tie up on the muzzle and go to max el

Response by SPC Thomas Pasenelli made Nov 28 at 2017 10:46 AM

SPC Thomas Pasenelli — Tue, 28 Nov 2017 10:46:40 -0500

I Told my new butterbar we were all out of grid squares and couldn't move my vehicle until I had some...

Response by CPT Michael Witcraft made Nov 28 at 2017 3:42 PM

CPT Michael Witcraft — Tue, 28 Nov 2017 15:42:48 -0500

Nair in his shampoo.

Response by CPL Bob Perry made Nov 28 at 2017 6:38 PM

CPL Bob Perry — Tue, 28 Nov 2017 18:38:49 -0500

We told the lutenant that we had to stop at a village to get water for our air cooled engine

Response by SPC Matt Barnhart made Nov 28 at 2017 10:52 PM

SPC Matt Barnhart — Tue, 28 Nov 2017 22:52:23 -0500

When moving into platoon AO he left his car running out front and we moved to another AO across post......he wasn't to upset..... later

Response by SPC Roberto Figueroa made Nov 28 at 2017 11:41 PM

SPC Roberto Figueroa — Tue, 28 Nov 2017 23:41:03 -0500

One NTC rotation, we had this poor 2LT running around Tent City try to find a blank adapter for his M9, and that he wasn't allowed to enter the Dust Bowl without it.

Response by SGT Patrick Reno made Nov 29 at 2017 11:05 AM

SGT Patrick Reno — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 11:05:12 -0500

We had a 2LT that really wanted to fit in but just couldn't quite do it. He sent this brand new private looking for a box of Grid Squares. I went and got the LT's map and had the private cut it all up and take it back to the LT.

Response by PO1 Lauren Neher made Nov 29 at 2017 7:09 PM

PO1 Lauren Neher — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 19:09:29 -0500

When I was an AMS2 on the USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN CVN72, we got a new boot ensign on board. He was a tiny guy, with some of the worst highwater pants I'd ever seen. I figured whatever, let his officer buddies set him straight. A few weeks passed, and his pants stayed at full highwater. So, one day at sea, I passed him in the hangarbay, uncovered. I put my hands in the pocket of my coveralls, hiking them sky-high, and I said "Good afternoon, sir," as I walked by him. I saw him stop and watch me out of the corner of my eye as I walked on by, taking my hands out my pockets, my pants falling down where they belonged, around my boots, not over the top of them. He didn't say a word, but a few days later, he showed up in properly sized big-boy pants, and I never saw him again with a pair of highwaters.

Response by SrA Christopher Castleman made Nov 29 at 2017 8:18 PM

SrA Christopher Castleman — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 20:18:53 -0500

Left a message on his board to contact Major Storm, and the phone number. It was the number to weather.

Response by CPO Charlie Kessler made Nov 29 at 2017 9:38 PM

CPO Charlie Kessler — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 21:38:10 -0500

No pranks, just let them do what they do and sit back and watch. When they fail (and they will fail), give them good, solid advice to help them get over the hump. When they succeed, give them a thumbs up and a pat on the back, but let them know they ain't all that. In my line of work, there are more mustangs than boot ensigns, so most have been around the block. All of us fail. All of us screw up from time to time. We need to know we have each others' back. When we let someone flounder alone, we all fail. I have been in trouble more than once and had no one behind me. It's not a good feeling being alone. It shakes one's confidence in their shipmates. I got over it, but it would have been easier with someone who had my back. If you mess with a butter bar, make sure he/she knows it's all in fun and you have their back when the shit hits the fan.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Nov 29 at 2017 10:24 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 22:24:34 -0500

I find that interesting...I never had any such pranks pulled on me, though, while a kid, as a Boy Scout, I did actually fall for the left handed monkey wrench gag, lol...I was pretty stupidly green at that point, lol....

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Nov 29 at 2017 10:27 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 22:27:48 -0500

Actually, though, as I think about it, when I was at USAF OTS, I was told I had one really irksome habit, of constantly apologizing. So, one day, amusimglyx, a group of those in my flight after I'd been recycled finally called !e into a roo!m. Forgetting what day it was, they'd gotten me a cake for my birthday, with the following in icing: 'It's my birthday, and I'm sorry." Yes, actually, that is a true story, lol, mortified though I am to admit it now, lol....

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 6 at 2017 3:31 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 03:31:09 -0500

I was on night tower guard rotation and the new PL came out to check the shack at the gate. Nerd had his NODs on, weapon at the low- ready haha. FRESH A$S MOFO HAHA Lawless yells 'Halt! Who goes there?!'
LT stops in his tracks, doesn't even move his head 'It's Lieutenant Thornberry!....Dont;Shoot!'
Lawless: 'I know I can see your Tan head. Who else would be walking at the low ready, with a Tan head?'
LT: Gives us the finger and goes in the shed

Response by MSgt Bruce George made Dec 6 at 2017 10:46 PM

MSgt Bruce George — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 22:46:28 -0500

Moved her cubicle into the latrine.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 7 at 2017 12:01 PM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 07 Dec 2017 12:01:27 -0500

I had a LT looking for winter road wheels for the BFV.

Response by CPL Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 7 at 2017 12:39 PM

CPL Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 07 Dec 2017 12:39:23 -0500

Lots of things like asking for them to get new battery for a trilux light to sending one for the keys to the indoor grenade range.

Response by PO3 W Rapp made Dec 7 at 2017 3:07 PM

PO3 W Rapp — Thu, 07 Dec 2017 15:07:25 -0500

My brother and his fellow NCO's took their LT's clothes while he was in the shower and left him with a belly dancer outfit to walk the FOB.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 7 at 2017 5:35 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 07 Dec 2017 17:35:31 -0500

I constantly tell LT's they're rank is upside down its hilarious

Response by SSG Rhubarb Sonnevlae made Dec 7 at 2017 5:53 PM

SSG Rhubarb Sonnevlae — Thu, 07 Dec 2017 17:53:00 -0500

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 7 at 2017 6:12 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 07 Dec 2017 18:12:52 -0500

You know the best way to train a LT?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 7 at 2017 7:36 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 07 Dec 2017 19:36:01 -0500

Not me but right before I joined my platoon in Germany they had convinced our LT that his desk was one in the common area of the platoon offices. He sat out there for a good week before the PSG finally stopped messing with him,

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 7 at 2017 10:10 PM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 07 Dec 2017 22:10:59 -0500

Asked the LT to look for the Humvee Keys

Response by PFC Clive Heckenberg made Dec 8 at 2017 3:26 AM

PFC Clive Heckenberg — Fri, 08 Dec 2017 03:26:18 -0500

I'm an Aussie - the old 'drop bear' prank. Poor US Sgt stayed in his APC on a hot summer's day, scared shiteless of a drop bear getting him!

Response by Dan Goor made Dec 8 at 2017 4:49 AM

Dan Goor — Fri, 08 Dec 2017 04:49:01 -0500

Actually none

Response by CA Martin Fourie made Dec 8 at 2017 6:32 AM

CA Martin Fourie — Fri, 08 Dec 2017 06:32:39 -0500

Asked him to request a long weight(wait) from the store

Response by PFC John Roscoe made Dec 8 at 2017 6:49 AM

PFC John Roscoe — Fri, 08 Dec 2017 06:49:24 -0500

Well, this is less a prank and more payback. I served both active and later in the reserve. The culture was completely different between the two: There was much less bullshit, brown-nosing, or the mindless "Army-Way" as opposed to what is pragmatic and works in the Reserves. Our Reserve unit were local guys from all walks of life, that got together once a month, and a couple of weeks in the summer to do our jobs, train and hone our skills.

We finally got a newly-minted Butter-bar who had just transferred into take-over our Battalion Med section. We soon deployed to the field, and our new leader, decided to turn the medics into waiters in the officer's mess-tent in an overt and flagrant display of the newby LT. trying to kiss-ass to the Battalion staff officers

After a few days of this in the field, we had a night exercise, where we were supposed to bug-out in the dark, move 10Km,to a new TAC. When the word came dowm the LT grabbed his fully loaded pack in the dark, which came apart from various strategic cuts to the straps and seems- and dumped all of the interior contents on the ground, while we sat waiting in the vehicals and watched the Lt. try to find his possessions with his red-lensed flashlight.

We were never waiters again.

Response by CPT Errol Feldman made Dec 8 at 2017 7:30 AM

CPT Errol Feldman — Fri, 08 Dec 2017 07:30:50 -0500

Sent him for camouflage paint for APC

Response by Sgt Donald Laisure made Dec 8 at 2017 3:02 PM

Sgt Donald Laisure — Fri, 08 Dec 2017 15:02:45 -0500

Sir have you seen the prop wash

Response by SGT Tamati Maguire made Dec 8 at 2017 10:41 PM

SGT Tamati Maguire — Fri, 08 Dec 2017 22:41:23 -0500

Made them remake his camp on the other side of the hill for a better view of the lake

Response by MAJ R. Andrew Hoskinson made Dec 9 at 2017 10:52 AM

MAJ R. Andrew Hoskinson — Sat, 09 Dec 2017 10:52:14 -0500

The biggest prank in the Field Artillery was to send a new 2LT to go to Supply and get a box of high angle primers. That said, I agree with most of the other posters who pointed out that hazing a 2LT is a good way for him to lose trust in the very NCOs he should be relying on.

Response by Cpl Ted Quiocho made Dec 9 at 2017 1:06 PM

Cpl Ted Quiocho — Sat, 09 Dec 2017 13:06:52 -0500

Asked one to go to get some frequency grease

Response by SP5 Larry Morris made Dec 9 at 2017 2:19 PM

SP5 Larry Morris — Sat, 09 Dec 2017 14:19:38 -0500

not me that way happy life

Response by Rowan Hirst made Dec 9 at 2017 3:21 PM

Rowan Hirst — Sat, 09 Dec 2017 15:21:19 -0500

Told butter bar to take a spoon and clear an area of mines (none where actually there) he was out there for about 8 hours and had actually started digging holes trying to find these mines

Response by SSgt Boyd Herrst made Jan 15 at 2018 6:36 PM

SSgt Boyd Herrst — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 18:36:43 -0500

Like the Good CW4 says “ they grow up to be Generals one day(at least those that stick it it out, may..) I was wary of people that asked/ told me to take s’thing, tell some new Lt. That s’thing had to be done just such a way that... I’d say I think that’s s’thing that a person of your rank: position should do to make sure.. that way you know it got done.. And I set back and let them be the bearer of the news.. I didn’t know how long I might stay in the AF at that point and it’d be nice to move up the ladder with mininal upsets..

Response by SSgt Boyd Herrst made Jan 15 at 2018 7:39 PM

SSgt Boyd Herrst — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 19:39:07 -0500

Speaking of using a cover to hold ice cream.. We had a baker who was a very good artist.. and did a cake that was made to look like a woman’s Officer AF cover upside down with Ice cream in it.
It was her Birthday and there were 5 candles (one for each 5 of her years). ..
An Airman was sent to her office to tell her they found her cover but it was bring held for ransom and she had to go bake to the bake shop.. the Lt being a good sport
Proceeddd back to the bake shop to get her cover.. what was also on the cake cover was a captain’s insignia (a Real one was put on her real cover for her). she said there’s s’thing wrong, I’m a 1st Lt. The CMSGT Our Superintendent Of Food Svc. Asked permission to touch and then he changed her rank pins(they didn’t have Rank sleeves back in ‘71). Anyway they
Moved her promotion party out to the dining room.. there was another bigger cake for all to get a piece of if they wanted ..And Ice cream from the soft-serve machine.. The Cmdr worked hard getting her promotion moved up a cycle.. she’d done so much (with all the Food Service team’s help) <- her input ... to get the new dining hall finished early The new equipment installed and operational.. (it helps when certain people have connections with Civil Engineers.. I think Red Horse was around then.. I was off that day , but was available for the festivities.. we had nice new convection ovens . 6 of them double stacked.. new doubledoored Hobart warmers.. an I beam over the kettles that we had a mixer
attached.. Our bakers had a new Chain driven Rotating oven with 6 shelve and steam operation (handy for French style rolls and bread). And other new Baker pans .. for various other rolls and breads..
The local bread companies were upset..
Making our own brat rolls and hot dog buns, burger buns. .. we would be self sufficient. and we were.. one of the
Companies we had filed an injunction
Against the base saying our plant didn’t meet certain standards.. so how’d they know? I didn’t know FOIA was around in
‘71.. maybe..? We kept operations running.. I got orders and left McGuire in Dec ‘71.. went to RSVN. Gee I thought I went back to the Stone Age..

Response by SPC Tommy Dean made Jan 17 at 2018 9:12 AM

SPC Tommy Dean — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 09:12:20 -0500

Not a prank, just funny. My new 2LT learned somewhere that M-113’s had bilge pumps. While standing beside the track on the drivers hatch side,(bilge pump discharge side) he ask me if the bilge pumps worked. I said yes sir. He said turn them on. I said the pumps were only to be run when the vehicle was swimming. He said, turn them on, that’s and order. I hit the switch and after a second or two of rumbling a gallon of oil, diesel and water hit him right between the eyes. He walked off spitting, sputtering and needing a new set of BDU’s. I had to lay down for a minute. A funny day in Grafenwoehr, and you don't hear that often.

Response by Maj Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 18 at 2018 11:47 AM

Maj Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 11:47:01 -0500

Another story about a fairly new 2Lt. I had one of our Lts come to me and he said he had gotten a parking ticket on base (bear in mind we were both cops so our LE officers didn't cut any slack). Anyway the Lt said he had just gotten chewed out by the First Sergeant. He asked if that was right. I shouldn't have but I knew they were screwing with him including the first shirt so I just said, "Yeah, that's the way it is" or something like that.

I actually felt sorry for the Lt. Part of his problem was that he was so young looking he looked like he was a sophomore in high school.

Another time that same Lt came to my office carrying a box. I looked inside it and it was his M-16 completely stripped. He said he left his weapon in the lounge area of one of our missile launch control facilities and when he came back the troops had tore it down. I really didn't recognize some of the small parts so I told him to take it to the armorer and he would help him.

We had 900 security police personnel in that unit. None of them ever screwed with me. I did have a TSgt tell me after we had been working together for awhile that anytime he heard on the radio that I was visiting his location he would leave. I asked him why? He said, "Because you never smile." LOL That was true back then although I don't know what he thought I was going to do.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 18 at 2018 1:08 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 13:08:51 -0500

SSG Private RallyPoint Member my 2LTs did a video....

Response by SPC Travis Titus made Jan 20 at 2018 5:14 AM

SPC Travis Titus — Sat, 20 Jan 2018 05:14:30 -0500

Sent a new privateto the new LT for a ID10Tango form. Made it's way to Tops desk. He got a good laugh and luckily the LT had a good sense of humor.

Response by Col Robert Ing made Jan 23 at 2018 11:34 AM

Col Robert Ing — Tue, 23 Jan 2018 11:34:57 -0500

A former Navy Ensign friend was fresh out of OCS, and found herself pulling the weekend Station Duty Officer billet at NAS Sigonella. Her NCOs informed her that they had a "Code" inbound, which was a Marine 0-6. The staff quickly turned to, and met the inbound flight in front of Base Ops. At the last moment, my Ensign friend turned to her CPO and asked what do you call a Marine O-6...she knew it started with a "C," but she was...new, you know. The Chief gave her an answer just before the Marine O-6 stepped off his aircraft. My Ensign friend snapped her best Navy salute, and announced, "Welcome to NAS Sigonella, Corporal!"

Response by MSG Jd Cotham made Jan 25 at 2018 8:51 AM

MSG Jd Cotham — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 08:51:34 -0500

As an Army SFC I sent a new 2LT to supply to pick up a box of grid squares!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 27 at 2018 11:17 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 27 Jan 2018 11:17:20 -0500

This is very true and the Golden Rule should guide your actions. It’s ok to playfully joke but there is a line. That new Officer is going to form an opinion of Warrenty, NCOs etc from you. If he is surrounded with negative experiences you can guess what his views could become. That butter bar also may suddenly appear as your boss. if not for Golden Rule don’t pee where you may have to sleep.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 27 at 2018 12:12 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 27 Jan 2018 12:12:13 -0500

Baking powder wake-up and boots super glued to the floor in the field lol, he was a good sport about it thankfully

Response by SFC Tom Jones made Jan 28 at 2018 3:11 PM

SFC Tom Jones — Sun, 28 Jan 2018 15:11:55 -0500

When stationed in Berlin in 1976 all of the new guys had all kind of pranks pulled on us. But we had a butter bar who thought he knew everything so we took some C-ration grape jam and put it around his tent. During the night the big wild hogs came around his tent and put him up a tree until next morning and we had to use a gamma goat to get him out of the tree.

Response by SSG Joseph Branham made Jan 31 at 2018 12:44 AM

SSG Joseph Branham — Wed, 31 Jan 2018 00:44:43 -0500

Our CO left and the XO had to take over. He was a 2nd LT so the 1SG had me take in his morning paperwork and he just went through signing everything and not reading it. Next day no one showed up for work except him. The 1SG and the rest of us were waiting in the mess hall for him and when questioned the 1SG showed him the paper that he had signed giving us the day off. He learned his lesson and went on to become a BG.

Response by Khazani Ab. made Jan 31 at 2018 9:28 PM

Khazani Ab. — Wed, 31 Jan 2018 21:28:41 -0500

A corn maze or maize maze is a maze cut out of a corn field. The first corn maze was in Annville, Pennsylvania. Corn mazes have become popular tourist attractions in North America, and are a way for farms to generate tourist income. Many are based on artistic designs such as characters from movies. Corn mazes appear in many different designs. Some mazes are even created to tell stories or to portray a particular theme. Most have a path which goes all around the whole pattern, either to end in the middle or to come back out again, with various false trails diverging from the main path. In the United Kingdom, they are known as maize mazes, and are especially popular with farms in the east of England. These mazes are normally combined with other farm attractions of interest to families and day trippers. Some of these attractions include hay rides, a petting zoo, play areas for children, and picnic areas. Each year a few of the mazes are featured in national newspapers and TV. In the U.S., corn mazes typically are cut down circa the first week of November; in the UK typically in September after children return to school.

As of 2014, the Guinness World Record for largest corn maze was 60 acres, created by Cool Patch Pumpkins in Dixon, California.

Response by CPT Raymond Michaud made Feb 3 at 2018 1:40 PM

CPT Raymond Michaud — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 13:40:59 -0500

Part of a team in support of 78th MTC, Ft Drum, N Y. While walking thru the woods, observing the troops we were evaluating, I picked up a branch and lightly tapped the outside surface of his boot. (butter bar for the platoon we were evaluating). He jumped about 2 feet off the ground and swore he was bitten by a snake.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 6 at 2018 9:34 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 06 Feb 2018 09:34:22 -0500

I had a good prank pulled on me as an ensign. I was standing my first watch on the bridge as Conning Officer when the QMC came over and asked me to go raise the mast. He walked me back behind the bridge and pointed at what looked to be hand crank and said "keep on cranking it until I say it's good." I proceeded to crank the hell out of it, after about 30 seconds when I noticed it wasn't getting any harder or easier to crank, I looked up to see the 21MC (loudspeaker) spinning around freely. I sheepishly walked back in to the laughter of the entire watch team. Good times, still chuckle a bit when I think about it.

Response by TSgt James Potter made Feb 8 at 2018 7:18 PM

TSgt James Potter — Thu, 08 Feb 2018 19:18:11 -0500

As an aircrew member everyone stuck together when we were out on the road someplace. We convinced our new LT that it was customary for the new man to buy the beer. He spent all of his money and didn't have breakfast money. So we took care of him the rest of the trip. He turned out to be a great officer and I crewed with him many more times.

Response by SSgt Mike Stalker made Feb 9 at 2018 12:04 PM

SSgt Mike Stalker — Fri, 09 Feb 2018 12:04:56 -0500

It was always fun to salute with the left hand from a distance that would sometimes get a look of confusion from the "butter bar" while returning the salute or after doing so.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 9 at 2018 1:54 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 09 Feb 2018 13:54:13 -0500

In Vietnam, as I walked by a new butter bar, fresh out of OCS, I just nodded my head and kept on walking. Sure enough he yelled at me. “Sargent don’t you know how to Salute an officer!” I turned and yelled “Holy Shit, get down!” I ran over to him and told him to be quiet. I told him because of snipers, this is a no talking area. He called me on it and we went to the CO’s office, who I gunned for BTW. Anyway after he quit ranting and raving about me, our CO told him he better listen to the NCO’s if he wanted to get home alive. I was busting a gut inside. From then on, whenever we were in that area of base camp, he just nodded and I nodded back.

Response by SGT Patrick Reno made Feb 9 at 2018 2:45 PM

SGT Patrick Reno — Fri, 09 Feb 2018 14:45:56 -0500

Had a 2LT that was really trying to fit in, but just trying to hard. Had one of the PVT's come to me one day and said the LT sent him for a box of grid squares. I went and got the LT'S map and had the PVT cut it up and take it back to him.

Response by 1SG Michael Farrell made Mar 4 at 2018 8:45 PM

1SG Michael Farrell — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 20:45:51 -0500

I remember one that was sort of pulled on me as the new guy's NCO, but then turned into a joke on them. A new lieutenant was due to come in and take over our two man -- I Major and 1 Master Sergeant. I had been there for several years, but as a E-4, Acting SGT, and SGT. I left a couple of years later as a Staff Sergeant.

At the time, my current LT was a 1LT who had gone through hell at his first assignment as a Brigade Chemical Officer in Mannheim. I think he thought that this was what was retired. He's an Osteopath now, practicing medicine in Idaho and Oregon. The FNG -- if you don't know what that means, why are you reading this? -- was fresh out of OBC and West Point. Me, I had been on the road for the last two weeks, doing assistance visits and Observer-Controller stuff for one of our battalions operating in the greater Grafenwoer , Hoenfels and Regensberg areas. I did mention this was Germany, right? Post Vietnam, VOL-AR, Carter era Germany. And, we were Chemical Corps types, assigned to missile ADA.

So, they told me all about how the new Lieutenant was very short, very demanding, slightly crazy, and constantly yapping and demanding stuff. Thing is, I realized that they were laying it on a little thick, and the rest of the S3 -- who liked me but kind were indifferent on their good days to the soon to be departed lieutenant. It just felt stupid. So, I waited until this very big, guy came through the door in the front of the S3 shop from doing something to improcess, and walked up and said, "Hi, Lieutenant Sumner, I'm SGT Farrell. I work for you, welcome to our happy family." The look of relief on the guy's face was totally amazing. They'd been telling him stories about me.

I consider both of these guys great friends, even though it's rare that we see each other or talk. Oddly, they never did get along. Wonder why...

Response by Sgt Steve Nancarrow made Mar 9 at 2018 11:13 PM

Sgt Steve Nancarrow — Fri, 09 Mar 2018 23:13:08 -0500

Always felt a little bad for doing this to a LT. I was showing him how to do a pre-check on a HMMWV. Told him to hit the headlights. Of course nothing happened. So then I told him to try again, nothing. This went on for 5 minutes before he decided I was messing with him and came to inspect the lights himself. Of course they still weren't on, so i convinced him that the electricity could be stuck and he could free it by revving up the engine. Sure as hell, he climbed in and put his foot into the throttle. Guess he didn't know about the unlock switch for the lights.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2018 5:15 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 02 Jun 2018 17:15:02 -0400

On our bi-Annual Battalion exercise we had 2nd Louie who was filled with piss n vinegar. A 4 yr ROTCY graduate who knew everything about everything. Demanded salutes inside the building and that we call him by rank and name. Just saying sir or LT was not the respect he deemed appropriate enough. He actually gave SSG extra weekend duty when he told the LT that he reminded him of the Music coordinator in the movie Hood Morning Vietnam. To which LT responded that LT was just a dumb actor n didn’t know s$&t from shinola. And someone sniped him as said “Must be your older brother!” That Sgt drew extra duty as well. Anyway during the 2nd night of exercise the LT had CQ duty. A call came in and stated there was a problem down by the port-a John. He didn’t know what that where or what that was.. Hhhmmm. So all the enlisted made themselves scarce n he had to investigate. BTW our Company n Bn COs were in on our plan. So the LT arrives on station shining a white light in blackout zone. He enters the port-a-john and somehow the door closed shut behind him n got blocked by a large tree branch. He was allowed to remain there the rest of the night, by order of both COs. When he got out later that night he went to his hootch were he found a note “Respect Be gets Respect, It is something earned and freely given to the rank. But man wearing the rank must earned that respect before he can have the loyal respect, support and confidence of his troops. Lesson completed, SIR! Signed your loving Troops n Commanders.” No one got in trouble because it was a sanctioned stunt. But that LT went into the latrine a POS but came out a humbled officer that learned he did know S$;T from Shinola. He became the inquizative LT I’ve ever know. BTW he became done of the finest officers, commander and COL I’ve had the pleasure to know, Serve n respect....

Response by 1SG Dale Cantrell made Aug 4 at 2018 11:05 AM

1SG Dale Cantrell — Sat, 04 Aug 2018 11:05:33 -0400

He was going to Latrine in the field , I put a roll of toilet paper on his jeep antenna and it started to unroll and looked like a white flag in the woods, over all , a good LT

Response by SGT Patrick Reno made Aug 23 at 2018 4:41 PM

SGT Patrick Reno — Thu, 23 Aug 2018 16:41:26 -0400

Had a new LT that really wanted to fit in. But his attemps were really lame. Had a Private come to me and said the LT sent him after a box of grid squares for the map. I went and snagged the LT's map and had the private cut it all along the grid lines and filled up a box then sent it back to him.

Response by SFC Richard Bensen made Oct 28 at 2018 7:40 PM

SFC Richard Bensen — Sun, 28 Oct 2018 19:40:06 -0400

Sent one to supply to request grid squares.....

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made May 4 at 2019 6:55 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sat, 04 May 2019 18:55:44 -0400

I did not pull this off, but an Armor 2LT was kicked off the range because he missed a range check in. Apparently his platoon told him to look for the range fan switch to get rid of the smoke.

Response by 2LT Gerald Dominy made Jul 21 at 2019 1:53 AM

2LT Gerald Dominy — Sun, 21 Jul 2019 01:53:27 -0400

Well this wasnt much of a joke. But my section 2lt just got his 1st lt bars and was feeling his oats and ego. Now i worked midnights. Kept myself in regulations. But i had very think hair back then. My ears would stay in regulations clearly for 10 days but by 14 it was growing
questionable. As the corner of the ear and hairline often met one another. So every 2 weeks off i went to the barber for a good close tapered block cut. I had just returned to my unit after one of these close cuts. And the new 1st Lt says get a haircut. Im thinking you must have lost your mind sir. Nary a single complaint anywhere else in the command. In fact commented good job and fine haircut. Now unit did not press shave as tight knowing fully i could get shaving waver in the drop of a hat. I kept a electric razor at barracks and unit locker just in case. But kept myself in regulations. So 2 weeks later i get my typical good clean cut that everyone else in command approved of only to have 1stLt rail me again and put me under direct order to get another haircut. I complied after making a few stops along the way OUT THE DOOR to barber. To include 1st shirt and unit commander. Had barber taper it. Thats all and returned. First stop 1st shirt and unit commander. Both agreed it was fine before i left. So i let them in on the reason. What Lt ordered. While their i mentioned. 1st Lt , being a example to his troops was out of regulations on his haircut. LT hair was short fro. And his ears laid down closer to his scalp than mine did. Exception was noted and cordially dismissed. Checked with a few senior enlisted on way into shop. All approved of haircut again. Met up with 1stLt. Something to effect thats how it needs to be. Keep it that way..i respectfully requested to have a conference with him in private. He agreed. I informed him " respectfully sir. Your hair is out of regulations in that your ears are touching your hair sir." He sharply remarked. "Exception noted. Dismissed" i saluted and departed. Nothing changed. I got my usual haircuts. Made sure my immediate superiors were happy with it and did my job as normal..but about 3 weeks later i came to understand the 1st lt met up with the Major unit commander. And story goes a chewing started on obe cheek and went from side to side and 1st Lt came back with a Bowl Head cut. Shaved just above his ears down. . Moral of story get your own feces in order before showering it on others. Never did mess with me from that day on. I was on midnights because i worked and hard at it. Before i left i was specializing in repairing cronic problems in our systems on bad planes. But after meeting other corrupt onez in USAF in my chain. And only having 3 evaluations in 4 years. RHIP gave me a fabricated pen whip without vaseline and as General Sadler remarked of 2 things no one would deny as truth there. Regarding more decisions were made in officers and NCO clubs than base HQ. And his second truth remarked about loose ladies abounding and you could not do better in a house of ill repute with a handfull of crisp.100 dollar bills where these decisions were made. His statement bore great truth. My conclusion i still hold today after serving us army res and Tn army ng after USAF is this. The moral terpitude clause needs reinstatement. That 1st LT was the beginning along with a few NCOs in my shop. And this trend has continued in the following branches and bears out even more recently where junior enlisted are serving time in Leavenworth for Following Commanders intent BUT YET THEIR SUPERIORS are not there with them. Military is socialistic in structure and every form of socialism has fell from within because of moral decline. It behooves us to restore that clause stripped from the UCMJ in 1966-67. For all involved. AT LEAST the USMC still has their integrity still intact. My regret was not joining them.. fyi i went on to attend OCS 2X only to leave guard 4 years later outranking all my peers save for section Sgt in time in grade points and education only to see even more corruption throughout my time in reserves and guard. But i digress. LT left our unit about a year later to parts unknown. I wish him well..

Response by 2LT Gerald Dominy made Jul 21 at 2019 3:15 AM

2LT Gerald Dominy — Sun, 21 Jul 2019 03:15:19 -0400

Had Lt on Aircraft who was busting maint. Hineys at every turn. Just landed. Bird had commo problem we were first to arrive. Think it was intercom which was required use to refuel in most cases. Finally got this Pain off the bird..immediately went to see what he left behind in his rush. Found a black box not secured. Immediately yanked it. Lt was jaw jacking and about the time i arrived in the doorway and held the box out for him to see. Asking if he needed this otherwise i was going to deliver it to hq of work order office. He suddenly got real apologetic and said he would take care of that box for me.. had i delivered it to hq. That LT would have been burnt toast and no telling what else they may have done to him. Major mistake leaving it behind. It was part of my Afsc responsibility. Only reason i knew its importance . Never had to deal with him again.

Response by PO2 Michael Martin made Aug 31 at 2019 8:13 PM

PO2 Michael Martin — Sat, 31 Aug 2019 20:13:30 -0400

I was Navy so I had an Ensign, same thing. You want the whole list or just one that stands out...lol..
We made port in Montego Bay Jamaica, 1972. Naturally everyone hit the bars, our gang took over the Local Hilton. Later we took over a real dive, you know, a sailors bar called Jellies Bar. we got there and we went in one door and the hookers came out of another door You can figure the rest. So who shows up, Mr. butter bar. I mean he had to be fresh out of the academy, hell his shoes still squeaked. We were ready to go back to the ship. We had to catch a launch because we were anchored out. A few of us told the Ensign that the girl he was eyeing the whole day wanted to meet him in some conference room. We told him to go and we would wait for him. Well, back then in Montego Bay, you didn't stay alone, anyplace. In fact you couldn't go down town because they didn't like Americans. well come to find out, the joke was on us because he really did score after all............Man, did we feel like hell. That should have been me or one of my guys, not the butter bar!~!. We listened to that story every time a new sailor came aboard and if nobody came aboard, he would track us down and thank us again and again. We thought he would just go to the room and find it empty and he would have to make his own way back, well, that blew up in our face . The next day he was all smiles and we were all hungover.

Response by SPC Paul Davis made Sep 1 at 2019 11:44 AM

SPC Paul Davis — Sun, 01 Sep 2019 11:44:25 -0400

In Aviation we didn't have to prank the new butter bars. When we got a new one in that started raising cain, we fixed it the simple way. When they would come up for thier in country check ride I would just tell the training officer it would be a good night. We would take off with the butter bar following the map to put us in the lz. Flying along tree top level at 70 knots it's real easy to get lost. Come up on lz out right door I would call three o'clock 500 feet. Pilot would turn and land in lz. Butter bar staring daggers at me as we landed. After landing training officer would ask where we were, butterbar usually say one or two hills off of the lz. Training officer knew it was the right lz. He could then teach the butterbar what team work would mean and how to trust your team. We relied on the whole crew to stay flying and stay alive. I would never make any other comments after landing unless the training officer asked a question of me.

Remember crew chief sits in back left side of the Heuy. So lz was on opposite side of the aircraft when we came in for landing. Training officer's were usually CW-4's. Loved working with them they knew how to teach and take care of the troops. They didn't worry about the officer pulling rank cause they couldn't touch them. Most of our warrant officers came in through the ranks back then so they dealt with officers from both sides.

Response by SPC Jacob Viano made Sep 15 at 2019 8:12 PM

SPC Jacob Viano — Sun, 15 Sep 2019 20:12:13 -0400

I sent my 2nd LT for M-203 blank adapters one night up at Ft McCoy back in 2000. He got back almost an hour and a half later :-D :-D He finally found some CSM that took pitty on his ass. BWWAHAHAHAHAH

Response by PO2 Michael Henry made Oct 7 at 2019 12:38 AM

PO2 Michael Henry — Mon, 07 Oct 2019 00:38:19 -0400

I dropped a mean and fragrant SBD, pretty close to "Liquid Ass" spray bad, right outside the division office and my Ensign stepped right into it. Thankfully I had the broom closet door open and blamed the smell on it. He bought it. The bad part was I had to take the swabs out to our sponson and air them out.

Response by CPT Jim Kotva made Oct 12 at 2019 3:25 PM

CPT Jim Kotva — Sat, 12 Oct 2019 15:25:47 -0400

Sorry no butter bar stories never pulled a prank on a butter bar, when I made 2LT I had been in the Army for over 10 years so not one tried to pull a prank on me.

Response by SFC Larry Triplett made Oct 13 at 2019 9:45 AM

SFC Larry Triplett — Sun, 13 Oct 2019 09:45:33 -0400

I had this new 90 day wonder LT the to the National Guard 90 day school to be come an Officer. I was in Germany in 1978 and that new LT came to me and said he was missing a lot of rubber on his track on him M60A3 tank. I filled out a request form to get 1000 rubber welding rods and told him he had to get it signed by the Squadron Commander and he went to the Squadron Commander to get it signed. The Squadron Commander started laughing at him and told him their was no such thing boy that LT was mad.

I sent one new LT looking for a left handed monkey wrench with a right handed twist he was gone looking for the monkey wrench for about 3 hours or more when he came back he said your funny.

Response by 1LT Rich Voss made Oct 19 at 2019 1:02 AM

1LT Rich Voss — Sat, 19 Oct 2019 01:02:11 -0400

Darn, I haven't seen this post until now...over 5 years old, so someone must have commented recently. Here goes...when I got to my first unit in the 4th AD in what was then "West" Germany after graduating from the Armor OCS school at Fort Knox, I was 19, 6'4" tall and was 205 lbs of muscle (none in my head for those thinking along those lines). So, I happened to be bigger and stronger than any of the men in my platoon. If they ever called me "butter bar" or "wet behind my ears" they never did it in earshot. Long story short, we went to Graf for gunnery shortly after my arrival. The "prank" that was pulled on me, after about a week in the field, was the theft of my newly issued "fart-sack". Not the first, nor last, theft of my issued or purchased possessions while serving there. And to be clear, I'm not just placing blame on enlisted men, as a parka with liner, parka without liner, and pristine officers overcoat were all stolen from the coat-rack in our Officers Club. Some guys left crappy replacements (obviously with their name tags removed) or left nothing...so going out in the cold/rain was just the "fun" I was NOT looking forward to after a meal and a couple biers. BTW, I learned an immense amount of "stuff" from my platoon "daddy" and had great guys on my tank crew and the other men in my platoon. "Vincere Vel Mori !"

Response by MSG Timothy Smith made Oct 29 at 2019 10:08 AM

MSG Timothy Smith — Tue, 29 Oct 2019 10:08:14 -0400

Let's see, a friend of mine who was a turret mechanic had a butter bar go to S-4 to see about getting a key to unlock the travel lock on an M60 A2 back in the 70's.

Response by CPT Larry Hudson made Nov 9 at 2019 5:48 PM

CPT Larry Hudson — Sat, 09 Nov 2019 17:48:21 -0500

Saluting, left handed, then chewing him out.
As CPT (03) pretending to be guard on post at night then getting them to spill their guts on how they feel about the old man. So funny watching upon through reveal

Response by SGT Bobby Mclain made Nov 13 at 2019 9:20 AM

SGT Bobby Mclain — Wed, 13 Nov 2019 09:20:57 -0500

Sending the Lt. to the motor pool sergeant to get a box of track tension.

Response by SSG Jeffery Payne made Nov 17 at 2019 7:19 PM

SSG Jeffery Payne — Sun, 17 Nov 2019 19:19:28 -0500

Had the Lt go to the toolroom to pick up a bucket of track tension for the M113s troop carrier.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 14 at 2019 3:44 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 14 Dec 2019 15:44:14 -0500

I was working in an ADA unit in Korea. Launcher crew had someone stand behind the launcher with a fire extinguisher and let it go when the new LT was doing an inspection. All the soldiers started screaming and running. They made it a few feet. The LT ran right off the site thinking the launcher was about to go off.

Response by SPC David Wayne Swearingain made Dec 14 at 2019 4:00 PM

SPC David Wayne Swearingain — Sat, 14 Dec 2019 16:00:20 -0500

We used to send cherry Lts to get the keys to the drop zone

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 14 at 2019 4:36 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 14 Dec 2019 16:36:29 -0500

Zero.

I prank Majors and LtCols, or no one, like an adult.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 13 at 2020 1:05 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 13 Mar 2020 13:05:16 -0400

Told them their rank was on upside down... I'll bet no one else ever thought of that one LOL

Response by SPC David S. made Mar 13 at 2020 3:56 PM

SPC David S. — Fri, 13 Mar 2020 15:56:44 -0400

Some more elaborated than other but it the simple ones that to me are funny.
LT wanted to take the jeep so I gave him the key to a safe and told him it was the "key" to the jeep. This was at a BN HQ - the BN COL thought it was hilarious we all watch as he sat there for a good 30 minute before he came back in - "Hey, where's the ignition?" I made sure I got the key back before I showed how to start it.

Response by LTC Russ Smith made May 25 at 2020 6:30 PM

LTC Russ Smith — Mon, 25 May 2020 18:30:10 -0400

In 1986 I was demoted from sergeant to 2nd lieutenant… I think because I was a Mustang my troops never put me through any of this. Here is my advice to very junior NCOs who screw with 2nd lieutenants. Be careful that the toes you step on today are not connected to an a** you have to kiss tomorrow. Lieutenants grow up to be captains, majors, lieutenant colonels, and beyond. If you go too far, or they don't have a sense of humor, your career could become a bit miserable in the later years.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2020 7:11 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 May 2020 19:11:07 -0400

I actually convinced a second lieutenant that pick up the batteries in the compass needed to be changed. You flip the compass over and start removing the four screws that held the compass together. I just walked away and everybody else just burst out in tears.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 24 at 2020 11:00 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Nov 2020 11:00:22 -0500

Never did, I figured they had enough to worry about.

Response by SFC Douglas Kirby made Apr 3 at 2021 4:02 PM

SFC Douglas Kirby — Sat, 03 Apr 2021 16:02:28 -0400

I had a 2LT, West Point Grad, who would not listen to me when I tried to keep him out of trouble. We were at NTC in training. I had spent 6 years in Mech Inf in Germany and learned to recognize the tanks by their engine and track sounds. The Opfor had Shermans and the attached friendlies had M60s and M1s. We were setting in a defensive position one night and a couple of M60's pulled up in hull defilade about 200 meters from our position. He decided to take a M60 MG and a couple of LAWS and attack them. He didn't believe me when I told him they were friendlies and went anyway. He got "KILLED" and I spent the next three days leading the platoon.

Response by SGT Vicki White made Jun 29 at 2021 3:04 PM

SGT Vicki White — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 15:04:12 -0400

I kinda miss abusing Butter Bars, lol

Response by SGT James Lansberry made Oct 29 at 2021 1:11 PM

SGT James Lansberry — Fri, 29 Oct 2021 13:11:53 -0400

In Vietnam, new butter bar assigned to our plt,shows up as we are leaving on A lrrps mission . Our SFC pulls out a map and the bb comes over to the sarge and says he’s in charge and demands the map.
SFC dutifully hands over the map. BB looks at map and determines our route. SFC says “ sir , because of where we are in the world, the map must be turned 180 degrees to properly plot our rout” . LT never doubts it for a second. A quick word to a passing pfc in a jeep and a promised bottle of wild Turkey and we didn’t see that lt for 30 days, the exact number of days we were out on this mission. He never really came over and “commanded “us again.

Response by SSgt Russell Stevens made Apr 11 at 2022 1:11 PM

SSgt Russell Stevens — Mon, 11 Apr 2022 13:11:28 -0400

I don't know how much of a prank this was, I had a new 2LT get assigned in my transportation squadron. He learned management in the academy and sat down to start looking at all the NCO OJT records. After noting all the different AFSCs, he came to me to ask about why there were 602 and 605 AFSCs under him. I explained that 602s were ground transportation, 603s were vehicle operations and drivers, and 605s were deployable air transportation people that had to have all the skills of 602 and 603 as well as our own. He mentioned his own AFSC was 6051 and noticed mine at 60575, so he wanted to know how to do the day to day job because he believed it would make him a better manager. He asked me to train him along with the new airmen just assigned to my shop so I said training starts the following morning.

With the formal OJT in progress I had trained airmen and NCOs also working with me and we liked to prank the new guys. I didn't hesitate to prank the new 2LT, I assigned all the new guys the task of finder and delivering a pallet stretcher, and when they left to find one I telephoned every shop in the squadron to be ready, to include the squadron commander who was prior enlisted in the same AFSC. They bounced around the squadron about five hours until the squadron commander caught them checking with the supply squadron across the street. I had good relations with the Supply squadron so both squadron commanders had fun explaining pranks to the 2LT. My own commander was impressed that I used it to introduce all the new guys to everyone we routinely worked with in an original way.

Response by SSgt Mathew Cummings made Apr 11 at 2022 2:14 PM

SSgt Mathew Cummings — Mon, 11 Apr 2022 14:14:40 -0400

Honestly, never had the time, was too busy trying to keep their career alive. Did accidently tell a 2nd Lt to ask MGySgt about an inquiry and they went directly up to him while he was drinking his coffee and smoking his cigar. Common sense was not to do that.

Response by SPC Greg Campbell made Apr 14 at 2022 1:33 PM

SPC Greg Campbell — Thu, 14 Apr 2022 13:33:37 -0400

Was on duty driver with a first time SDO. Trip to the ammo dump, he had a map. I'd been to the dump a million times from Sullivan. The guy got me turned around and ended up in the parking lot of the Oclub. Then he wanted to go check on on some joes over by the fence line. I told him, umm no Sir,I don't want to get beat up. Was putting a pac in a tank and I see a cherry OD uniform duck under the grill doors. I hollered as called him a dumb SOB. A hand come under the door and snags a collar. Next thing I hear in a plt daddy hollering up at me "Spc Campbell the frase