In the Navy, we would call this “cascading casualties,” where stuff keeps going wrong and it just won’t stop. Casualties in seagoing services can mean mechanical failures, downed equipment, parts outages, out of inspection window, etc. If you are in an unplanned status C-5, you are not able to get underway or launch, not a good position to be in, ever, and is generally a professional horror to be avoided.
There are good, colorful military terms being used around USMA Admissions, I expect. I think we have gone from C-1 to C-3, but manhours will be poured in to hold it there.
I am in complete empathy with that team, though. Anyone who wears/has worn the uniform has been there. The Law of Unintended Consequences collides with Murphy’s Law.
At these times, I would be out and about the work spaces, asking for “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly Report,” resisting urges to shoot messengers, cheering fixers along, chasing after needed resources, showing the game face of complete confidence and trust we would get this fixed as a team, rewarding success, noting lessons learned, and never passing down any fury dumped on my head to those lower in the chain. Ahh. To be in the spectator stands, what a blessing.
. no American 17/18-year-old has that much experience throwing grenades already 
.
though!
