Another tale from my days in the U.S Army, this could qualify as either a sucky customer (sort of) or maybe cursing coworkers (Mods will decide I guess
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BG: While the motorpool where all my unit's vehicles were kept was SUPPOSED to have a guard detail in it all the time, it rarely did. Usually some incident would happen and then the higher ups would reinstate the guard, nothing would happen, company commanders would want their soldiers back and the guard would go away, then another incident. . . you get the idea.
Well back when I was Private First Class Rainman I was one of the lucky soldiers given the guard duty. There were 2 entrances with 1 guard each, 2 rovers (dudes walking a patrol) and an NCOIC (Non Commisioned Officer In Charge) I was one of the entrance guards. Guard duty is taken very seriously in the Army, and a guard's orders (called General Orders) supercede just about ANY other order he may be given. (Example: Someone who outranks me tells me to run off and go find someone for him, unless I hear that order from my NCOIC, I'm supposed to refuse)
So my orders here are to not let ANYONE, AND THEY MEAN ANYONE, to leave the motorpool in a military vehicle without first presenting a valid military ID, a valid military drivers liscense FOR the type of vehicle being taken, and finally, up to date dispatch paperwork for the vehicle. If one doesnt have all of these, he's not taking that vehicle anywhere.
Cue one full bird colonol and his driver. . .
(note: full bird colonol is just one rank away from being a General, they are kind of important people and quite used to getting their way)
Well these two try to leave the motorpool, and I step out to ask for their documents, they dont have them. There is no dispatch at all, the driver doesnt have his military DL, and the colonol has no military ID! (every new soldier learns that to be without your ID = immediate beheading, I knew for a fact this officer knows better than to not have it) He starts telling me its all right, that he's just going out to inspect another company out on their pistol range and to let him through. I respectfully tell him I cannot do that, my orders are NO ONE leaves without proper documents. Colonol begins to get pissed, steps out of the humvee, orders me to stand before him at attention. I do this. He then tells me I WILL release that vehicle to him. I again inform him that to do so would be to go against my orders and that no I will not.
Things begin to heat up at this point. After maybe a few minutes of back and forth, and me repeating "Sir, I am sorry, but my orders are clear and the answer is NO" this guy just f**king loses it!
A private refusing a colonol!! Oh hell no!
Now I am being screamed at, lol. This colonol then decided to begin threatening me. He would report my "insubordination" to my entire chain of command! He would see to it I got an Article 15! (non-judicial punishment in the Army) or worse, maybe he would insure I was court martialed! (VERY judicial punishment in the Army) I would lose all my rank and he would make sure the Army docked my pay! blah blah blah, spit flying into face.
During this whole exchange I am thinking to myself "Sir, I do indeed know that you could theoretically do all of the above to me, but the fact is I have never seen you before in my life, and while you most likely are who you say you are, the point of having GUARDS is to control who comes in and who goes out by verifying identity. And while you MAY be able to make my life difficult, the mean, grizzled SOB Sergeant who is DIRECTLY in charge of me CAN MOST ASSUREDLY make my life VERY difficult for not following my guard orders. So tough f**king titties." Colonol gets back in the humvee and tells his driver to leave. So I then go stand in front of the humvee. Colonol orders his driver to go anyway and "that little bastard will move!" Thankfully the driver doesn't do this.
Colonol gets out again, literally red with rage. He tells his driver to go park the vehicle and meet him back at his office, as he had alot of calls to make about me
Stay Tuned for Part 2
Orders are orders (Part 1, long)
can't wait to hear more. Though I imgine the colonel will come back with his id, throw it at your feet, tell you, "are you satisfied!?!?!" then you (too bad you can't smile cheekily) tell him have a nice day.
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