COS COMedy
I came back from leave to a few changes in the system.
Essentially, we got a new boss. This boss has made it a crime to walk around at night without a reflective belt strapped around you. The idea being that you will be highly visible to all of the night traffic here. Well, I gotta tell you… My mom taught me to look both ways before crossing the street. I did not get hit for the first six months of the deployment and I am thinking that a big reason for this is: In the dark, I look like a five-foot-nine walking cinder block in my ACUs. Most people do not aim for the wall when they drive their vehicles. If they were drunk then I might be afraid, but alcohol is banned under the 1st general order here.
Our blogs are under surveillance and extreme scrutiny as someone posted pictures with an Iraqi flag being used as a cape. We were all counseled and our chain of command is being threatened with possible action.
One of our platoon sergeants was handcuffed and dragged down to the MP station because he did not fill out a sworn statement. The MP first sergeant apologized and did not intend for his guys to “pick him up” in this manner. The platoon sergeant stated that an apology really wasn’t going to fix the fact that his whole platoon was preparing for missions and got to watch him get arrested.
Almost all of the paperwork that I submitted had to be re-submitted because it was not in a format that the new bosses were satisfied with. This paperwork dates back to August. People often wonder why things in the Army take so long to happen. Why don’t they have the armor to go to war? Why aren’t they using the latest and greatest weapons? Well…. When two different bosses have different requirements in filling out a form that is STANDARD ACROSS THE ARMY, you might get a better idea.
I am not impressed.
Essentially, we got a new boss. This boss has made it a crime to walk around at night without a reflective belt strapped around you. The idea being that you will be highly visible to all of the night traffic here. Well, I gotta tell you… My mom taught me to look both ways before crossing the street. I did not get hit for the first six months of the deployment and I am thinking that a big reason for this is: In the dark, I look like a five-foot-nine walking cinder block in my ACUs. Most people do not aim for the wall when they drive their vehicles. If they were drunk then I might be afraid, but alcohol is banned under the 1st general order here.
Our blogs are under surveillance and extreme scrutiny as someone posted pictures with an Iraqi flag being used as a cape. We were all counseled and our chain of command is being threatened with possible action.
One of our platoon sergeants was handcuffed and dragged down to the MP station because he did not fill out a sworn statement. The MP first sergeant apologized and did not intend for his guys to “pick him up” in this manner. The platoon sergeant stated that an apology really wasn’t going to fix the fact that his whole platoon was preparing for missions and got to watch him get arrested.
Almost all of the paperwork that I submitted had to be re-submitted because it was not in a format that the new bosses were satisfied with. This paperwork dates back to August. People often wonder why things in the Army take so long to happen. Why don’t they have the armor to go to war? Why aren’t they using the latest and greatest weapons? Well…. When two different bosses have different requirements in filling out a form that is STANDARD ACROSS THE ARMY, you might get a better idea.
I am not impressed.
posted by SGT Dock at 12:08
2 Comments:
Dear SGT Dock --
Thanks for sharing this part of your experience. It seems frustration at work knows no borders.
I live in Brooklyn, NY, and I read the 'regular news' daily, as many do in America. I think we're all seeking some closer understanding of what it's like for our country's forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The reason I'm getting in touch is because I have a writing site, Commontales.com, which is dedicated to the stories of people's lives.
Here’s one example of a story from a soldier in Afghanistan writing about the interpreter he’s been working with named Hamid
What's happening in your life is so important to the present and history, that I'm hoping you'll consider posting some of your writing on Commontales and sharing your world with the rest of us.
All the best,
Tom Kane
Commontales
I hear you brother, for some reason it seems more relaxed with the Marines and it's not even a blip on he radar for the Navy. I think the reason you have more hard asses in the Army s because, face it, you guys get the shaft quite often and it looks bad when you actually complain about it.
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