What is the most bone headed thing you've ever done to get yourself in trouble?

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 16:18:28 -0500

For me it was when I was a young enlisted guy. Spend a summer Sunday afternoon playing tennis, shirtless.. Wound up with severe sunburn and couldn't wear a shirt for several days. Trip to the TMC: 4 hours I'll never get back. Bottle of witchhazel - $1.49

negative counseling statement and 30 days extra duty for "destruction of govt property" - priceless

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 13 at 2016 4:20 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 16:20:56 -0500

which one? lol

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 13 at 2016 4:24 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 16:24:21 -0500

^Yea, which one?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 13 at 2016 4:59 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 16:59:37 -0500

Civilian or military world? Misdemeanor or felony?

Response by PO2 Steven Erickson made Jan 13 at 2016 5:09 PM

PO2 Steven Erickson — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 17:09:54 -0500

I was teaching the boat's Engineer how a circuit breaker works. The 450 VAC breaker was live, under load, and the access door was open to facilitate training. After carefully explaining all the safety measures to be taken EVERY TIME we work around energized equipment, he asked me to show him the "trip mechanism" again.

So I said, "Look here, Lieutenant..." and with the speed and confidence that comes from years of operating a sub nuke plant, shoved my bare hand into the breaker, put my fingers on the mechanical trip linkage, and tripped the damn'd Starboard Vital Bus Motor Generator Output breaker.

Doh!!!!

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Jan 13 at 2016 7:09 PM

SrA Edward Vong — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 19:09:03 -0500

Forgot to check impulse carts for a jet that they were doing a test one. The guy in the cockpit pulled the trigger. Thank god for safety pins.

Got awarded a Letter of Reprimand.

Response by LTC Bink Romanick made Jan 13 at 2016 8:02 PM

LTC Bink Romanick — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 20:02:04 -0500

LTC Private RallyPoint Member Actually I couldn't think of one single incident among many but I settled on one. I was the S1 of a Tank Bn and invited a couple of nurses out to see gunnery one night. We were caught in the middle of a night march beyond the light line and to avoid being run over by a tank company of our sister battalion, I pulled off the tank trail and hit a stump putting it thru the radiator.

I moved the 1/4 ton to a civilian road and called a civilian wrecker who towed it to our BOQ parking lot. Talked to the Bn Motor Sgt and negotiated payment in beer for the repairs. Bn Commander never found out ass chewing averted. Nurses delivered unharmed, damn.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 13 at 2016 8:35 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 20:35:10 -0500

As a Lance Corporal, I had just recently got off orders from Iraq and had volunteered for a Toys 4 Tots event. This wasn't the usual venue; it was a dance club (rave) that had shared the building (openly, as in you could walk into it without going outside) strip club. We were in our blues and were allowed in the VIP lounge. I was at fault, since I instigated a fellow Lance and a Corporal to spend a little too much time drinking what the bartender called "blackouts"... I know I mingled a bit with the strippers because of the pictures and random numbers on my phone that I found the next morning, but all I know is that I wound up dancing on the stage with some go-go dancers and I got blasted into sobriety by my Sergeant on the way back home, in my blues, on the side of the road. So did the Corporal. I'm not sure if I can take all the blame, since command authorized a Toys 4 Tots event at a rave/strip club; that's like putting a bone in front of a dog and telling him not to play with it.

Response by PO2 Peter Klein made Jan 13 at 2016 10:13 PM

PO2 Peter Klein — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 22:13:25 -0500

Navy boot camp. We had just learned the rudder commands. I was the squad leader. I had to march my squad to somewhere on base, so of course it was "Right full rudder MARCH!", etc. Didn't see the officer on the bicycle behind us.
Reamed and given extra KP.

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Jan 13 at 2016 11:07 PM

Capt Mark Strobl — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 23:07:54 -0500

As a 2ndLt (go figure), I was standing a weekend watch. The G-1 called me at the command deck at fore-warned me that the CG was inbound to read some message traffic. As the message had been printed in hard copy, it was to be stored in a safe until the authorized personnel arrived to retrieve it. Thinking I'd save the General some time, I took it out and kept it with me. Well, nature called. So, I took it to the head with me. About midway through the SNCO of the watch barged into the head. He was going on about how BGen (name withheld) was in the duty office --staring at the back of an empty safe. "Oh, here it is." As we didn't have a chain of custody form in the men's room, I couldn't hand the message to him. So, the General had to wait. Before my relief showed, I was talking to the G-3 OpsO (Colonel). I conducted security & message protocol briefings until the CG retired.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jan 13 at 2016 11:21 PM

PO1 John Miller — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 23:21:49 -0500

I decided to jump down a flight of stairs (probably trying to impress a female Sailor) and my ankle decided to bend. I ended up with a mildly broken ankle, a half cast, and 4 months light duty.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Jan 14 at 2016 1:11 AM

SN Greg Wright — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 01:11:13 -0500

LTC Private RallyPoint Member Well mine is more of a near-miss, at least in terms of getting in trouble with the Navy. It was a dead hit on getting in trouble with Life. In 'A' school in Pensacola, I met a young lady, and things went as things will...in a closed-at-the-time foyer of a building. Only, someone walked in on us. (It was night time, and the building was 'closed'.) He noted our activity, and kept on walking, but we were so spooked that we quickly arranged ourselves and left, heading to a nearby pic-nic bench, where we sat and laughed in relief at our close call. Understand, a curfew was in effect for trainees, so we weren't supposed to be there. A passing shore patrol (MP, for you ground pounders) saw us from his vehicle, stopped, and got out, approaching us. It was dark. So when I saw that he was coming, I reached into my pocket, grabbed my military ID, and winged it into the night. When he asked us what we were doing (where we weren't supposed to be), I told him I was looking for my ID that I thought I'd lost here. He helpfully got his flashlight, helped us find it, and then sent us on our way back to the barracks. This incident mostly 'spooked me straight', because it terrified me. As a CryptoTech, any little thing can derail you. Soooo...Yeah.

Response by PFC Carl Willmon made Jan 14 at 2016 5:04 AM

PFC Carl Willmon — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 05:04:49 -0500

hmmmI most boneheaded. I made more than my fair share of those but the most would have to be flicking a lit smoke out of a military vehicle which in itself isn't the brightest but hitting Major General Anderson with it who at that time was 3rd armored division commander made it a extreme boneheaded move. BTW hitting him or anyone with it was sheer bad luck and not on purpose

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Jan 14 at 2016 10:02 AM

SSG Warren Swan — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 10:02:53 -0500

Sir, I don't believe there is enough room on the entire internet to list all of the things I've done that are boneheaded, and got me into trouble. To list just one, would do an injustice for all of the other Oh Sh*t moments I've gone through. I can categorize them by this:

1. Damn....not so bad
2. Follow me...gonna get my bags smoked pretty good for this one
3. F*ck....gonna be yelled at for this one
4. Wow...someone's seriously pissed at this one. 4856 WILL be involved.
5. Parade Rest...1SG was talking about me loosing weight, I'm about to loose some ass. And be forced to do some time wasting dumb sh*t. This might work out good.
6. F*ck me..."I'm now being recommended for an Art15"
7. F*******CCCKKKKK.....hand that rank back to me and go see S1 and get a new ID card
8. 1SG is smiling....see #'s 3, 4, 5 in that order
9. CSM is smiling...see #'s 3, 4, 5, with my entire NCO support chain with me and when he's done repeat #8.
10. F*ck it.....That moment you realize you're now about to become the newest civilian in the US.

In 18 years of service, I've seen ALL of them at least once. No's 1 - 5, A LOT!! No's 6 - 7, once, No 8 TOO MANY TIMES, No 9 Twice Once for telling a Three stars CSM his combat patch wasn't sh*t compared to the BRO (I didn't know he was a former regimental CSM of another unit and that was the patch he wore, but I stand by what I said, but damn sure wouldn't do that again). And another time where I literally was in the wrong place at the wrong time. It wasn't even something I screwed up on. No 10...IDES say's it all. I didn't mention the officers on here, being all of this is NCO Business until no 7, and even then, it's NCO business. I can look back and laugh at the ignorance I did as a Soldier, and even with no's 6 ,7, it never was that bad. I had some outstanding leaders, who even when they knew I was 8up, were determined to bring me back in line. It's a real shame when you have those type of NCO's in the Army now, but due to 6 and 7 they're being pushed out the door. And the zero mistake Army rears it's ugly head again. I learned a LOT from NCO's who've been busted, yelled at, spent time doing LOADS of extra duty, and they still made it into the SNCO ranks. They would tell stories of their mistakes and you'd ask "how are you even alive" or "CSM allowed you to stay in?". Those were the most "human" and understanding NCO's I ever met. But once you cross one of them, they're also one of the most feared NCO's being they know first hand what they're about to dish to you. Wouldn't trade it for the world.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2016 10:26 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 10:26:00 -0500

Well, this story I am about to tell doesn't involve the military, but it does involve a group of people, a college football home game, and stupid beer.

So, I am in Lincoln, NE on a Red Dress Hash run and we are going through the city and around the stadium following the trail and finding/drinking the beer. At one point, a bunch of the females needed to answer natures call. There were no port-a-johns anywhere, but there was a cove near the building surrounded by trees and big bushes.

So, the women do their business with us guys providing an extra barrier in case of looky-loos. Well, when they were all done, I felt the need to go as well. So, I walk towards this tree and put my hand on a low branch...............again my hand is on the low branch. I tell everyone to watch out for the low branch that my hand is on. And then I proceed to try and duck under and smack my face right into the branch that my hand was on. I hit that thing so hard with my nose/face that it dropped me to my knees, saw stars (once the blackness cleared) and made my nose bleed for a good hour or so.

Response by SSG Todd Halverson made Jan 14 at 2016 1:35 PM

SSG Todd Halverson — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 13:35:51 -0500

When I was young and dumb in the 80's, I did a lot of things that got me into trouble. I once came back late from drinking and did not want to go to PT in a few minutes. So, I sent my buddy to stand in my place. He was on leave and the 1SG did not think it was too funny. Needless to say I was pushing every time he came into my office. Then I would have to go run laps around the building, after the push-ups, until he decided to leave.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2016 2:47 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 14:47:55 -0500

I once started an evening in Rota and ended up waking up in a bathroom in Seville...talk about one painful trip back to the pier.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2016 5:06 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 17:06:56 -0500

When i was a PV2 have a disagreement with a SGM, He cursed at me and wish he could have a Connex like in the old day, I make the mistake to agree... Next my 1SG, CO, Plt. SGT got a connex we walk in and befor they close the door give NVG to the SGM... could not land a hit... Sour like crazy, tier as hell (Need it to Volunteer for every Detail for 6 Moths) but a little wiser.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2016 6:45 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 18:45:39 -0500

same as major...I never knew that ONE hour in the sun in Colorado springs was like FOUR at sea level. Got my butt burnt but good and got the counseling statement, 30 days of kp for 'destruction of government property'

Response by SSG Michael Hartsfield made Jan 14 at 2016 7:28 PM

SSG Michael Hartsfield — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 19:28:01 -0500

As a PFC, I took an AMC flight to Texas...
....from Alaska
...and got stranded at McChord on the way back.
I got an Article 15 #1 for that one.

Response by SPC Jeffrey Reese made Feb 26 at 2016 5:39 PM

SPC Jeffrey Reese — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 17:39:07 -0500

I was in A.I.T. when a soldier in my barracks came in drunk about 4 in the morning before a scheduled full inspection at 08:00 and wet the Bunk. Unfortunately it wasn't his Bunk and the soldier in the Bunk wasn't very happy about it either. This same soldier fell out to the formation in dress greens unshaven field boots instead of low quarters BDU jacket under his dress green coat with a tie.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 26 at 2016 6:15 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 18:15:39 -0500

So I didn't "technically" get into trouble for this, but it made for a pretty rocky part of my deployment. I was a Fister for 2 Armored Cav during the initial invasion and holding in Iraq. We were sent to the Green Zone in Baghdad, and my platoon was put up in the Al-Rasheed hotel. We had two men on the roof at all times, and one could read while the other kept watch. Seems simple enough, no? So there I am. Pretty much brand new PV2 (been in the Army less than a year, to include basic, AIT and airborne school) and I grab a box of chem lights to read with. Hell, one lasts a good while, so I'm good. I crack it open and shake it up. Nothing. Darkness. I'm like what the hell? Toss it off the side and crack another. Again, nothing. After like the third or fourth light I was getting pissed. I kept cracking them, and tossing them. I finished one complete box of non-working chem lights, and was halfway through the second box when someone hit the radio and asked who the asshole was tossing all the IR chem lights off one of the tallest buildings in Baghdad...

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 27 at 2016 12:35 AM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 27 Feb 2016 00:35:50 -0500

Intending to be funny during an AAR following an exercise that didn't go the way we'd hoped, I said "I don't like it when I finish an iteration so frustrated I want to go to the nearest living think and kill it." I learned two things. 1: There are some people who take everything literally. 2: Turns out, commedy isn't that easy.

Response by LTC Trent Klug made Feb 27 at 2016 1:51 AM

LTC Trent Klug — Sat, 27 Feb 2016 01:51:31 -0500

A long, long time ago, in a galaxy far away, long before the repeal of DADT, a not so young infantry PL's PSG brought in a box of old-time 'training' DVDs in to sell as a platoon fund raiser. All the 'training' DVDs were sold except for one. As the platoon was a bastardized, er, amalgamation of paragraph and line numbers, we weren't well liked by certain elements within the BDE HQ.
One thing (training film in BDE CDRs VCR), led to another. HHC CO searches our hootch and finds remaining training film. We return from AT and my presence is requested in the HHC COs office. During our chat, he starts waving the 'training' film around asking who its owner was. I stated that is was mine and requested it back. He stopped dead in his tracks, handed me the DVD back and bade me leave his office. The training film title?
Chicks with d***s.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 27 at 2016 2:51 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 27 Feb 2016 02:51:26 -0500

If it's any consolation sir, I would've given you some ibuprofen and light indoor duty x24 hrs. Miracle cure.

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2016 4:27 PM

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 28 Feb 2016 16:27:04 -0500

was pulling fire guard while using night vision. sat at desk writing shit down, other guard walks up to the desk with soldier. I ask the soldier, "what the fuck do you want" soldier yells, lights on! everybody front leaning rest position move!.. it was our senior drill