Iron Gump

Sandrat · Post by **Sandrat** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 4:54 pm

The remainder of that evening's activities cannot be shared on this bulletin board, amigo. One of the better nights we had at AC.

But what a night that was - I'll certainly never forget some of the stories he told us that night.

Spanky · Post by **Spanky** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 11:27 am

Rememebr when we did things "just for the hell of it."???

Sandrat · Post by **Sandrat** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 11:29 am

Oh yeah, I remember those days very well.

For example....

PM: "Whose bright idea was it to buy furniture for the Ward Room that doesn't fit into the B-52 Trailer?"

APM: We'll make it fit.

PM: "You'll have to miracle it in there!"

Sandrat · Post by **Sandrat** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 5:17 pm

And now back to our regularly scheduled programming...

Rank Hath Its Privileges (RHIP)

This is a term known to all members of the Armed Services, where the more rank you have, the more privileges you are allowed with things like billets or quarters, mess privileges, officer and non-commissioned officer calls, and the like.

As many of you are aware, during my time at AC, there were always members of the armed forces, active, reserve, retired or national guard on staff. So it was reasonable that certain military protocols should exist in the AC enviroment of the times.

RHIP was certainly one of them, but primarily it dealt with our interactions between each other. It was one thing for the SGM to always call me Captain, but when we all dressed for E&E in our uniforms, then certain well ingrained protocols came out. Like the salute.

Before rising to the rank of Captain (congrats DOO), when he was a lowly ROTC cadet and then even lower 2nd Lieutenant, he always saluted those of higher rank. As did Grunt, Rambler, and many many others. We all saluted the Sr. VP, and an AC PM as they were both due such respect via being Lieutenant Colonels.

However, there were two counselors (names changed to protect the guilty) who thought they were above such protocols because of their status as Alabama National Guardsmen, both with the enlisted rank of Specialist (E-4).

To put things in perspective an E-4 is far enough below the SGM to be sufficiently scared of anyone wearing six stripes. Secondly, they do not outrank an ROTC cadet (who carry a brevet rank of E-5) and they certainly fall well below officers on the chain of command.

So I walk into E&E one night and the SGM, dressed in his ghillie suit of shredded burlap snaps to attention and salutes me. I return the salute and shake hands with him and we talk, etc. Doolittle walks up, and the ritual repeats itself.

Then Bonehead and Wipe Out walk up, both sneering like what can you do to me if I don't salute you. By the way, this is a common game among a lot of National Guardsmen. Most are professionals, but there are a few idiots out there who have no business in uniform. So they walk up, and Doolittle looks like he's about to burst - as an ROTC cadet you're routinely berated about protocol and respect, etc. Grunt is off to one side, watching with interest.

The SGM looks at Bonehad and Wipeout and says, "What, don't they teach you National Guard pukes to salute officers?"

"We aren't on duty." Wipeout says as he stuffs his hands into his pockets (A BIG BIG NO-NO)

Being the respectful person I was trained to be, and having dealt with it before, I walked away. Truth was, I had long ago learned the most valuable lesson an officer can learn - rely on your NCOs.

Before I'm about three steps away, the SGM has grabbed both of them by the shoulder and is screaming about protocol. Neither look impressed by his rant, until the SGM carefully studies their unit patches and says something along the lines of, "We'll see what your first sergeant has to say about it."

Bonehead replies, "You don't need to call that old windbag, he won't care anyway."

Wipeout: "Yeah, we're not on duty."

The SGM leans into Wipeout's face. "You're wearing the uniform in the correct manner, and I know for a fact that you carry an AGO (Army ID) card. That means you are a member of the Army National Guard, and therefore you are subject to disciplinary codes under Article 15 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, young man. And if you aren't going to act in a professional manner, especially around me and to the officers we work with, I'll make every living day of yours here miserable, and I'll personally see to it that your first sergeant, your commander, and everybody in your (expletive) chain of command makes your lives miserable until they drum you out. Is that clear?"

No response from either of them. The SGM walks away. Things return to normal.

The next morning at Graduation, an NCO in freshly starched fatigues walks into the compound asking for the SGM by name. The SGM, as was his custom, was wearing his dress blue uniform and I can tell you I've never see that many decorations in one place before. This NCO walks up, introduces himself to the SGM and then proceeds to find Bonehead and Wipeout and chew them out for about ten minutes.

Amazingly enough, they were both gone from AC in a matter of weeks.

But while they were there, military protocols were always followed. And our trainees loved it.

ACluvR · Post by **ACluvR** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 6:21 pm

Holy crap. People are so stupid... but that totally could have been some of the counselors I had before.... or sister team counselors. I was always kinda intimidated by the SGM.... I don't think I ever said a word to him in all my times at AC... but then again Doolittle and Grunt scared the crud out of me too a few time... gotta love the old T-Ops. I don't know how counselors can be so stupid, aren't some of those people in charge of them? Have to admit all the military protocol is what kept me going to AC... so much funness. I remember when they started the no military stuff up top and we got to eat right away... was weird...

Spanky · Post by **Spanky** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 7:52 am

Rat correct me if I am wrong but did'nt a particular AC supervisor that left AC AL and went west go AWOL? Was that ever confirmed???

Sandrat · Post by **Sandrat** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 9:34 am

I don't know for sure if he was reported AWOL or not. I remember getting the phone call from his unit about absences, but whether they did anything to him or not I can't say.

He might not have been worth the effort, if you know what I mean.

Spanky · Post by **Spanky** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 9:48 am

OH....he was not worth the effort. I think his efforts out west proved that....but what a facility they had.

Sandrat · Post by **Sandrat** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 9:49 am

All the potential in the world, just the wrong people. Aren't you glad we turned them down??

Spanky · Post by **Spanky** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 9:58 am

Wish we could have that facility...our people and be near the gulf coast.

Now the trainees would love that.

PT on the beach!!!

Cosmic AC sims....and an E&E program that truly mirrors P'cola.

Sandrat · Post by **Sandrat** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 10:01 am

Absolutely - if the National Flight Academy does that, AC's days are numbered.

Spanky · Post by **Spanky** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 10:04 am

IS it just me....or is this thread really long?

Sandrat · Post by **Sandrat** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 10:05 am

Yeah, because we wanted it that way. We need to post Hawke's story....

Sandrat · Post by **Sandrat** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 2:31 pm

In the meantime.....

AC Lead: Winky, I need you to go over to the E&E Course and get a trainee callsigned Trek - he missed his meds at dinner and they want him up to Sick Bay pronto.

Winky: Okay. I'll be right back.

FORTY-FIVE MINUTES PASS when Winky stumbles in to the Trailer.

The Lead is dumbfounded. "What in the hell took you so long?"

Winky: I didn't want to ruin E&E so I crawled through the course looking for him. And then Sandrat "killed" me and sent me to the end of the course to wait for Trek....when he came out of the woodline, I brought him up here.

Spanky · Post by **Spanky** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 2:36 pm

Poor Winky...how could you be so mean!!!

Sandrat · Post by **Sandrat** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 2:38 pm

That's a true story! I remember asking him what he was doing out there, and him telling me he was looking for a trainee.

Spanky · Post by **Spanky** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 2:40 pm

Please forgive Sandrat...once again he left his humor at home.....I have never questioned being mean to Winky.....remember the great left handed screw driver event???

Sandrat · Post by **Sandrat** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 2:41 pm

Oh yes, I remember that - Gordo posted it a few pages back.

Spanky · Post by **Spanky** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 2:59 pm

Like I said....this read will never end!!

Sandrat · Post by **Sandrat** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 3:07 pm

Of course not, too many stories to tell.