Wednesday 2 September 2009
Sometimes you can outsmart the big green machine, but sooner or later, the administrative whip of the U.S. Army always catches up with you. I have successfully avoided a series of administrative, in-processing lectures for over a week through a combination of guile and misdirection. I have claimed to be too busy “transitioning” to make the uplifting lectures on suicide prevention, why we fight, and the grooming and uniform standards of BAF (Bagram Air Field). Alas, today was the day I paid my administrative dues. Fortunately, the keynote address on uniform and grooming standards was delivered by the Sergeant Major who runs every morning with his henchmen, as I previously described. I had been looking forward to meeting him. If you have ever seen “Generation Kill,” you have seen this Sergeant Major, although the BAF version is slightly more Army than the Marine SGM in “Gen Kill.” He’s a bit softer, but equally as unintelligible.
“The grooming and uniform standards must be maintained in the war zone. These standards exist in order to maintain standards and guarantee your safety.”
Wearing sunglasses prior to 0700 is apparently a clear invitation to the Taliban to do something horrific to you, which I hadn’t realized. Pretty standard.
Come on now Joe -- you've got to look at these issues from the viewpoint of command. Imagine what would happen if every 20 year old enlisted soldier were allowed to wear sunglasses before 7:00 am??
ReplyDeleteAnarchy. Standards are established so that rules can be fashioned for the purpose of maintaining order in the uniform application of the criteria upon which compliance with the standards may be evaluated and thereafter adjusted. If necessary.
See? It's simply once you see it from their perspective. That's how I got promoted within the governent.