Guess what, Mark - this is one old dude who absolutely revels in the fact that he's not "cool" or "chic", what I consider a flock of sheeple who march in lockstep.
I've been a rebel against the conventional all my life and have managed to progress pretty well despite those tendencies. Back when Jimmy Carter was president, he fired a major general who protested Carter's plans to reduce the number of troops in Korea. I wrote Carter what I call a "nastygram" and said if he wanted a military force of yes-men, to count me out. My colonel was shocked that I had the temerity to do such a thing but didn't forbid me to do so - I think because he probably agreed but was just too conventional to say so.
Early in my military career, I don't mind admitting (though with a slight touch of shame) that I held unit records a couple of times for having the most Article 15s (captain's masts for you ex-sailors). I just refused to acknowledge that my superiors could tell me what to do after duty hours so often forged passes (liberty chits). I used to get busted so often I told my buddies I should attach my rank insignia with zippers. :teeth_smile:
Hi Stumpy:
Well, it's interesting, but your post and your reference to being a "rebel against the conventional" doesn't completely surprise me - I kind of got the sense from your posts (both the tone and the content) that you had an "independant" streak in you. It's funny, but even as something as "impersonal" as these types of forums, you can get a 'feel" for the type of person who exists behind the words on the screen.
What does surprise me, though, is that somebody who possessed a rebellious streak against convention would choose a career in the military - it kind of seems like a 'contradiction" to some extent. Kind of like an incredibly extroverted person choosing a career as an actuary or an accountant - but I guess there are exceptions to every rule.
And it's even more surprising that you progressed up the ranks. I guess your career was alot of 2 steps forward and 1 step backward..??:teeth_smile:
I've never served in the military, but I could see how having somebody tell you what you can do in your off hours might rub you the wrong way - it would certainly go against my grain..!