What's the most uncomfortable situation you've experienced in the military?

2016-06-10T16:02:10-04:00

Checking into base housing, my neighbor welcomed us. Well the young child saw me in uniform and called me Daddy. The mother corrected him by saying "That's not Daddy, that's your white Daddy". I was shocked because the husband was on a deployment at the time. The last thing I needed was him to come home and have his son calling another man Daddy. So what awkward situations have you been in?

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Jun 10 at 2016 4:05 PM

2016-06-10T16:05:16-04:00

Cpl Justin Goolsby thanks for the read and share, It definitely has to be combat and my two IED blast. Thankful to be alive.

Response by MSgt Daniel Attilio made Jun 10 at 2016 4:08 PM

2016-06-10T16:08:05-04:00

Well, forgot to lock barracks door. PltSgt and section leaders walked in, looked at us, checked the fridge and on way out door PltSgt said "buy more beer and tell her to bring her friends next time." Just a bit awkward.

Response by CPT Joseph K Murdock made Jun 10 at 2016 4:08 PM

2016-06-10T16:08:35-04:00

Getting my ass chewed by a COL because I followed the LTC's directive. I just took it.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 10 at 2016 4:09 PM

2016-06-10T16:09:31-04:00

as young corpsman was at a party off base met a girl, she invited me to her place, while she was out of the room i noticed a picture book on the table, wedding pics, husband a marine, i got the fk out of that appartment pdq

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 10 at 2016 4:16 PM

2016-06-10T16:16:03-04:00

Had a few but not going to air my dirty underwear here.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 10 at 2016 4:16 PM

2016-06-10T16:16:05-04:00

I was leaving drill once and a lady saw me in uniform and asked me to kiss her baby. She asked loudly. Everyone around was looking at me like they were thinking "is the US army going to kiss her baby? Or does the US army hate infants ?"

Response by CPT Robert Boshears made Jun 10 at 2016 4:36 PM

2016-06-10T16:36:51-04:00

Being put in a drunk tank, that was a converted railroad car...in Yokosuka, Japan in the Winter. There was a heater at one end, with a man off a submarine...he was peeing on the heater...smelled bad. He came over to me and told me he was a carrot...that was enough, I got the Chief in charge, and pleaded for him to let me out, as I was only a drunk, but this other man was a effin carrot. The Chief let me out.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 10 at 2016 4:44 PM

2016-06-10T16:44:09-04:00

One of my Soldiers had a lot of questions about marrying her same sex partner very shortly after the Don't Ask Don't Tell ban was lifted. As a Christian she knew my beliefs, and I never held back where I stood on the subject. However, I was her Team Leader/Squad Leader and I always helped my Soldiers whenever I could even if I disagreed with their practices, because I am a Christian and it is not place to judge, simply to set the best example and to tell others whether they choose to believe or not. Needless to say, I helped out the best I could and they were able to get married very shortly after. I have been through a lot in my career, but that was definitely the most uncomfortable situation for me.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jun 10 at 2016 4:56 PM

2016-06-10T16:56:23-04:00

Not too embarrassing, but still... Leaving a bar one night with a woman and for whatever reason she pulled her wallet out and I happened to catch a glimpse of her Dependent ID card. I said "So you're married huh?"
"Yeah, my husband is a SEAL and he's deployed right now."
Needless to say, I ran off without another word.

Response by SSgt Ryan Sylvester made Jun 10 at 2016 4:59 PM

2016-06-10T16:59:59-04:00

hmmm... well, there was the one time that I picked up the phone on the ops floor and it was our (married female) ops floor lead. Had a conversation, went to sign off, and she ended with "Alright, love you, bye." On speaker. With two other shifters working, too. It really didn't help that we chatted often about going-ons with floor ops, so that drew a few chuckles.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Jun 10 at 2016 5:24 PM

2016-06-10T17:24:51-04:00

Hanging out with the fellas at the club and to help him out with his desire to get the girl he wants, you gotta take one for the team. Hope everyone understands what I mean.

Response by Sgt Tom Cunnally made Jun 10 at 2016 5:40 PM

2016-06-10T17:40:07-04:00

Being a wise ass & posing for a photo with these god awful shorts on ..I had what was known back then as a "Short Timers Attitude" and had only a few days left in my enlistment.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Jun 10 at 2016 6:16 PM

2016-06-10T18:16:56-04:00

I have two. Both, unsurprisingly perhaps, related to girls.

The first one was at CTO A school in Pensacola. One evening a young lady and I found a nice, unlocked lobby to..well, you know. So of course an instructor walked in. Hard to say who was more shocked, but quickly turned away and kept on walking. We made a hurried exit.

The second was in Japan. I was at my GF's house, and she and her roommate were arguing badly enough that I thought it was going to come to blows. Well it did. Only I was the one that got hit. See, the roommate, who had just gotten out of the shower and was wrapped in a towel, decided she'd piss off my gf by dropping said towel and laying down on the bed, with the intent of drawing my eyes to her. Being young and stupid, I cheerfully obliged, and didn't turn away. The gf screeched, swung at me, and I still have the scar from that scratch on my chest today!

Response by SPC Kirk Gilles made Jun 10 at 2016 6:17 PM

2016-06-10T18:17:51-04:00

I roomed with 3 other Scouts in a barracks room. One was a raging alcoholic. One night we awoke to the sounds of him puking and urinating into our carpet! Had to turn him in for his own good and safety.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Jun 10 at 2016 6:26 PM

2016-06-10T18:26:10-04:00

Oh, and then there was the time I stopped the GS-22 (Fed equivalent of a flag officer) commander of my SCIF facility from entering, because he didn't have his badge, and I didn't know who he was. Learned the hard way that sometimes civilians are in the CoC.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jun 10 at 2016 7:22 PM

2016-06-10T19:22:36-04:00

Oh My. The list is Endless from being the Urinalysis Coordinator for SPAWARS 621/NARDAC and getting to watch everyone pee. Watching Mt Pinatubo Blow Up in my Face. Plenty, Plenty more that I can think of.

Response by A1C Aaron Tedford made Jun 10 at 2016 7:24 PM

2016-06-10T19:24:38-04:00

I was in tech school for the Air Force and on my day off (not in uniform) and I was holding my wife's walking her around were I train. A Tech Sgt screamed that I was not allowed show PDA in public. I shot back that we were married. The then replied, " I do not care." He walked off and I continued to hold my wife's hand. Never saw that NCO again.

Response by PFC Leander Yazzie made Jun 10 at 2016 8:33 PM

2016-06-10T20:33:24-04:00

Playing D&D with the unit welcome party, sadly half way thru the game I asked what the acronym ment.
The reply I got was from a bi female PFC, Dungeon's & Dido's.

Response by 1stLt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 10 at 2016 9:32 PM

2016-06-10T21:32:32-04:00

During my first initial interview with a new join from SOI: asked him when he got married, he tells me the day, and then when "they consummated their marriage"

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Jun 10 at 2016 9:44 PM

2016-06-10T21:44:56-04:00

Four months into our float, a hard-charging youngster announced to my OpsChief and me that he just got some great news from his wife: She was two months pregnant. Uh... Gunny, you wanna handle this one?

That was uncomfortable, Cpl Justin Goolsby!

Response by Maj John Bell made Jun 10 at 2016 10:15 PM

2016-06-10T22:15:27-04:00

Informing a CO that I was asking for an investigation into criminal activity on his part.

Response by Capt Michael Greene made Jun 10 at 2016 10:50 PM

2016-06-10T22:50:35-04:00

20 years, 20 terribly embarrassing events, at least.
I was a new 2Lt assigned to the night shift flightline in the PI. Nearing midnight, one of the senior sergeants asked me for permission to tow 24 fighter jets from Parking Area A to Parking Area B, so they would be ready for the morning flights. Seemed like a lot of work for little benefit, but another senior sergeant agreed we should get right on that before it got too late. So I asked my captain. He said fine. Still, I wanted an experienced answer, so I called my squadron commander, a LTC. He said fine. So I told the sergeants they could begin towing. The radio call went out: "Lt Greene has ordered all the jets to be towed."

As the sun came up, somehow I thought I better attend the dayshift meeting, so at 0630, the Deputy Commander, full bird COL, asked the group at large why the fighter planes had been moved. He was pissed. I told him that we re-spotted the jets to prepare them for the morning flights. The COL mumbled something--it was clear he thought it was the dumbest fucking damn idea. Clearly we had fucked up. The LTC and the Captain who had told me "fine" were sitting right next to the Colonel. Silence.

I waited for the LTC to come clean, that he had approved the Lt's stupidity, but no. Just more silence. I took the full hit to my reputation for our collective stupidity. Lost a lot of my idealistic respect for senior officers that morning.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Jun 10 at 2016 11:00 PM

2016-06-10T23:00:46-04:00

Cpl Justin Goolsby I can only furnish the SF response. If I told you, - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- !

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 10 at 2016 11:13 PM

2016-06-10T23:13:41-04:00

Exposing my squad leader for toxic leadershipm

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 11 at 2016 12:57 AM

2016-06-11T00:57:50-04:00

I had injured my upper ribs while on leave and it caused tremendous pain to stand at attention. So I cocked my elbows out slightly whenever I did. Then I got put on a retirement ceremony. When my arms couldn't stay exactly to my sides for 20 minutes, 1stSgt waited until afterwards and then blasted me in front of the whole Company. Mixture of funny and awkward, just because the whole room went silent and listened to him scream at me for being "bad at drill."

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 11 at 2016 6:17 AM

2016-06-11T06:17:35-04:00

The time my supervisor gave me paperwork and then made me hold hands with him while he prayed for me. Yeah, I went to the IG with that one...

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 11 at 2016 7:17 PM

2016-06-11T19:17:31-04:00

One time when I was assigned "watcher duty" for operation golden flow at my unit. So here I am half way through my 4 hour shift and I have this young airman come in. As she is providing her sample she says "this is the most embarrassing thing I have ever experienced". I look right at her and say "how the heck do you think I feel, I've been watching other people pee all morning."

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 12 at 2016 8:09 AM

2016-06-12T08:09:04-04:00

Walking through the airport in San Francisco under orders to not respond negatively to people calling me names and spitting at me.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 13 at 2016 2:06 PM

2016-06-13T14:06:47-04:00

Going to the funeral of a man that a vehicle in my platoon accidentally collided with on a highway in Iraq. As the platoon leader, I was tasked with representing my command, offer our condolences and distribute $3000 in compensation. I would say that was one of the more uncomfortable experiences in my entire life and I am actually surprised his family didn't kill us.

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 14 at 2016 12:08 AM

2016-06-14T00:08:51-04:00

Walking out my old girlfriend's room on Main Side Camp Pendleton and almost running into a Gunny who who was on duty for the night we just stared at each other and my dumbass said. "I'm not a Marine." He just continued walking down the hallway.

Response by SA Jim Arnold made Jun 14 at 2016 10:43 PM

2016-06-14T22:43:34-04:00

The hardest part was the end.
After I got out I couldn't hold a job. Since 1994 i've been a drifter and still ain't sure i'm ready to settle, though I love my girl and wanna' stay right here in South Carolina.

Response by CPT Eric Miller made Jun 16 at 2016 7:54 AM

2016-06-16T07:54:14-04:00

As aPL, I had a CO addicted to porn.

Response by SMSgt Todd Grebel made Jun 16 at 2016 8:28 AM

2016-06-16T08:28:03-04:00

Back when we were first getting widespread networked computers (no CAC) and it was still the wild west when it came to security. I left my terminal open and went to heat up some chow. Came back and started working and I get a call from the 1st Shirt saying that I needed to be in his office "now!". Went in and he started asking me forcefully why I was surfing porn on a government computer. I told him I had no idea what he was taking about. Went back and forth along these lines for a half hour before he let me go. I was pretty pissed about being threatened with an Art 15 for something I had no knowledge of. Found out that while I was gone, a couple of guys had been talking about going to a concert and decided to look it up online. We were in Germany, and instead of the .de at the end of the url they put .com. One was a concert site and one was porn. Go figure. Asshats didn't own up to it till weeks after the incident.

Response by PO1 Edward Spencer made Jun 16 at 2016 9:59 AM

2016-06-16T09:59:06-04:00

I also have a couple of stories involving women.

First one, in Nuclear Power School in Charleston, the first day of class one of the instructors, a Senior Chief, went around telling all of us to stay away from his daughter. Um, ok... I don't even know who she is... A few months later, near the end of my training, I'm taking a couple of friends from high school who'd just arrived out on the town. A group was having a car wash just outside of base, so we stopped off to have my car washed on our way back in. The girl leading the group was a student at the local university, and we hit it off, so she gave me her number and told me she was free the following Friday night. Went to pick her up, knocked on the front door, and wouldn't you know, my Senior Chief Reactor principles instructor answers the door.

Made for a fun class the following Monday, especially as she didn't go home until Sunday evening.

The second one was aboard the ship when we were in Norfolk. Buddies and I had plans to hit college night at Peabody's in Virginia Beach, one of them bailed at the last minute. So the other guy and I went, met a couple of girls who told us they were students at the local community college, and we hit it off and ended up going back to my house for the rest of the night. The next morning, we all leave at the same time, and the two girls are heading in the same direction as us.... Then towards Norfolk Naval Base... Then towards the front gates... Then through the gate... At that point we lost track of them. In line for breakfast on the mess decks a little bit later, we're retelling the story to our buddy who'd skipped out on the night before. We heard a gasp and looked up, and our new friends from the night before were right there in front of us... About to cook our breakfasts at the omelette station...

Response by PO1 Tracy Dreyer made Jun 16 at 2016 10:18 AM

2016-06-16T10:18:31-04:00

Teaching a class in Port Hueneme that had both Hueneme and Gulfport Seabees

We were sitting around BSing and a guy started talking about a time where he was sent out to Gulfport TDY. While he was there he hooked up with some gal. He was describing her and mentioned a tattoo she had on her leg.

This other guy in the class pops up saying "That was my wife"

You could have heard a pin drop. All I could think of was that a fight was about to break out in my classroom

Then the guy laughed and basically said no worries, she had cheated on him on multiple deployments, which is why he had divorced her.

They left the class room that day buddies and laughing...

Response by SGM Nathan Thomas made Jun 16 at 2016 10:40 AM

2016-06-16T10:40:58-04:00

I had left an airborne unit before females were allowed to jump. I was a jumpmaster and there were a couple of females that were pay hurts jumping. I was doing the JMPI and I said squat and hold. I was stomped for a minute and very uncomfortable. In the JMPI you are suppose to run your fingers inside the leg straps to ensure that they are not twisted. Young soldier said do what you got to do jumpmaster! I actually broke out into a sweat.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 16 at 2016 10:45 AM

2016-06-16T10:45:25-04:00

I got cornered by a woman outside of Fort Carson (I had just gotten off work, so I still had my ACUs on). She asked me if I was okay knowing that I was going to burn in Hell for eternity. Alarmed, I politely asked her what she meant by that. She went on to explain to me that all military "fighters" are damned to burn in Hell for murder. There was no way for me to gently extricate myself from this conversation (my attempts to do so resulted in her following me, spouting this nonsense), so all I could think to do was go "Well, I don't believe in your form of Hell, but I guess I'll see you there!" and I beat feet out of there quick-like.

Response by PO3 John Priest made Jun 16 at 2016 10:56 AM

2016-06-16T10:56:59-04:00

All things said, the most uncomfortable situation was being in the pre-"DADT" Navy, and being asked if I was gay. Anyone other than the CPO that asked it, I would have denied it immediately. Unfortunately the CPO that asked was someone that I, out of honor and respect for the man, could not lie to.

Given my performance record and the point that I when I was on Base, or on Ship, I was on duty and I was discreet and circumspect about who I went home or on a date with. At Captain's Mast, they decided that an Honorable Discharge would be appropriate, mostly because I had been truthful about things and had very good evals.

Response by SSG Kalani Matthews made Jun 16 at 2016 11:42 AM

2016-06-16T11:42:32-04:00

A guy from my unit that I went to dive school with embolized on the first day of pool week. He was immediately rushed to the re-compression chamber where the dive docs worked on him until he was stable about 12 hours later. Then they moved him to the hospital. It was about 8pm and I had the duty desk that night. His wife called and asked where he was probably since it was so late. I said "He's stable now and they just moved him to the hospital." She said "hospital?. Oh my God. Kalani, what happened?" I said "Nobody called you when he drowned today?". She started freaking out on the phone so I yelled down the hall, "Senior Chief, you have an urgent call." and handed him the phone. I've never heard so many desperate "Yes Ma'am"s in my life as she chewed him out for not informing her.

Response by Sgt Ken Crouse made Jun 16 at 2016 11:53 AM

2016-06-16T11:53:47-04:00

staring down the barrel of an M14 our gov't had provided to the Ethiopian military while in Asmara (during Eritrean fight for independence). My vehicle back-fired when I slowed down upon seeing a couple of Ethiopian Army guys beating the crap out of an Eritrean on the side of the road shortly before curfew for some reason (I was in a Suburban and wearing civilian clothes) and you can guess where it went from there.... #worstpost

Response by Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. made Jun 16 at 2016 12:17 PM

2016-06-16T12:17:49-04:00

It was during the Vietnam War, I was on leave and visiting my hometown. Back then we had to wear our uniform in public when on leave (sort of a recruiting tool) - several years later when the increasing conflicts over the war that policy was changed. I went to a football game at my former high school. When the the National Anthem played, I stood and saluted the flag. Three young &^%*# came up to me and spit on me and had several negative comments on my being in the military and the Vietnam War. I was livid and wanted to take them on. But our orders were not to engage and to fight with civilian anti-war protestors. My wife knew I had a temper and was thankful I ignored them even though I was raging inside. Note: I have never forgotten being spit on and at later times screamed and swore at - just for serving my country and "not being a draft dodger"

Response by CDR William Kempner made Jun 16 at 2016 12:32 PM

2016-06-16T12:32:34-04:00

The MOST uncomfortable thing I ever had to do was a JAGMAN investigation for a young LTJG who got himself killed by a BART train, where he got off at the wrong station on the way to see a friend while on liberty, and instead of going back down the stairs and over and up to the other side , jumped down and tried to cross the tracks to jump onto the train, and got caught between the train and the platform.(The BART trains are automated-no conductor/driver>.) I was the SLJO at this command, and I had to identify the body at the coroner's, and investigate what happened, who saw and/or heard anything, etc. and then write statements of fact per the JAG Manual. I know EVERYTHING about the last 20 minutes of this young guy's life. The capper was that while the Navy told the family that the guy died instantly, one of the ladies at the BART office called me at home, anonymously, and told me that the poor kid DIDN'T die right away. He was crushed, but she and her co-workers heard him CRYING. (That still sits with me. A lousy way to die.) I couldn't WAIT to be done with that duty.

Response by PVT Anthony Heaford made Jun 16 at 2016 1:05 PM

2016-06-16T13:05:44-04:00

I don't think 'uncomfortable' covers it:

22nd April 2012, Camp Bastion - stood in a guard tower on south east corner of Camp Bastion Airfield, providing protection to opium harvesting 200m from the perimeter fence. Two British officers, senior rank was a Major, visited the tower that morning and after relaying the tower briefing to them i pointed out the 4 acres of poppies and dozens of migrant labourers (who were harvesting opium) camping just 100m from the fence.

The two officers reaction was to laugh, both claiming "we can't see anything" and exiting the tower within seconds - still giggling to themselves. This for me was just the start of what turned out to be the joke that was the British defence of the airfield that culminated in the 14th September 2012 airfield raid that killed two US Marines, Lt Col Raible and Sgt Atwell.

I think ashamed is a more accurate description of my feelings towards this.

More information on my experiences that summer are posted here, thequietmancunian dot com (a work in progress and awaiting updates)

Response by SPC Zac Long made Jun 16 at 2016 2:01 PM

2016-06-16T14:01:30-04:00

As the Battery Clerk, being a liaison between my AWOL NCO and Battery Command.

Response by A1C Lisa Casserly made Jun 16 at 2016 4:12 PM

2016-06-16T16:12:45-04:00

Being pinched by a SMSgt. He was very handsy, all the young female soldiers tried to avoid being around him, especially alone.

Response by SGT William Nixson made Jun 16 at 2016 6:39 PM

2016-06-16T18:39:02-04:00

I was a SP4 (P) driving a jeep for the S-3 in our Combat Engineer Bn. at Ft Meade, MD 1979 - on an FTX and tasked to take a new butterbar on a route recon. Range road had a Bailey Bridge over a river, and the bridge was temporarily out (simulated bomb damage). It had rained enough the night before that the fording site (next to said bridge) was way too deep and fast for my M151A2, even with snorkel installed. Well, my butterbar OIC was not going back to the S-3 TOC with bad news, so he ordered me to proceed through the ford. I told him it was a bad idea, but the "West Point educated" officer was certain we could make it. I informed him it would take a written order from him, and he obliged, saying that "the Colonel would hear about this!"
I swam away from my jeep being washed downstream, and told the LT I would hustle back to the AO and get us a tow.
That night, I was chewed by the LTC S-3 for losing his jeep, until I showed him the water-stained written order in my little green notebook. He actually then broke down in laughter (I had to join in) at this "dumb-ass rookie butterbar" who was responsible. He told me I should try harder to keep these 2LT's from making idiots out of themselves!

Response by PO1 Tharin Young made Jun 16 at 2016 9:16 PM

2016-06-16T21:16:58-04:00

Tailhook.
In the midst of the scandal all the men in the command were brought into the base theater and informed that if we said, or did anything that was offensive to a woman, we were guilty of sexual harassment. Knowing that it would literally be impossible not to say or do anything that someone, somewhere would not find offensive, this was a frightening time. over the years the definition of sexual harassment changed several times to what it is now, but for quite a few years it was quite sketchy.

Response by CPL Wesley Keyser made Jun 16 at 2016 9:30 PM

2016-06-16T21:30:21-04:00

i was a paramedic in the civilian world and when I joined the army I was everyones favorite study buddy at Ft. Sam Houston. I had this one soldier who needed some extra time and she said to me, "I need an anatomy study partner." so I showed up at her billeting with textbooks, and she was in negligee. Apparently we had a misunderstanding on anatomy study partner definition.

Response by MAJ Bill Darling made Jun 17 at 2016 9:45 AM

2016-06-17T09:45:27-04:00

While working at HRC-STL (Army Reserve's HRC) my coworker and mentor, a MAJ, was having a discussion by email regarding "women in the military" with a female colleague, a peer of his. He invited me into the conversation by forwarding the email thread and encouraging my input. Having gone from infantry to AG and being decently read on the subject, I weighed in. She did not reply to my comments.

A week later I discovered she disagreed with my rationale so much that, rather than approach me (a CPT), she filed an EO complaint, which I found out from my leadership. The EO officer encouraged me to apologize in writing and she expected a one-on-one. My supervisor insisted on coming but was thrown out of the meeting because they got into it. She was melodramatic about how personally she took my commentary and tried to chew me out and realized my nonapology apology was insincere (I apologized for emailing her my thoughts).

It was quite uncomfortable getting ripped for the audacity of having a difference of opinion on personnel policy by a senior officer who didn't have the backbone to come talk to me professionally about something like this in the first place.

Response by TSgt Robert Danley made Jun 17 at 2016 10:02 AM

2016-06-17T10:02:01-04:00

That's a common occurrence with small children in the military. Daddy wears a uniform. They see a uniform and they think "Daddy". Believe me...when the child's father gets home he will be "Daddy" and that bond will be reestablished. Awkward situation...my then wife was a secretary for a high ranking officer, and got involved in the investigation of the base XO, who saw to it that our tour in Japan was cut short (he had us sent to Miramar in San Diego. Like that was punishment). I had two weeks to check out, and I had to check out with...that XO. I was just a PO2...and we had a stare down...I knew he was wrong...and he wanted to burn me. I told him just initial my sheet, or keep me there and charge me with something and I will request a court martial (as I had done nothing wrong, and I knew he didn't want that given what he was involved with). After arriving at Miramar we learned that commander was busted and kicked out of the Navy.

Response by MSgt John McGowan made Jun 18 at 2016 7:37 PM

2016-06-18T19:37:59-04:00

Cpl As a 1st Sgt you hear a little of it all. One time i had a young medic come to see me about his wife. She had decided to run off with another man, a security police as i was the 1st Sgt of the Sqd. I had to set and listen and talk to this man for about a hour unable to tell him what i wanted too. How do you tell someone what to do in a case like this. Then I had to turn around and redline my man for his quarters being dirty.

Response by LCpl Donald Friend made Jun 19 at 2016 7:27 AM

2016-06-19T07:27:01-04:00

While in Okinawa I met a girl at a night club (of legal age). I got her phone number and went out the following weekend. After having a flirtatious evening she took me home. I seen a pic of her dad and then asked to see an I.D. It was all good. I asked her where her father was and she told me in Korea, but will be home on Monday. She said she wanted to take a shower and I followed her in. After sudsing each other up we hit the bedroom. - Great time I might add.
I passed out and in the morning we got "busy" again. Suddenly I hear "Cough Cough" I turned around and there was her father. A huge man who happened to be another Marine. A Major. Alicia's backside was sunny side up and I did like any other enlisted Marine would do....salute. Oh yes both appendages were saluting. The real bad thing is that we were in his bedroom. '
There was two ways out....the window or face him like a man. I put on my pants and grabbed the rest of my clothes while he stood in the doorway. Alicia just crawled under the covers. His hand was on the doorjamb and I tried ducking under it as he wouldn't move. While holding his hand out for me to shake, he then said, "Oh, a Lance Corporal! I didn't even catch your name son." My reply, "Lance Corporal Friend Sir." Boy was I shaking in my boots. He firmly shook my hand and punched my face with the other. I don't recall ever being his so hard in my life. I was on the floor and he was still holding my hand punching me over and over again. I crawled for the door, made it out and never looked back. This was my awkward moment

Response by SPC Elizabeth DeCamp made Jun 23 at 2016 11:04 AM

2016-06-23T11:04:49-04:00

Not me personally, but my husband is a retired JAG sergeant. In Fort Ord in 1990 a soldier was being court-martialed over a child abuse case in his two-year-old daughter didn't want to take a bath, so the father duct taped her mouth shut and tossed her into the bath water, which was way too hot for her. She was scalded on nearly half her body. The guy simply got a BCD (bad conduct discharge) instead of Fort Leavenworth where he belonged. My husband had to be left alone for about a week after that. It somehow made local news and it's a small wonder people didn't think soldiers are ghouls.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 24 at 2016 12:07 AM

2016-06-24T00:07:29-04:00

First time at NTC, day 1 there I went to take a shower, only to realize that they were all open showers, and while I was getting un dressed, some dude said I was cute, yea not awkward at all. I have nothing at all against gay people it was just like wtf.

Response by Col Dona Marie Iversen made Jul 13 at 2016 2:54 AM

2016-07-13T02:54:54-04:00

As a Junior Officer, I was out back of the Sq having a cigarette. A Colonel comes out a few minutes later (did not know him), he lite up and we chatted about the weather grounding our flights. I was finishing my cigarette, told him to have a nice day and be on the look out for the new Wing C/C, he said why, told him well his priorities were out of whack and effective tomorrow no more smoking on base and proceeded to express my thoughts on such a stupid ass decision. He said, ok, I'll look out for him . Thirty minutes later my CC is giving the new Wing CC a tour of our bldg, YUP it was the Colonel I was just smoking with and unloaded my opinion of his FIRST new rule. Luckily he was cool and said, come get me when you drive off base for a smoke!

Response by Cpl Mike Dano made Apr 15 at 2017 2:23 PM

2017-04-15T14:23:46-04:00

I have two. Being a military police officer has some benefits, but some terrible burdens. I had to notify a fellow Marine about the death of his sister. Still haunts me.
The 2nd not so bad.
I was at MCLB barstow, Ca. (The Mojave desert.) Middle of summer, approx. 110 degrees that day. I went to the rear gate to do some paperwork. My buddy was manning the gate. There was little traffic so he barely stepped out to wave thru personnel. At some point the base Sgt. Major pulled up to the gate and my buddy stuck his arm out of the gaurd shack to wave him thru. Sgt.Major stopped and asked why he did not step out. My buddy said "its to hot to come out."
The sergeant major blew a gasket! "You don't know what hot is! Hot is being in the jungle of Vietnam!" Etc. Etc. Not a good day!

Response by MSG Frederick Otero made Sep 29 at 2017 1:27 PM

2017-09-29T13:27:43-04:00

Hate to admit this but maybe it will purge it from my memory. Demonstrating firing a LAW to a General and being so nervous i picked up one that had already been fired; it went great till i attempted to fire it! Seriously Awkward moment. I will say the General was very understanding, my teammates not so much.

Response by SSG Will Phillips made Sep 29 at 2017 4:36 PM

2017-09-29T16:36:41-04:00

While on post support cycle we were training ROTC cadets in the field. I had a female cadet pull me off to the side to tell me she had "hit her time of the month". As respectfully as I could, I explained to her how to make a field expedient maxie pad out of her pressure dressing. Uncomfortable for both of us to be sure!

Response by SSG Joseph VanDyck made Sep 30 at 2017 3:49 PM

2017-09-30T15:49:18-04:00

Mine was was post 82nd AVN BDE Car Wash in Fayetteville NC 1994. We were raising funds to pay for our Hospitality suite at the 82nd Association Convention. Finished up for the day, went it the restaurant TGI Friday's or something like that. The new medic and I were hitting it off pretty well. She was telling me she had been a previous c141 crew chief in the USAF. She was also an intimate barber in her off time. Cool I responded. Hindsight. Boy was I clueless about her hitting on me. Duh!

Response by SGT James Murphy made May 30 at 2019 2:10 PM

2019-05-30T14:10:50-04:00

Hmmm..... I was invited into the Officers Club by my Warrant Officer as an E-5. There was a decision made by a group of officers that resulted in my being their driver to take them into the Village just before curfew. They wanted to take their girlfriends "home". We all knew that there wasn't enough time for us NOT to be breaking curfew in the village. This was in TDC Korea in 1969 BTW. Sure enough, I was down a blind alley dropping off one of the officers with his girlfriend and the MP's pulled up behind us. Everyone Bailed except of course myself. There is no way I was going to report those officers. I was fortunate enough to be attached to ASA and had my get-out-of-jail card free ID with me and I resorted to using that. I didn't feel good about it, just lucky as hell! So That's my uncomfortable situation.

Response by SSG Timothy Stevenson made Oct 3 at 2019 5:14 PM

2019-10-03T17:14:15-04:00

Met a young lady at my first duty station and we had gone out a few times. Got a call one morning to report to the Post IG at 1, hurried to the barracks and threw on a clean pressed uniform and my parade boots and reported......seems I was dating his underage daughter, he politely asked me to refrain from coming by again....Thank god for Desert shield....we were gone in a few days after.

Response by SGT Mark Anderson made Oct 3 at 2019 7:08 PM

2019-10-03T19:08:05-04:00

Basic training - a NASTY company commander...

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Oct 10 at 2020 9:01 PM

2020-10-10T21:01:29-04:00

Well.... There is the time I went to my CO about what I believed was a war crime committed by a fellow NCO. Only to have the CO tell me "who do you think told him to do it?"

Or the time I was aked to narc on my entire training class regarding fraternization because I was one of three NCOs "who had no allegations." I had no allegations because I never left my barracks room - or had anyone else in. So I knew nothing concrete anyway.

Response by TSgt Gary McPherson made Sep 23 at 2021 1:18 PM

2021-09-23T13:18:27-04:00

As a marine(prior to the USAF) I was in training to disembark a troop ship.I hate ship/boats.As I was going down the rope ladder I got very seasick and barfed on the troops below me..Did not make many friends that day

Response by SrA Dane Noecker made Sep 23 at 2021 2:07 PM

2021-09-23T14:07:09-04:00

Everybody in uniform has at least 2 and if they say they don’t, they’re lying. I have had my share, either perpetuated by myself the actions of others.

I would say that the two that stand out the most to me are getting in trouble for fraternization with an E-2, even though I was an E-3. She was a pipeline student, while I was switching AFSCs.

The other, while at the same tech school, the some of a female TSGT billeting across the hall from me followed me and my classes SNCO (MSGT) into my room chatting us up. We were cool with it, and we left the door to the hall open, the TSGT comes over and tells her son, about 9 or 10 years old, to leave me alone and get back to their room. The son replies, ”but why, I’m like talking to this white boy.” Oh, did I mention that the mom and son were black and from Arkansas. It had been obvious by her actions throughout the training that she didn’t like anybody of different races because she didn’t talk to anybody that wasn’t black, but you should have seen the MSGT’s jaw drop when she didn’t even feel the need to correct in on the way he referred to me.

Response by SPC Steven Depuy made Sep 23 at 2021 2:11 PM

2021-09-23T14:11:42-04:00

Master SGT I worked for had me over for Thanksgiving with his wife and other people. In the middle of the afternoon, he said he needed to run out for something and took me along. Ended up sneaking off to suck face with some other guys wife and I guess I was supposed to be his wing man. Pissed me off because I really liked his wife. Then later, he tried to hook me up with some other guys wife when their unit was in the field at night after work in the office we worked in. Growing up in a broken home because of that kind of crap, it really rubbed me wrong. Forced a transfer after that, and he screwed me on my evaluation. Just goes to show, not everyone doing wrong gets caught. The E-8 can bang the E-5's wife, and screw the E-4, and never pay a price, lol. I guess I could have screwed him back but I didn't, just wanted to get out of the situation.