Fleet Marine Life #60 – BBQ
Jul24
on July 24, 2011
at 8:38 pm
I remember I was in Okinawa when I first fell for the old “free barbecue trick.” There’s always some poor bastard that ends up on duty without a replacement because someone with some weight on their collar fucked up something as simple as a duty roster. And this happens more than you think.
After this little incident, I just stopped answering my door. It has helped me dodge more duty than the kid who got NJP’d seven times (Once for biting an MP dog). If you live in the barracks, never answer your door unless you know the guy. Because behind that door, lies a Marine trying to pass off his duty to you or a Marine trying to sell you some shit like lawyer insurance.
Getting tricked into surprise duty since 1775.
It was a Friday and the Duty NCO called me to say that he needed someone because of some fuck up. I called a LCpl in my platoon (it was 1630 and I sent everyone home). He answered his phone and I asked if he knew where the guy who was supposed to be on was. He didn’t and we hung up. Then I called him back. I was going to ask if he could do it, and anyone on this site knows that he couldn’t say “no” so he did the next best thing. He didn’t answer, and I’m glad for it.
Some motivated PFC stepped up and just volunteered. Monday I went to his Plt Sgt and told him what the kid had done, and with some prodding from me, the kid got some kudos and sent to the barracks for an early day.
So, if you ever met some Marine who thinks things are fair, and that hard work and volunteering will be rewarded, it’s that guy. He’s the only one.
One Saturday morning at WTBN Quantico I woke up to knocking down the hall (everything echoed). Someone was knocking on every door and it was coming closer to my room. They knocked on my door and I rolled outta bed and underneath it. I heard keys in the door and then saw a pair of boots come walking within a couple feet of me. Then they left. I found out later that they were rounding up any available Marine for target pulling duty to support an inter-service rifle match. Fuck that! Not the way I planned to spend my weekend (which was basically sleeping, chow and TV time).
You must have felt like Anne Frank.
Pwned.
How do you mess up a duty roster? I got out as an E-3, but even I was able to make a watch list that was sustainable.
I quit answering the door and phone if I didn’t recognize the number.
God I miss Oki, the random duties and all! hahahaha