RE: [ihc] Dans t-all

[Steven Stegmann <steve.stegmann@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Mac,

I was only in the National Guard back in the early
70s.  It was a different world then.  But your
description pretty much fits the first seargents I
knew.  That's what caused my comcmment.

Grouchy, prickly, ever unhappy at work.  Didn't know
them off hours.

Steve
--- Mac McMuffin <mac@domain.elided> wrote:

> ## >> OOPS!!!!
> ## >>
> ## >> My comment was meant to imply that I wasn't
> sure if
> ## >> that was the way to get along with the
> seargent at PT
> ## >> in the morning.  He might be grouchy.
> ## >>
> ## >> Steve
> 
> not just any Sergeant, Steve.  FIRST Sergeant. 
> that's three up and three
> down with a diamond in the middle.  we call 'em Hard
> Stripers.  every
> Battery and Company in the Army has a First
> Sergeant, answerable only to the
> Battalion and Brigade Command Sergeant Majors and
> Battery/Company,
> Battalion, and Brigade XOs and COs.  he's the guy in
> charge of every other
> enlisted person in the basic unit formation
> (Company, Battery, whatever).
> even the lesser officers of a line unit (mostly
> second lieutenants), except
> for the Commander and Executive Officer, don't get
> in First Sergeant's way.
> if you want to talk to the XO or CO, you have to go
> through First Sergeant,
> and he's...  cranky.  throughout the Army the
> informal honorific title for
> First Sergeants is "Top" and a lot of 'em demand, or
> at the very least
> expect, to be given their full due, including being
> called "Top".
> 
> i've met a few First Sergeants as we've gone along
> now.  out of uniform,
> they're pretty good guys.  most of 'em have
> twenty-plus years in the service
> and are either bucking for retirement or Sergeant
> Major school.  *in*
> uniform, that's another story entirely.  from what
> i've seen, the job
> requirements include a chip on the shoulder, nasty
> disposition,
> predisposition for yelling and swearing, and a
> penchant for surprise five or
> ten mile marches at five o'clock in the morning--in
> full kit.  grouchy
> indeed.
> 
> we got a new First Sergeant not very long ago, along
> with a new Battalion
> CSM.  both of 'em seem like decent folks. 
> interestingly enough, the new
> Battalion CSM used to be my Bride's Battery First
> Sergeant a few years back,
> and she's a pretty serious lady.  the Brigade CSM
> runs ten miles every
> morning before morning PT.  that man has issues. 
> they do a lot more running
> in this Brigade now than they used to, because the
> Brigade CSM likes to lead
> the morning runs for individual Batteries a lot of
> the time and he likes to
> really *run*.  consequently they have more foot
> injuries now (anybody
> remember what i said about my Bride's feet?), but...
>  it's the New Army.
> 
> of course, i managed to get compleatly off topic.  i
> think Top would first
> turn red, then purple, then blow steam out of his
> ears if Becca showed up to
> PT with light-up shoes.  he might even pop a few
> dozen blood vessels in his
> head and maybe have a coronary.  this is probably
> not a good thing.
> probably.  <grin>
> 
> --Mac
> 
>
---------------------------------------------------------------
> Take care and be well, all thee and thine;
> 
> May the Hamr lend thee Strength and Courage,
> May the Twin Ravens lend thee Wisdom and Guidance,
> May the Wolves Guard and Protect thee, and
> May the Light of Harmony ever shine brightly upon
> thee and thine,
> Through all thy Life's Journeys, from this life unto
> the next!
> 
> Hail the Gods and Goddesses of our Folk!
> Wassail!
> 
> Krystof "Mac" MacBryghde
> TyrGothi
> 
> http://master.triad.ath.cx/
> 
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