When did you find it most difficult to keep your bearing in formation?

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 26 Jun 2016 19:59:54 -0400

I once knew an Airman at Lackland who laughed the first night he got off the bus while the MTI was screaming at him. For the next five weeks, he had to sing his reporting statement to every NCO that he addressed. As luck would have it, I would witness this happen several times. Each time, I could barely contain the laughter, to the point of turning beat red while forcefully frowning.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jun 26 at 2016 8:16 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sun, 26 Jun 2016 20:16:55 -0400

Probably First Barracks Inspection in Boot Camp, CCs from the Battalion running up and down trashing everything, in everybody's faces. Ridiculous trying to get someone to break down. They got one guy to lose his Gourd.

Response by SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 26 at 2016 8:26 PM

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 26 Jun 2016 20:26:52 -0400

When my old 1SG would... you know, say 1SG stuff... He would put us at parade rest and would always go off about Cinnastix from dominos..... He said the craziest things.. SPC Private RallyPoint Member

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 26 at 2016 9:25 PM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 26 Jun 2016 21:25:56 -0400

Once in recruit training we had two recruits decide to steal peanut butter and the Kill Hat found the packets. The first recruit immediately started yelling "I was framed" and sold the second recruit out.
They were both sent to the quarter deck to do a countless number of pushups all the while screaming "PEANUT BUTTER JELLY TIME" at the top of their lungs.

All of my self control not to burst into laughter while we watched this act unfold.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Jun 27 at 2016 2:33 AM

Capt Seid Waddell — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 02:33:42 -0400

Medina final pass in review in December 1967. I was cold to the bone, but it was a white glove formation and the reviewing stand could see a finger move. That was where I learned to just let the cold pass through me and to not fight it. That kept me from shivering and getting our flight gigged.

Response by PO1 Tony Holland made Jun 27 at 2016 2:58 AM

PO1 Tony Holland — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 02:58:51 -0400

A few days after I was assigned to the USS Blue Ridge in 1973 we were at morning quarters when one of the five other E-6s cut the wind repeatedly. The junior division officer turned beet red and hurriedly dismissed the formation. Only then did I realize that the air breaks had been modulated to play a tune. Later on another E-6 told me that he did it whenever the division officer droned on too long and/or if it was too hot or humid on deck.

Response by SrA Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 27 at 2016 9:18 AM

SrA Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 09:18:49 -0400

One while I was in base honor guard. it was one of my first funeral details and while they were lowering the casket I had a wasp land right on my face. I had to use every ounce of my will to not swat it, but thankfully and old lady saw me and shooed it away.

Response by Sgt Christopher Wenzel made Jun 27 at 2016 1:15 PM

Sgt Christopher Wenzel — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 13:15:40 -0400

When I was in the S-4 at Recruit Training Regiment, we would get 100-300 recruits and send them off during Team Week. I had a Gunny in the S-1 next door who was my mentor, but I remember him telling out SSgt not to send in any recruits in his office. One day I grabbed two of them and told them to grab scuzbrushes and to march in right in front of the Gunnery Sergeant's Desk and report in at the top of their lungs. I went back to my desk, anticipating the results. The silence was shattered when I heard Gunny P bust through my hatch, cursing up a storm and chewing out my SNCO.

I got bxtched at, but it was so worth it.

Response by SFC Pete Kain made Jun 27 at 2016 1:27 PM

SFC Pete Kain — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 13:27:44 -0400

Standing in a formation, listening to the C.O, drone on after a 2 week field exercise in Korea. The first monsoon of the season was coming right at us, SIGH we got soaked and spent much more time cleaning our gear. On the bright side the C.O. was caught by surprise.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 27 at 2016 4:52 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 16:52:56 -0400

One of my NCOs used to give us the "fall in" command, and then would start to brief us while we were at attention. Every. Single. Time. He would start his briefing, giving us the run-down on what we had going on that day. As his closing statement, he would always say "alright ladies, let's go f*ck this goat." If we laughed, we did pushups for not maintaining military bearing. If we didn't (hardest task in the world), he fell us out.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 28 at 2016 12:19 AM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Jun 2016 00:19:05 -0400

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member During one of our frequent inspections at MCB 29 Palms, the inspecting General stopped in front of a Private, and asked him why he was still a Private. The Private's response was that he had burned the Generals flag at MCRD San Diego. The General responded by saying that "son, you will remain a Private." I did smile at this exchange, but that was all.

Response by SrA Matthew Knight made Jun 28 at 2016 2:09 AM

SrA Matthew Knight — Tue, 28 Jun 2016 02:09:38 -0400

There was an MTI at my squadron who was born and raised in England and had a heavy British accent. Needless to say just about anytime he was yelling you knew it was him as a result of his accent and it was difficult to take him seriously as a result. Luckily for me he wasn't my MTI because I'd have probably busted out laughing way too often.