Someday I hope to learn to control it but as of now, I cannot. When making a decision especially, and often on other occassions, my mind , uncontrollably, it seems, just wanders to all the possible conclusions of a decision. Presently, the following scenario is dancing through my head. So, I am a brand new plebe parent determined to see Friday morning PEP. The gate is open. I find a nice seat. Wow, that was easy. About halfway through the morning evolution, totally absorbed, I feel a tap on my shoulder. I turn around. It is a bright shiny new Ensign in whites sporting the red name tag. "Excuse me sir, are you the parent of a member of the Class of 2014?" "Of course", I respond, unable to contain my pride. "Did you not get the PPW package?", he asks. Suddenly realizing the gravity of the question, I stammer out a "Yeah. Yes, but.......". "Sir, I am going to have to ask you to leave", of course, is his response. I gather up my things and depart quietly thinking how lucky I was that it was a very quiet private low key request to leave and no one else seemed to notice. Later that day, I meet up with my new Plebe and we have a wonderful reunion. Of course he is full of stories and cannot wait to show me his room. After about a half hour in his room, meeting all his roommates and their parents, listening to all the tales of Plebe Summer, I could not be happier. Or more proud. A chip off the old block. I am beaming. Son suddenly looks over and says "Dad, I almost forgot. My Company Officer is in his office. I would like for you to meet him." "Of course", I reply excitedly. We walk down to the office, Son knocks on the door, and, when invited in, we enter. Guess who the Company Officer is? Of course it is. The only thing I could imagine being more embarassing would be if I were wearing my shiny well-worn class ring. Oh well, it could really never happen. Could it? Is there a 12 step recovery process for a wandering overactive mind?
Mongo! That wasn't fair - creating the "Perfect Storm."
1. Company Officers are never Ensigns.
2. No Plebe in his right mind would
want his parents to meet his Company Officer - nor
any firstie.
3. And what would that Ensign say if, in fact, the person on whose shoulder he was tapping was
not a parent of a Plebe from the Class of 2014?
4. Is this encounter happening in the bleachers at Rip Miller Field, or just somewhere in the Yard, within view of PEP?
5. Company Officers have little impact on a Plebe's life during Plebe Summer.
I'm a smartass and would probably tell that Ensign, "So, you drew the short straw, heh? You got stuck with morning PEP Parent Monitor? Is the Yard closed as well? Was that also in the memo?"
Remember that scene in "A Few Good Men" ...
LCdr Joanne Galloway (Demi Moore): "Colonel, this past February, you received a cautionary memo from the Naval Investigative Service, warning that the practice of enlisted men disciplining their own wasn't to be condoned by officers."
Eventually Colonel Jesup (Jack Nicholson) says, "I submit to you that whoever wrote that memo has never served on the working end of a Soviet-made Cuban Ml-Al6 Assault Rifle. However, the directive having come from the NIS, I gave it its due attention. What's your point, Jo?"
That's what I would say to that Ensign. "I read the packet. I have given it due consideration. Thank you, Ensign. Carry on."
* * * * *
In fact, my sons wanted to dispense with the customary PPW room visit, altogether. They said, "C'mon, Dad. You've seen it all before. Let's just go."
To which I said, "Oh no! I
want to see your room. Sure, I know what Bancroft Hall looks like. I know what a midshipman room looks like. I could care less about that. I just want to see clothing in a closet that has actually been folded ... by
you.
That - I want to see."
* * * * *
The scenario you have described has never happened. Would likely never happen. And if it did - I'd have a good chuckle over it.
Perhaps, being a grad, I'm not very intimidated by stuff like this.
I can see where it might make somebody else feel uncomfortable and guilty, however.
If Mongo's scenario sends shivers up your spine - you better stay in your hotel room -
and lock the door!
* * * * *
Like I said before, personally, I had no burning desire to wake up that early and watch PEP. But there was no stopping my wife. Now -
she scares the hell out of me. Much more than some new Ensign.
In fact, I want to change my answer. If that Ensign would've tapped me on the shoulder, I would've pointed to my wife and said, "
She made me! I
told her we weren't supposed to be here, but she wouldn't listen. Put her in the brig!"
* * * * *
It's easy to construct a scenario where just about
any "infraction", however slight, could be made into an embarrassing situation.
Mongo - were you the Brigade Commander, or something?