Did anybody really think this through?

It was 28 degrees in the morning yesterday.  Some of us haven’t been issued our jackets and other new cool fancy gear called RFI (which means something Issue).  The schedule calls for us to show up at this building and physically show some people our identification tags (Dog Tags), our Identification Card (it is like proving you are in the Army….why else would we be there) possibly a copy of our orders ordering us to active duty if our name wasn’t on the roster. 

Why at 0600?  Why stand in formation in the cold at 0545 to make sure we aren’t late for the 0600 showing (which means a long line outside in the cold as you slowly file in?)  Can we move the time?  What comes next?  Breakfast which is in the building next door and then Dental at 0900.  Could we start at say 0700?  Did we ask? 

Did I mention we had to get in alphabetical order?  For the checkers ease of use.  I am glad my name isn’t Zezotarski because he was out in the cold from before 0545 (to be in formation at 0545 you have to get over there and be ready at LEAST by 0540….) to about 0630. 

Part of this is the fear that we will be branded as “uncooperative”.  Part is because we don’t ask.  The civilians who were doing the checking had to drive 40 minutes to get to where we are (did I mention Nowheresville is the abandoned town here on the base?)  So those ladies had to get all dressed up first so they had to get up REALLY early to get out here.  We could have done ourselves a favor and them a favor by asking I am sure.  

Uncooperative or a “wimpy” group?  Guardsman?  The story is told among the Guard guys (surely it can’t be true!) about a unit that came through before us.  They were to be on the bus early one summer so they could go to SRP (Soldier Readiness Processing) (that is another blog post or two…) but when they arrived they couldn’t take them all at once and they had to wait outside the air conditioned building and there was not water.  There were three “heat casualties” (a heat casualty is any Soldier who requires medical aid due to heat stroke, stress or exhaustion.)  When the commander of the unit complained he was branded a “wimp”.  (This is a family blog, right?)

Few things get the blood boiling like stupid stuff that leaders don’t question.  Soldiers have a tough enough time with living conditions and separation without having to have our own guys do stupid stuff just because they told us or we are too afraid to ask or make changes.  But many leaders are afraid to ask the “Why?”  or raise their hand and say , “This is unsafe or just plain dumb!”

One thing many Soldiers do is have a little quote after their signature block in official email.  Stuff like “Mission first; Soldiers Always!”, “Life is a series of small victories” and other quotes from memorable leaders through the ages.  Sometimes I wish they could all say “Is there a smarter way to get this done?” But really:  this is the army, not a well run company like Initek, Intaprobe or Enron.