Many days we tend to be nostalgic about all the wonderful times we had in uniform. As a reminder, I came up with a list of things not to miss:
- Taking clean weapons out of the armory, to clean them again, only to get them rejected by the armorer
- Going to 1700 formation only to be told that no one has been released yet and to come back at 1800
- Meeting at 0330, because the platoon sergeant wants you there at 0430 because the First sergeant wants you there at 0530 for an event scheduled for 0630
- When everyone gets to go home early, except for you because of your rank, MOS, position
- When a “half-day” is the same as your civilian buddy’s full day
- For Reservists/National Guard: Having drill/Battle assembly land every weekend something fun is happening. Who the f*ck schedules drill on Super Bowl Sunday????
- When you are locked down at your Battalion AO because some mouth breather lost a sensitive item, only to find out later he tried to steal it and miraculously, “found it” when he realized no one was getting released until it turned up
- USR prep
- Picking up brass, in the rain, in the mud
- Getting yelled at for not wearing a hat outside
- Getting yelled at for having your hands in your pockets
- Having to come in a Saturday and mow lawns/paint rocks for extra duty for an egregious no hat outside or hands in pockets violation
- Having to get rid of your store-bought, waterproof gloves in exchange for black, leather ones with built-in, green wool, “sponge glove” designed to soak up and retain cold water
- CQ/Staff Duty
- Attending alcohol-free mandatory fun events on weekends
- Having to hump extra ammo, mortar rounds, radio batteries, commo wire in your ruck in addition to all of the shit you normally have to carry
- Practicing marching/forming up for the change of command ceremonies
- Walking around in a combat zone with an unloaded weapon
- Having to get written permission to go more than 200 miles from the base on your days off
- Having to buy new gear to turn into CIF so you can ETS or PCS
- Worthless briefings and online training for sexual harassment, STDs and other topics
- Death By Powerpoint!!!!
- Buffers
- GI parties
- Sensitive items inventories
- MOPP 4
- Getting shredded setting up concertina wire
- Cleaning guns after firing blanks through them
- Omelet with ham MRE
- Fire watch
- Shaving every day
- Health and welfare inspections
- Safety belts
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Nick Perna is a Police Officer with the Redwood City Police Department in Northern California. He has spent much of his career as a gang and narcotics investigator. He is a member of a Multi-Jurisdictional SWAT Team since 2001 and is currently a Team Leader. He previously served as a paratrooper in the U.S. Army and is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He has a Master’s Degree from the University Of San Francisco.
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Christopher Simon, a firefighter with the 314th Civil Engineer Squadron, takes cover in a defensive fighting position while attired in mission-oriented, protective posture gear during a field exercise at Little Rock Air Force Base (AFB), Ark., Oct. 16, 2007. Source.
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