I once saw an E-4 cry openly when they pinned his Sgt. stripes on him. We all knew these were not tears of joy!

@the_fat_electrician

2 жыл бұрын

😆 🤣

@Bhartrampf

Жыл бұрын

🤣🤣🤣🤠

@HabitualButtonPusher

Жыл бұрын

I personally know 2 soldiers that refused promotion to E-5 only to have E-4 Corporal thrust upon them. Talk about the bitter junior NCOs

@mccalltrader

Жыл бұрын

Who the hell promoted that guy?! I loved being a SPC…that is until I got my stripes…being a SGT is amazing, worth every bit of the responsibility (not the pay)

@jaymartin4543

Жыл бұрын

Lmao.... fckn Smithi ws a E4 for 8yrs well till he went Awol... 11B hooah

When I was deployed as an E4, I had a new NCO assigned to me. I pulled him aside and said, "This is my shop. I run it my way. Your job is to sign paperwork, go to briefings and stay out of my way." At first he looked offended but then he quickly realized, he just stepped into the best NCO assignment ever.

@ephemispriest8069

Жыл бұрын

Nothing makes me happier than an E-4 who doesn't need me.

@jimbobsmith2496

Жыл бұрын

God that sounds like my last duty station, we had our E7 NCOIC retire, and got a new cross trained NCOIC right out of tech school. He tried to lead until I told him to sit down and shut up, and he might learn something. Ended up being a great relationship

@fathead8933

Жыл бұрын

The worst thing you can have happen to a unit is have a new NCO come in and not listen to his E4s. Those are the guys that have usually been at the unit the longest. They know the unit culture, who to avoid, who they can roll over, and how to accomplish stuff within the given environment.

@zpettigrew

Жыл бұрын

Yup. Funny, cuz my officer friends always asked me how to deal w lower enlisted when they had problems. Officers just can't think like the E4M.

@springbloom5940

Жыл бұрын

Things that never happened, for $200

When I was active duty 11 bang-bang in the 82nd Airplane gang, we had a work detail come down from up on high for a Specialist to take 9 privates and go clean all the vines and shrubbery off the fence line around the entire battalion motor pool. It was 10 foot tall cyclone fence, and absolutely covered from bottom to top. They were handed a few rakes and a pair of garden loppers. In theory, it should have taken them well into the third day to get it done. What actually happened is that the Specialist in charge of that detail said, "Hey, this is the motor pool. There's JP-8 in there. What if we just doused the fence line in that shit and set this motherfucker ablaze? I mean, nobody specifically said how we have to clear this shit, right?" And that's what they did, and they were done by lunch. Hypothetically, I was that Specialist.

@crazychase98

3 ай бұрын

I'm more impressed the jet fuel got lit. They use a butain lighter. Iv seen people put cigarettes out with jet fuel

@dairoleon2682

2 ай бұрын

@@crazychase98 You didn't hear this from me, but butane lighters are *incredibly* easy to acquire while on active duty.

@user-cv8qe9ru8c

2 ай бұрын

And yr name is Tom servo!?!?!?! You sir are my spirit animal.

@jeffreym.keilen1095

Ай бұрын

Bro that is awesome!.When I was in Kuwait for a FTX in '95....we had 2500 gallons of JP-8 to dispose of because it was "all ready paid for" AND to discourage black marketing, we had to get rid of it. We had a burn pit at the CTCP and yeah, insert white guy no dick jokes here....all of us took turns fire hosing the fuel into to the fire. No issues. No probs, no horseheads 🤪

@HeronMarkedBlade-ef7zz

18 күн бұрын

​@@crazychase98 you gotta give it surface area, all that brush just acted like rags soaking up that oily fuel.

A buddy of mine shammed for an entire week simply by carrying a red folder. There was nothing in the folder, but anytime anyone saw him walking with a purpose across the motor pool, they’d yell something to him, he’d just raise up that folder and keep walking like he had business elsewhere. It was a full week before any of the NCO’s caught on. Pure genius.

@JBuckley1997

8 ай бұрын

I did something similar when in BN headquarters had a manilla envelope that had shit SGM needs done on the front with a few pieces of paper inside held on a clipboard people would actively avoid me. In case someone did come up to me congrats there were actually a few Area Beautification tasks to be handed out in the folder your squad just volunteered for it.

@jbo7886

6 ай бұрын

That dude is my hero.

@timh6845

5 ай бұрын

I work on merchant ships- carrying a clip board and a spanner, you can walk around for hours and no one will question you.

@JBuckley1997

5 ай бұрын

@@timh6845 your always on your way to fix something

@CorePathway

5 ай бұрын

The art of looking busy, perfected.

As a former E4 and a machine gunner, I can neither confirm nor deny the accuracy of the material presented here. But it would be absolutely spot on if it were.

@the_fat_electrician

2 жыл бұрын

thank you 😆

@brianjuergensmeyer8809

2 жыл бұрын

I can confirm your lack of confirmation on this.

@IthKanakazi

2 жыл бұрын

If it's not written down it never happened... it has never happened as it is not written

@wysestone

2 жыл бұрын

What .50 cal? Never heard of her.

@bieuxyongson

2 жыл бұрын

👍🤣🤣

Can confirm that a group of E4s (myself included) were sent to do a preposterous amount of work, but assured by Chief that we could go home when we were done. At a glance, it looked like it would take about a day and a half. We were done by lunch. Chief then changed his mind and confessed he didn't think we'd finish and made us stay the rest of the day. Mysteriously, no work ever got done early again.

@thedude0000

Жыл бұрын

I too can confirm a similar scenario, but it was a our new LT that pulled the crap.

@Marshal098

Жыл бұрын

God I hate Chiefs

@theghostinthemachine

Жыл бұрын

I know at least one case where... Whatever the hell the rank of 'Staff SGT' in the marines does who did this, and then actually let it slide because they apparently A- needed trouble makers out of the way for brass showing up B- needed several improperly-cleaned-by-privates-now-on-shitlist things cleaned properly now I know because I was a bartender next to the base this occurred at. Also: a bunch of tired marines are very *very* good at keeping anyone from starting shit when they just want to drink in peace. Though I swear they take the 'bounce' part of 'unofficial bouncer for a discount' literally in regards to pavement. ANYWAY that lot were done by half past noon, and having actually received the OK to go off-base for R&R were in the bar less then 10 minutes after that. Also: Lifer marines make the best unofficial bouncers so long as they are paid in '5.02$ off your tab every time you break up a problem' which incidentally is the price of a glass of decent beer from the tap with sales tax.

@ajax1137

Жыл бұрын

Been there.

@johngillespie3409

Жыл бұрын

ever 🤣

I so hated the thought of becoming an E5 I wasn't sure if I wanted to reenlist. I brought this up to the retention NCO who says, "You are 29 and have a BS degree & a recreational pilot certificate, I'll help you apply to WOC. She says once you make CW2 it's basically like the E-4 Mafia with much better pay".

@BloopTube

11 ай бұрын

They dont skate, they glide.

@Mx.RumpusParable

9 ай бұрын

I knew I wasn't going to re-enlist so fought my well-meaning NCOIC against his trying to get me promoted. Had to finally tell him flatly that he could make me pass the board.

@AlexanderHL1919

7 ай бұрын

Well, did she follow through? You cant leave us hanging like that.

@timrogers2638

5 ай бұрын

The WO Mafia is NOT a real thing...just like there's no E4 Mafia, not a LCpl Underground.

@mitchmahoney5586

4 ай бұрын

I can attest to that. As a corporal, some of my best buddies in the Air Cav were Warrant officers. CW2 😂

As a former member of the E-4 Mafia, I can say it absolutely existed when I was in. My proudest moment was when my platoon sergeant came to us and said "Okay, we're deploying to Iraq, but the Bradley needs new tracks before it deploys. Unfortunately, our motorpool says they won't be here on time. So, who ever gets me new track for the Bradley without any questions, gets a three-day." The next morning, we had new track for our Bradley. One of the proudest moments in my life.

@nullzero

6 ай бұрын

shhhhh it doesn't exist and those tracks followed you home

@thomascoker7703

20 күн бұрын

You just reallocated needed resources!

Some say the smartest humans on earth always had the messiest and unkept personal space but what they fail to mention is that person, no mater the degree of clutter and unorganized personal space, always knew what was there and where to find it. Chaos creates random forms of order only understood by its creator. It’s almost poetic.

@the_fat_electrician

2 жыл бұрын

I really like this comment lol

@waynehajek6346

Жыл бұрын

Excellent!

@ChipJohnson

Жыл бұрын

This is why I never organize anything; the shit may be a damn mess, but you better believe if you ask me where something is, I know exactly where to find it. FINALLY someone understands the method to the madness.

@_jin4323

Жыл бұрын

All my stuff is organized chronologically from the last time I used it

@migultantamco

Жыл бұрын

Chaotic order baby!

I checked out of the Marine Corps same day as my best friend. Command gave me a hard time signing my papers, messing with me one last time… when my buddy’s turn was up CO just looked at him and asked, “are you checking in?” Homie made it 4 years in the Marine Corps and not a single person in the command had heard his name or recognized his face… platinum skates right there.

@99PMoon

Жыл бұрын

In the Army, that's Warrant Officer caliber right there.

@allancanty9579

10 ай бұрын

Lance criminals!

@buddermonger2000

8 ай бұрын

That's just impressive

We had an E4 we couldn't even mention wanting stuff within his hearing. He heard I liked this all purpose sauce they used to have in the DFAC. He swiped two handfuls of it from the line, sat next to me in the chow hall, dumped in my hands under the table, then walked off like he was in Oceans 11. Meanwhile I was trying to figure how to bring my hands back on top of the table without looking like a klepto.

I just realized Radar O'Reilly in MASH was an E4, and it all starts to make sense.

E4 Mafia in action. We were an armed MP platoon coming off shift. A PFC accidentally fired a .45 round into the clearing barrel, an IMMEDIATE Article-15 offense. As I, the on duty sergeant, came up to see WTF was going on I was immediately surrounded by 4 or 5 Underbosses of the E4 Mafia. (I think the Don had the night off). They quickly and very quietly explained that they could replace the expended round (I didn't ask how) and have the pistol cleaned before hitting the arms room in under 5 minutes. I walked away and NEVER had any issues with any of them. (Edit: I was initially concerned that the armorer might pick up on the fact that something sketchy was going on until it was pointed out to me that the Don did not, in fact, have the night off but was working as . . . drumroll, please . . . the f'ing armorer)

@ShaBooyaKow

2 жыл бұрын

E4s are responsible for Privates because Privates are astoundingly dumb. By the time they make E4, it's their turn to look after stupid Privates. And so on... *the circle of life*

@deusvult6920

2 жыл бұрын

Lollllll this is a practice that is institutionalized now. Every squad had an NCO that kept a bunch of extra rounds. Which was good because the e4's have one less job now

@merkitten953

2 жыл бұрын

Forgive my lack of knowledge, dont know that much about the military, but isnt the clearing barrel for exactly that scenario? I could see getting in serious trouble if you have a negligent discharge and hit something, a wall, a desk, god forbid, a person. But to me it looks like he was using the clearing barrel for its intended purpose... and it did its job. Why would he get in so much trouble for that?

@Staticjumper

2 жыл бұрын

Good question and you're right, ​@@merkitten953​, the clearing barrel is exactly for that, to safely stop the round after what the Army calls an "accidental discharge" (even though I like the Marines' term, "negligent discharge"). But discharging a round shows that the soldier failed to exercise proper clearing procedures and next time, like you said, it could be something else getting shot. By punishing inattentive or apathetic soldiers it reinforces the procedures to prevent accidental discharges. Our unit in Germany went to work with a "combat load" (we guarded "special weapons") including pistols, rifles, machine guns and even grenade launchers. We did have two of those incidents when a solider was shot. One was BS'ing with his buddies when he fired his M-16 on full auto while pointing at the clearing barrel. He lost control of his weapon and wounded another soldier in the face. Fortunately, he survived. In the other incident a soldier pointed what he thought was an unloaded M-16 at another soldier as a prank. He pulled the trigger but the weapon was, in fact, loaded. His friend was killed instantly.

@Staticjumper

2 жыл бұрын

Exactly, @@ShaBooyaKow! I suspect that most of those E-4 Underbosses had their asses saved by the E-4 Mafia when they were young, dumb privates.

“If you need someone to tactically acquire some stuff, just call the e4 mafia” Seabees: allow us to introduce ourselves

@earlwyss520

Жыл бұрын

Allow me to introduce myself, I was a USAF Security Policeman, an E-4 Sgt, and a scrounger.

@windigo8106

Жыл бұрын

Why hello you have nice conexes I see, would be a shame if I slipped by breach kit and popped that loc... oops oh well let's see what I found in this dungeon

@dagger6467

Жыл бұрын

NMCB 27, Det 1027. I swear Chief! These steaks just fell out of the sky! Why does it say Officer's Mess on it? How would you like your steak Chief?

@TheCoyote808

Жыл бұрын

Seeing as how a large proportion of the Seabees are PO3s and even though theoretically are Petty Officers, have no real responsibilities, the E4 mafia still applies.

@cm3carranza395

Жыл бұрын

@@dagger6467 SKIBEES!

As a former E-4 Mafia Don with access to divisional supply I can confirm this. We were the hardest working lazy people you've ever seen. The sheer brilliance and creativity of our laziness invented whole new efficient ways of getting things done. Like magicians we never reveal our secret and left our chain of command baffleed at how much stuff we fixed and got done in such short amounts of time. Many times we'd report something fixed or a task accomplished and they'd straight up say "that's not posisble". Only to be proven wrong. It usually ended with "I don't want to know". To this day our secret magician skills our passed down to hand selected new mafia members. The stories I could tell would blow your mind... but, they never happened; sooooo.

I continued the E-4 mentality well into my career as an E-6... Helped train my new E-4's in the proper ways, shielded them from above, and helped them out by running blocker. I'm retired now, but my current employer has asked me numerous times how I manage to accomplish tasks in short periods of time that my fellow coworkers take twice as long to do together.... I had to tell them either I explain it and the work slows to match their times, or they can keep their questions to themselves and enjoy the increased productivity while maintaining plausible deniability. Needless to say they simply turned and walked away.

The only thing more terrifying then an E4 is an E4 working the supply office. If they like you or owe you a favor they can and will get you ANYTHING.

@draegonspawn5361

10 ай бұрын

I know a supply e4 who managed to get a jacuzzi during desert storm. Technically it was a discarded airplane fuel bladder and air/fuel pumps. When supply and engineering team up life is better.

@nooneyouknowhere6148

10 ай бұрын

Radar

@joshuamarshman101

10 ай бұрын

Klinger

@katherinkeegan8601

10 ай бұрын

And if you tick them off, you need to find a good go between. The same goes for dealing with the mail room.

@CorePathway

10 ай бұрын

Take care of the clerks, take care of the cooks. Military version of happy wife, happy life.

As a proud member of the Lance Corporal underground I was sent to pick up some Jeeps that were decommissioned by the Army. Next to them were some brand new fresh from Detroit ones with no markings. When I got back to the motor pool the MSgt asked me "where did you get those? Wait I don't want to know, do I?" To which I replied "better get some numbers on them babies Top." Got a free week off and went to the beach. The battalion commander liked his new Jeep so well I seemed to end up being sent on errands every inspection for the next couple of months. The unwritten rule for the Marine Corps is "gear adrift is a gift."

@colonelilbrink8544

11 ай бұрын

QuackBang needs to make that a shirt: Gear adrift is a gift!

@donoimdono2702

11 ай бұрын

​@@colonelilbrink8544- I'll buy that!!!!

@Heegaherger

9 ай бұрын

@@donoimdono2702 Same here.

@Homer890

8 ай бұрын

As we said in the army “There’s only 1 thief in the army, everyone else is just trying to get their shit back.”

@Rolock01

5 ай бұрын

STEAL: Strategically Transfer Equipment to Alternative Location.

I just showed this to my brother(E-7), and he said it's true. Last Christmas, he gave them keys to a vehicle, his credit card, and his kids' Christmas list. Told them you have 3 hours to get this shit done. Told them to get lunch & whatever nicotine they wanted on his dime. He said they were happy just to he able to go off base. Lol

As an E-4, I got ordered to run the tool room for a helicopter maintenance company. Had to sign for all of it. A year later, when I declined the re-enlistment NCO's offer of E-5, I had to sign over the same tool room. After an inventory I conducted, there were many items missing. I compiled a list of said items, and handed them off to my E-3s on guard duty. They went to all the unsecured hangers on the airfield and retrieved every single item. Who is to say it wasn't the original item? I was the only guy I knew of not to have to pay for lost tools. The good old days. This was back in West Germany, when the Germans still liked us.

@kevinkottom1526

Жыл бұрын

So, you saved your own ass by screwing over your comrades, nice.

@feastguy101

6 ай бұрын

Pretty sure the Germans still like you.

@sparky7730

6 ай бұрын

As a German I can say: Many of us don't understand how much we were helped and protected by you guys and still are today. Thank you for your service here in Germany :)

@towermonkey5563

4 ай бұрын

We had a tool room I had to inventory and account for prior to big wig from HQ doing a walkthrough. Ended up we had the opposite issue, a ton of tools we aren't supposed to have but made the job easier. I can neither confirm nor deny the relocation of the extras to a more... personally convenient set of tool boxes.

This organization is what my tax dollars are funding... ... and I'm totally okay with that.

@cyrusatkinson3307

Жыл бұрын

The most efficent, ruthless, nap incentivised gang on earth. If Pablo had the E4 mafia, he would have had a tunnel before he got to the cell.

@dmorgan724

Жыл бұрын

😎

@marcelnesbitt8707

Жыл бұрын

I second this notion

@lordpumpkinhead265

10 ай бұрын

I do not mind funding a, "Don't ask, Don't tell," organization if it means I get stories of what happens when the officers in charge don't ask questions and the people doing the work don't tell their methods to higher-ups.

There's this little concept called "Billet Over Rank." BOR is basically that some military roles are so important that, within that role, you're untouchable. Even if someone outranks you, they cannot order you around or mess with your job because it is so essential to the overall mission that it's simply not worth it. The only people that can mess with you are higher ranks with your same MOS, and they can only do so by taking over the task, because them being the same MOS at a higher rank, the reasoning is that they're better suited than you are... which means they WON'T mess with you, cause no E6 wants to be caught dead doing the work of an E4 because he pulled rank. Here's the thing: absolutely no other Corps in the United States Armed Forces is more billet over rank than *MEDICAL*. No other E4 Mafia comes FUCKING CLOSE to the Medic E4 Mafia. They reign SUPREME. I was a 68W (Health Care Specialist, i.e. "MEDIC!!!!!!"), and part of an Area Support Medical Company. Basically, our company would lend medics to other units who needed them when they needed them for training and maneuvers, or would be the main medical unit on deployments. I served a deployment in Egypt, and my unit basically ran the hospital for our station, giving medical service to a bunch of foreign armies. There was this one time in which me and a couple of my fellow E4 medics were assigned to assist a training mission for a joint Infantry/Artillery training, but for some unfathomable reason, the officers and senior NCOs of the units we were assisting didn't much care for us. They didn't supply us with provisions (MREs and the like), nor with barracks facilities, and we spent two days basically living off what we had brought with us on the ambulance and sleeping on the medical stretchers. I got tired of that shit, so I just had my fellow medics pack everything up on the ambulance and drove us back to our unit. My unit was stationed at the armory in Coamo, Puerto Rico, while the training was at Roosevelt Roads in Ceiba. That's almost a 3 hour drive. Come the next day, the ENTIRE FUCKING MISSION at Roosevelt Roads goes tits up. THERE'S NO MEDICS PRESENT. Live fire exercises? Cancelled. Patrol and convoys? Cancelled. Artillery exercises? Cancelled. MORNING PT? CANCELLED. THERE'S NO MEDICS. Every single exercise and mission they had could not be done without the presence of medical staff. They were FUCKED. The Adjutant General ends up calling the Colonels at Roosevelt Roads asking what the fuck is going on, and the Colonels tell them that their medics just went "poof!" and disappeared into thin air. They track down that it was our unit providing the medics, so they call my First Sergeant to ask what the fuck is going on. Now, my First Sergeant was THE FUCKING TITS. The dude was 100% ride-or-die for us, and especially for the E4 Mafia, cause he actually used us way more than he did his NCOs. The dude was a fucking trickster, incredibly hilarious and always pulling shit to benefit us. The First Sergeant then pulls out a list and goes, point for point, over everything we told him was going on: not providing us with supplies, not providing us with barracks facilities, not allowing us to eat first at the DFAC (necessary for us to b the first present at the training areas), not allowing us free access to all training areas, you name it. Then the First Sergeant asked to see their list of resources allocated for Medical within that training's budget. As in, something that didn't exist. Two days later, we drove back to Roosevelt Roads. We were assigned to the officer barracks. We got first dibs on all MREs (those poor assholes ate a LOT of the fucking omelet MRE's lemme tell you). We were first in the chow line before everybody else,. We got direct access to the quartermaster for any non-medical supplies we needed (and then we made contact with the Supply E4 Mafia there, the OTHER supreme Mafia). And for our part, that mission ran so fucking on point on the medical side that we got ARCOMs out of the deal. By the end of the mission, the officers legit went to us of their own accord and offered us a formal apology, and actually requested we be medical again for the following year. So yeah, E4 Medic Mafia 4 Lyf.

@helgrenze

Жыл бұрын

As a Navy Supply E4, I can neither confirm or deny..... But what have ya got for trade?

@DVAcme

Жыл бұрын

@@helgrenze Navy E4 Mafia are the guys who "mysteriously" misplaced flak cannons to the Marines who built the guntrucks in Vietnam. That alone earns them my undying respect,.lol.

@monkeyoperator1360

Жыл бұрын

Most support roles of the military do this, you are acting with the authority of your position and the authority of the GO or whatever officer who signed the policies you are following

@helgrenze

Жыл бұрын

One of the "Supply mission statements" I was told when I got to my first ship was "To acquire, through whatever means necessary, the materials needed to complete the mission." That leaves a LOT of leeway. We were also told that "if the paperwork looks good, it is good."

@thomgizziz

11 ай бұрын

no story like an embellished story.

I've never stolen anything in my life, but I sure have reappropriated a sh#t ton of Army gear. As an Infantry 1LT in Iraq our Division higher took several connexes of our gear away from us and staged it in a centralized holding yard for their own use. I was prior enlisted so I activated the E4 Mafia. They found a super hot blonde soldier and employed her as a diversion while others got retch vehicles to pick up the connexes and drive off with them out of the yard. I'd made friends with the local MP Lieutenant, so we had some Engineer friends use their big backhoe to dig a deep trench behind the large propane tank farm where the MPs were located on our FOB. Sheesh, stealing your own stuff back from your higher HQ and hiding it with the MPs....only in war does this kind of reality make sense. God bless the E4 Mafia.

@johndorobiala5401

7 ай бұрын

It's not Retch its T-Rex!

@bradleyb.425

7 ай бұрын

​​@@johndorobiala5401Back in my day son, we called it a "wretch." Probably spelled different, but that's how the name sounds - it's the piece of gear that picks up and carries around connex boxes. Guess they got a new piece of dinosaur gear now.

@peterwehrmeyer925

7 ай бұрын

Not just in war. My personal loot is still in a warehouse at bragg/liberty

@t.m9341

7 ай бұрын

Would you give me your night vision if I told you I once saved a bunch of lives with it

@bradleyb.425

7 ай бұрын

@t.m9341 Uncle Sam already thanked you when you got your pittance of a paycheck. What do you want, a medal?

As an officer I ingratiated myself to the E4s. Made it clear I understood their power and respected them. Word got around. I got whatever I needed with a smile.

@johnharris6655

6 ай бұрын

My aunt was a navy nurse and retired as a Commander. She made it very clear to the Jr. Officers under her command, NCO's and I guess, E-4's make you or break you as an officer."

@markoconnell804

6 ай бұрын

We take care of our officers.

@McKavian

4 ай бұрын

My last LT was green to gold. We took care of him.

Now, I haven't been an E-4 for about 30 years, but it is good to see traditions being upheld. And also scary how dead on accurate his description was.

@the_fat_electrician

2 жыл бұрын

lol I try

"Progress is not made by early risers. It's made by lazy men trying to find easier ways to do things." Robert A. Heinlein (U.S. Naval Academy, class of 1929)

@VarangianGuard13

2 жыл бұрын

Ahh.. Mr. Heinlein.. Classic! We're all Strangers in a Strange Land.

@saltlife8221

2 жыл бұрын

Service guarantees citizenship.

@ninjabearpress2574

2 жыл бұрын

@@saltlife8221 Yeah but two years of just about any government service, not just military, earned you the right to vote.

@jeffwaddell66

2 жыл бұрын

You sir are a wis man Heinlein Served I think on the USS Copper. One of my favorite authors.

@Sweetness71775

2 жыл бұрын

A man of culture. 🍻

My squadron sent 7 E4's off the carrier early to do a phase inspection on an aircraft. We got the entire inspection done in 2 days. Normal timeframe takes 2 weeks. Then we got 3 days off. When we came back, the rest of the squadron still had not completed putting the aircraft back together.

I got out as a specialist. I gave my bayonet to a fellow E-4 and named it the sham sword (to go with the sham shield). I hope it's still being passed from specialist to specialist

@Jamhael1

5 ай бұрын

Hey, cool tradition - a significant item with a deep history and a physical symbol to remind the wielder what he/she must stood for. And a bayonet is an AWESOME item for the E4 - the "Sham Sword".

The E4 coined the phrase “Sir/SGT, turn around” And the “Time to do some sketchy shit” jingle.

@TinaNewtonwrites

Жыл бұрын

There’s a jingle? I would love to learn this song

@ellencameron3775

Жыл бұрын

@@TinaNewtonwrites I gotcha: kzread.info/dash/bejne/pox317iYadHHhqw.html

@dabibly

Жыл бұрын

@@TinaNewtonwrites "time to do some sketchy shit, doo daa doo daa, hope I get away with it, ode to doo daa day"

@blaznskais2048

Жыл бұрын

@@TinaNewtonwrites 😳😱 you’ve never heard the E4 anthem!? “Time to do some sketchy shit. Do dah do dah.”

@blaznskais2048

Жыл бұрын

@@dabibly your username made it 100 times better 😂

My absolute favorite was when I needed shackles for my squads track. Did a quick recon found some on another track looked at the mafia leader and said "you and one other person can have the rest of the day off if you get me 8 shackels." 17 minutes later I had 8 shackles and they were shotgunning beers in the parking lot at noon on a Tuesday

@STB-jh7od

2 жыл бұрын

Shotgunning beers at noon on a Tuesday- that's the most E-4 thing I ever heard.

@guyver441

Жыл бұрын

And EVERYONE wins.

I posted this on Rallypoint a number of years ago,, In 1985, the rank of Specialist 4 simply became known as "specialist". Known by some to form crack commando units, they are often accused of crimes they didn't commit. These men can easily escape from any mundane working party to the military underground. Today, still wanted by their Chain of Command, they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire the E-4 Mafia.

@meganofsherwood3665

5 ай бұрын

* slow claps *

@Pympjuice2010

2 ай бұрын

Okay that's fucking awesome and on point

I had to get a message to my Captain (O-6) aka Navy type. I didn't want to get stopped 3 times before I saw him so I carried a random document with me. I got passed everyone, delivered the message and when the Captain asked what the piece of paper was I said, "hall pass". The lieutenant cracked up.

I remember this one E4 who was so good at shamming we spotted only two times a day when we were not in the field. We saw him at PT for the salute and then again at COB. I remember using him as a mission by saying "I was sent to go look for Spc. [Redacted], Top needs him." I am still looking for him to this day

@mercwiththemouthsnewphone6798

10 ай бұрын

He was so good at shamming, you used it as excuse to going shamming yourself. Nice

In the navy, when 3 E4s got together in one space they would immediately morph into a first class and became virtually unstoppable in thier skating endeavors

@unclebuck4er467

Жыл бұрын

When I was in the Navy any time 3 PO3s were together and a PO2 or higher was not in the same compartment and engaged with those PO3s the first question asked by whoever's noticed was "Hey, what are you doing?" Because they knew it was something sketchy. In my shop they decided 3 ET3s should share the supply PO duty until we all had duty on the same day and sent up orders for a mk 48 torpedoe, and an f14. They truly felt the calibration lab did not need these items even though we referenced the relative cal procedures that called them out as test equipment.

@Spudmuffinz

Жыл бұрын

@@unclebuck4er467 if I remember correctly one of my first classes told me a story of being on a destroyer and wanted to see if he could order some wacky stuff for engineering and it actually make it to the ship, so he ordered a m1a1 Abrams. It made it all the way to the supply officer who caught it not because he knew it was a fking tank, but because the price was a little to high lol, also he didn't get in trouble, the rest of supply got roasted for allowing it to make it to the supo, also he had a part come to the ship that looked like a motorcycle all wrapped up and slapped a Harley sticker on it, he was a real terror to the supply department

@xXMegaUltraNinjaXx

Жыл бұрын

I can neither confirm nor deny the E-5 Sub-Mafia because god fears us so he gave us ships we sink and unsink ourselves.

@russellparrish6959

Жыл бұрын

@@unclebuck4er467 how true i tried to order an f14 because my maintenance work card called for a high speed aircraft but they wouldn't give it to me (radar tech et3) sps49v1

@-inthefade

Жыл бұрын

you sir win the internet

In the early 1990’s Army it was not hard to hit E-5 by year 4 or 5 in my MOS. In my company it was uncommon to not advance to E-5 with a waiver by 3.5-4 years in service. It was an effort, but I left the army as an E-4 with 7 years active duty. And today you made me proud of that!!!😂❤

I remember our platoon Sgt telling us we would not be released until we filled over 300 ammo cans full of sand. He handed us all shovels and said " Get to work!". He came back after only 20 min and found all the cans full. It was never specified that we needed to use the shovels so we tactically acquired a D8 (bull dozer) and filled them all in 10 min. The platoon Sgt learned to be very specific after that. 😋 'Improvise, Adapt, Overcome”

@J.Young808

16 күн бұрын

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣”tactically acquired”

It wasn't until I was in the military (and an officer) that I realized that my father had been an E4 during WW2. And suddenly I understood a lot of those stories where he left certain things out...

@bransonwalter5588

Жыл бұрын

I realized my grandfather must have been an E4. He literally talked about every way he allegedly basically ran a mafia out of the Aleutian Islands by controlling item flow and fixing problems. I realize the alleged shamming as well such as "moving a broom constantly so you appear busy and don't get sent to combat".

@Iron_Road

Жыл бұрын

@@bransonwalter5588 or a "working" party 😆

Its adorable that you think that witness protection could keep you safe from the e4 mafia. I once had to have a group of e4s go to a different base across the city to try and find some equipment that i thought wasnt real, and if it was it sure as hell wasnt there. They brought me 2 of them by 11am

@james-ud9lp

2 жыл бұрын

Shit!!! That was quick!

@billstephens396

2 жыл бұрын

@@james-ud9lp As a former "made man" ( former, right ) I can confirm that if such a thing happened by 11 am, they took a long "smoke break" ( aka nap ) before delivering said equipment they already had in their possession... You know, to keep things "above board"... Sham Shield (E4) : Oh yeah, Sgt... We totally went to that other base... Fuzzy (E1) : But, I saw you go to the barra... ( mouth gets covered by another E4 ) Sham Shield (E4) : We took Private Snuffy with us so he could get an idea of what other bases looked like, Sgt. Hidden Earpiece : Roger that, Private Snuffy to be silenced... * The story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this production are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred. *

@sk8r152

2 жыл бұрын

@@billstephens396 this is uncomfortably accurate

@realityhurts8697

2 жыл бұрын

@@sk8r152 didn't see it didn't happen

@RSparrow3936

2 жыл бұрын

Or acquiring Opfor's radio batteries because the ones they brought weren't charged, never happened must've lost em in the box.

If you tell the E4 Mafia's Naval branch they can go home as soon as work is done and then refuse to let them out (or let them fuck off if underway) after they get it done by lunch, one of two things is going to happen: Work will never get done early again, or theyre going to fucking disappear and become unfindable to the point that you need to 1MC the entire ship telling them to report somewhere if you have something urgent enough to actually require that. There are many many places to hide, some where you can still get signal, on a carrier.

Yes indeed!!! As a US ARMY 11 B Spec-4 in Germany, our Humvee driver (an E-2) took the radiator cap off and set it down where it was washed into a drain. Later that afternoon, he and I went "on patrol" to "tactically acquire" another one. I told him to look like he belonged where wherever we were going as I indicated we're looking for another Humvee sitting with no one else around. Ta-daa!! We finally had our target in sight, I explained to my young E-2 apprentice to NOT look suspicious as we opened the hood and re- appropriated Army equipment. The victim in this case was our Battalion Executive Officer. The E-4 Mafia strikes again!!

The E4 Mafia is the best/worst kept military secret of how things actually get done.

@the_fat_electrician

2 жыл бұрын

for sure!

@freelanserns187

2 жыл бұрын

@@the_fat_electrician Hey we need a video on the Canadians , the OG war crime stick used by the Canadians in the trenches AKA club with nails driven through it And pipe bombs

@robertjackson7758

2 жыл бұрын

But that would require him to do a video in metric. 🤣

@greganator111

2 жыл бұрын

@@robertjackson7758 Nah Canada Adopted the metric system in 1970. So he would be in the clear.

@calenedgar3722

2 жыл бұрын

@@the_fat_electrician Given current events, can we hear your take on Javelin, LAWS, and Stinger ?

So true when I became an E5. I still was a member of the E4 mafia. Their Acknowledgment to me is because I wasn't afraid to pick up a mop as a SGT and do detailsto get home faster. I think the best PCS award was from the the E4s they got me an expensive poster I would tell them I wanted one day at the PX and they made that shit happen. All the lower enlisted signed it and at the the bottom they put for the E4 company commander. I felt proud of my boys because if I asked them to do anything, get something or very questionable. They had it ready to go. Take care of your lower enlisted and you will be secessfull.

@gingewonka

2 жыл бұрын

This is a lesson I have learned well as a hopeful o-1 soon enough

@jestonporter685

Жыл бұрын

It would be nice if all bosses though the way you do. The quickest way to get respect is to dish it out.

@nicholaslangille6636

Жыл бұрын

When you say " still a member" is their an actual hierarchy or its all mythical or like the e4s are really that tight ?

@xEJCBx

Жыл бұрын

@@nicholaslangille6636 To answer that question, we must first ask, "How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Tootsie Pop?" Answer to both? "The world may never know."

I was in a fixed wing squadron in the Navy. 1 of our E4's opened up an access panel in the aft end of the bird (called the hellhole), climbed up and sat on the ladder with his head and shoulders in there and napped. Did this for several days when the Chiefs were on a rampage. Finally got caught, because he started to snore and a chief walked by and heard him. My Go To move was to carry a pen and a clipboard with some paper on it and walk briskly. If I wanted to stop walking, I stood by the aircraft and pretended to make notes.

As a 3P051 ( security forces,AF) I can neither confirm nor deny the existence of said mafia. All i can say is it was interesting that out of 9 on flight testing for e5, 7 had test answers that mysteriously looked like Christmas trees. For 3 years in a row, that happened.

A deployed E-4 should never be given access to a 6x6 bobcat. Tactical reallocation of half a lumber yard in under an hour. Our tent got a porch and individual rooms for our cots. I mean, that happened in a dream I had.

@maxlvledc

2 жыл бұрын

Riiiiiggghht

@crazymic79

2 жыл бұрын

Wink, wink. Nudge, nudge. Say no more, say no more.

@billstephens396

2 жыл бұрын

I can neither confirm, nor deny, building a deck while deployed... Not the same unit as OP, but if the E4 Mafia did exist, it would have a communications network to rival that of any known military...

@MisterW0lfe

2 жыл бұрын

Just before our Deployment to Afghanistan in 2009, every swingin dick in my Engineer Company was promoted to E-4... and Me being the oldest E-4 with the most TIG and TIS. I was unofficially made "Specialist-Major" and in charge of herding all those kittens when the NCO's weren't around. We DID build a deck for our TOC out of nothing and had managed to aquire two dogs that hated the locals to keep them out of our AO at the FOB

@-cheezu-

2 жыл бұрын

shiiiit, in the seabees that shit happens regardless of the rank lol hell our e-7's will get in on the fun with the officers non the wiser

I was once a MP working in the arms room, as the road patrols started returning their weapons and ammo, it was discovered that a single round of ammo was missing, and a search was required and no one was getting off duty until the round was located. The E4 Mafia was notified, and not only was the missing round located, but two others and everyone was dismissed.

@ExecutionerDan

Жыл бұрын

Outstanding stuff right there. I wOnDeR how they found it 🤔

@coppertopv365

9 ай бұрын

Could buy ammo at the Walmart or gun store heck I could've done that Or I could have counted a round twice..

@justin9202

8 ай бұрын

​@@coppertopv365except your usually searched up on entering or exiting. Especially when there is a missing round around. Most soldiers or ncos however have a spare round or two rolling around in their trunks

I worked for a specialized branch as a SPC4. I had E5 and E6'es who had to check in with me. All of my "bosses" were GS civilians. They just wanted their sh1t done fast and on point, which it always was. We had a full bird walk into range control while my buddy and I were taking naps in the middle of the room (in chairs). He was about to raise a stink when the head of range control told him we were up at 3am reworking the day's missions (total lie, we'd been out drinking all night) and we got a pass. They loved my team because we could rework a mission in 5 minutes (due to parameter changes) and never be wrong. We worked damn hard to be able to be lazy.

*I was "The Don" of my Battalion's Lance Corporal Undergroud (LCU); I had my fingers on the pulse of everything from the S-1 all the way to our Motor T tool room... glorious days!!!*

The shadiest thing I did as an E4 was driving 100 miles round trip to get taco bell for a few NCOs. Anything else that people have heard about I had absolutely nothing to do with.

@GhostHostMemories

10 ай бұрын

even at a constant 100mph speed, you'd get back 30m later. Taco bell isn't good 10m after it's made. How bad was your local food?

@Gabryal77

9 ай бұрын

@@GhostHostMemories It's implied that the NCOs might have been intoxicated, something that never happens of course, but would explain how they could stomach lukewarm taco bell

@coppertopv365

9 ай бұрын

I recall once some in the platoon left something in the hummvee's in the motor pool, after field training. Motor pool locked the gate before they got everything. I said don't worry I got it.. I left, jumped a fence got the items and came back an they couldn't believe I got the stuff or how with the motor pool closed. An gates locked. I just Told em don't ask, don't tell. I been through windows on a second story level to get some papers.. and avoid the cq desk guy (Plausible Deniability, I wasn't there... you didnt see me..) those are like the most out there things I think I did. I played hooky.. I wasted time.. maybe 3 hour of work into 8hrs.. out of sight is out of mind, look busy you must be. Nothing to really write home about, or anything really wrong.

I had my own E-4 grand-master shamurai, Vance Glomski. He made more money selling junk cars to privates than he did in salary. He could fix anything mechanical. And every rule in UCMJ had a loophole he found. The only thing he did that was actual work was help me study for the board. His commitment to my promotion was unparalleled. One could say he helped me earn my stripes. Beyond that, I'm not exactly sure he ever did one bit of work for his 4 year enlistment.

@guyver441

Жыл бұрын

Legends say he's still out there somewhere, shamming... against even greater enemies.

@Lupinthe3rd.

Жыл бұрын

I heard he made it into a career he became a warrant officer.

@bubbaballer88

Жыл бұрын

Bilko-esque

@todydn

Жыл бұрын

@@guyver441 like an anime char ter hes on like his 12th teitiration of powering up equvilent only to goku levels of power completely devoted to doing nothing ever

@user-cv8qe9ru8c

Жыл бұрын

With that name Vance glomski. Ya I believe that

Awesome ! Former E-4 , 11C. This one hit home for me. Shamming is an art form and we crushed it at Ft Lewis, 1/9 Cav, air mobile. Infantry leads the way, Hua !!!

@chickendinner5572

9 ай бұрын

I was Air Cav in Korea. Loved being a scout medic!

When I was an E-4 I'd walk right out of PT formation and head into the HQ office like there was something I obviously needed to do right away for like 2 months straight before people started asking what that was about. Shamming is an art and a science.... but a savvy SGT can sham pretty well also.

The only thing an E4 hates more than not being able to do nothing, is having to deal with bureaucracy and leadership above the company level at any time, whether personally, or as part of the unit.

@lost1croc

2 жыл бұрын

I got out as an E-4 over 25 years ago and this also translates to smelling out useless corporate bullshit and calling them on it.

@ronpoman

2 жыл бұрын

I laughed so hard watching this. I ended my enlistment as an E-4, but am most proud of earning my SHAM-MASTER Badge and an ARCOM. Love the Fat Electrician’s videos!

@andrescruzpimentel5258

2 жыл бұрын

This is why I got out as an e-4 promotable 😂

@vesperhalo9361

2 жыл бұрын

It's a medical condition, love they're allergic.

@edwardpaulsen1074

2 жыл бұрын

@@ronpoman We had some genius that could cast metal... he made a perfect "hanger" for the weaponry "Expert" badge with the logo "Shammer"... It was presented to me by our group of E-4's shortly before I skated out (discharged)... Along with that badge I was also presented with the tiny rollers used on military post draperies so that I could "skate out" easier... LOL as the saying goes ( as I may or may not have heard) Those that know, no explanation is necessary; those that do not know, no explanation is possible...

As a former E4 and "tactical acquisition specialist", I can assure everyone both in the military and civilians that this video is just one person's "opinion"; about the alleged existence of shadowy organizations within the United States military! The American people sleep better at night, not knowing that the United States military's greatest weapon is never declassified!

@goldenhate6649

Жыл бұрын

I had an O3 tell me his story of the mafia. He needed equipment loaded on trucks to go to the next base over, and this O3 was VERY good with people, the enlisted and tech guys loved him. Needless to say, as they were leaving base, he looked over at an O5 going ballistic on a sergeant where there used to be building supplies.

@shawndale1552

Жыл бұрын

The Army Creed. I'm a American soilder. I'm a warrior and member of a gang.😮 oh I mean team. As I was... shit.😅

Ah yes. The days in the Lance Corporal underground were probably some of the fondest memories of my life. Note: Always make friends with the Cooks, Supply, Admin, and the Armorers. Always got extra food, cool shit from supply, pay was always right, and never had to clean a dirty rifle. That's what connections gets you in the Lance Corporal Underground. There's also a Senior Lance Corporal rank, basically the guy in the unit that has been a Lance the longest. Doesn't really get messed with by NCO's and generally does what he wants.

@mikecarter5631

9 ай бұрын

Former E-3 here…and, yeah. Couldn’t have said it better.

@jabujabu63jordan62

8 ай бұрын

Comms as well how else is supply going to turn in the request for all the crazy bullshit they want to see if they can get

The E-4 Mafia has been around a long time, and in many guises... Sometimes whole regiments populated by shammers and shammers in training. During wartime, the spit and polish fades and the army that wins is the one that can out sham the enemy by any means necessary. When my brother went to NARA in College Park, to research our paternal grandfather's unit, the 395th Infantry, during World War 2, some of the material he found was absolutely hilarious. There was a note from the Colonel which read, "Will the assholes who stole the truck from the motor pool return it, IMMEDIATELY. Just leave it where you found it!" There was another incident where one of the companies had been acting as guards for a bunch of German POWs, just after the Battle of the Bulge. (The MPs were under strength and apparently the 395th was ordered to lend a hand until replacements arrived.) When they were relieved, they had absconded with some of the shotguns and left M1 Carbines in their place. Col. Butler had to have NCOs round up the "acquired" hardware so they could be sent back to the MPs. Historical note: The 395th were under the command of Colonel John McClernand Butler, and they tended to get farmed out to other units a LOT. So much so, that the unit was known as Butler's Blue Battlin' Bastards. From what I have read, a lot of the guys had received something akin to Ranger Training, as part of the Army Specialized Training Program, because the US Army was like, "we need guys to be able to do a lot of stuff, and we can't guarantee where we are going to have to put people." They were farmed out for anti aircraft artillery work, engineer work, armored infantry, guard duty for POWs, supply work. My own grandfather was trained at Camp Blanding in late 1944 (just after he graduated) and sent as a replacement in January of '45. He never really talked about his time in, doling out stories only rarely, usually related to silly happenings. We, his stupid grandchildren, never understood why he didn't like talking about the photo of him and his buddies taken just across the Rhine on a farm near Erpeler Ley in March, 1945. (Half of them were wounded 15 minutes later, and my granddad's best friend was shot through the stomach and barely survived.) (Side note: NARA was a fricking clown fiesta. They are not so much a library of properly archived material as they are what happens when Uncle Sam turns into a hoarder. Boxes of materials, field reports, after action reports, photos... all crammed into boxes with no clue as to what the actual hell is in that box. No proper preservation, no real indexing, no nothing.)

@jabujabu63jordan62

8 ай бұрын

It was originally ran by one of the earliest members and the filing system stuck but no one passed on where they had filed anything

I was in the 82nd in the mid 70's and we used the term "Ghosting" vs. Shaming. If you were great at ghosting you earned the name "Casper".

@the_fat_electrician

2 жыл бұрын

that's awesome ik the marines and navy say "skating"

Look, I was asked to find screws and rubber gaskets so we could pass an inspection. I was not told how to get them. On an unrelated note, the galley failed the same inspection because their lights were missing screws and gaskets. Such a weird coincidence

@pauld6967

2 жыл бұрын

I had a weird coincidence like that once upon a time. How odd. To think both events were right around the time of an inspection. Very strange.

There was a time when E5 slots were few & far between. E4 ranks grew in such numbers that entire training sites became E4 conclaves, & gifts were expected upon arrival.

There’s also an O4 mafia believe it or not. They’re the ones doing all the planning, coordination and synchronization that runs a division. Whatever others can’t get done, an O4 thru his network will. Sometimes, in those missions, I spot an E4 mafia member and give a nod of respect to another integral cog in the mission. E4s, O4s and CW2s run Army.

@CorePathway

5 ай бұрын

O4 is a weird rank; rarely command. And any staff position has both soap opera and sitcom elements to it.

My dad was an E4 at one time. He ran a store out of the back of his M113. He was in charge of radio repair so most of the time while in the field his track was parked. NCOs and officers got free coffee which kept them happy and off his back. He sold everything from cigarettes to canned spaghetti. Ended up backfiring and got promoted and told no more store.

Why do I get the feeling Fat Electrician was an E-4 when he retired and is still sworn to Omerta, the Mafia's Code of Silence.

E-4 Cpl was was last rank before I exited the USMC active duty. My best single time sham was doing a Burger King run when we were supposed to be on standby, walking out to the parking lot only to see my Lt walking towards me... he was like "What you are doing Cpl?" and I straight face answer "Going to take care of a thing sir." and he just nodded, when I got back with my food he asked if the thing was taken care of and I confirmed it was.

Former active duty E-4 11Bravo here. Was a M-60 machine gunner E-2- To E-3. Had to fight tooth and nail, push up.a.lot of earth, see the 1 sgt. for attempting to fail the USEUR drivers test because I thought they were gonna make me an APC driver. Note: 1st Sgt was a former tunnel rat in Vietnam! After he UnF'd my bearings....I promptly passed the class and test.....then I was given the M-60! Love your take on all your military stuff! This E4 Mafia thing, I've seen it....I might have a had a moment or two to sham, but hell, I got promoted to E4 somewhere between 20.below.in Germany and 110 above in the Mojave desert.....Got on the Captains Tank as his gunner and TC....no shaming during that duty! I never blamed anyone for.getting a little sham time....just jealous! 😒

I was put in charge of training because the NCO's had to go to training at Brigade. 1Sgt and OPS NCO gave me a list of training and details to be accomplished by 1730 or end of day. Anything not done would be finished the next day. At noon I got a text from Ops NCO, "Where are you!?!?" "Tell me where you are first" "The unit" "Hooters, come have a beer" 1Sgt walked in, smiled, and asked if we were done for the day. I just replied, train to standard not to time.

@the_fat_electrician

2 жыл бұрын

that's hilarious!

@spickuss67

2 жыл бұрын

Outstanding!

@indigo751

2 жыл бұрын

@@the_fat_electrician no sir! It is beautiful!

@dylanmudrack9

2 жыл бұрын

Pp

@Avallachgrey

2 жыл бұрын

You know its a good day when you got time for a hooters break.

E4 Mafia handled a shit talking PV2 for me as a SGT. At PT formation he got stupid and they immediately grabbed him and said, "We got you SGT." 0900 formation PLT SGT asked why PV2 was bruised up. I answered, "He fell during PT." No one else said shit. If the E4 Mafia likes you because you take care of them and get them out of shit, they will do stuff that as a SGT you can't.

@kevinmoore6640

2 жыл бұрын

But let's be real here, that's not how you take care of an issue like that. Not that he didn't deserve it, but thats not how you handle business

@aaronboss7570

2 жыл бұрын

@@kevinmoore6640 depends on the PV2....sometimes someone just needs a smack. Only way to get through to them.

@jasonball9767

2 жыл бұрын

@@kevinmoore6640 it worked for a complete fuckup when I was in AIT. His wall locker magically was left unsecured and the on duty DI notified. He taught is there are 13 parts in a standard issue flashlight. He could disassemble it in in under a minute. Then a group of roughly 90 service members. May have engaged in a blanket party. Although these supposedly never happen. Straightened his ass out He never got his class smoked again

@TheCrapman50

2 жыл бұрын

@@kevinmoore6640 the E4 mafia was just looking for the "reset button".

@adamsears1403

2 жыл бұрын

@@kevinmoore6640 He lived. Some people just will never be good Soldiers no matter how much you focus on them. But you can try to make him/her better till their time in service is done. Even better results can happen if your peers encourage you. Not all cases though

A properly trained group of E4’s does not have to be told to do something…… all the NCO has to do is say “it sure would be nice if we could locate one of these”

@elmegil

3 күн бұрын

"Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?"

I was a E4 and we did the stuff that needed done. Made a bet with my warrant officer once about how fast we could accomplish a task. Far exceeded his estimate and he brought 2 cases of beer for my squad at lunch time. We drank while the rest of the platoon worked

In Afghanistan the lowest rank in our platoon was E-4. We had all been around long enough that there were no Privates left. Consequently we were considered the most dangerous platoon. Let's just say whenever the high speed secret squirrels had a mission to do, they exclusively requested us by name every single time.

@buddermonger2000

8 ай бұрын

May I get an explanation as to high speed secret squirrels? I'm civvie

@jackstinson4366

8 ай бұрын

@@buddermonger2000 this statement simply means that something that is not normal or no one should find out about needs to get or be done or acquired as to make sure that upper ranking people don’t want to know how or why it’s done, only that it is done and no questions should be asked.

@buddermonger2000

7 ай бұрын

@@jackstinson4366 thank you

"If you gave the e4 mafia a 1 day task and told them they can leave when they're done, and its done in half an hour" that's how the army should be ran. Nobody has motivation when they know you gonna keep them locked in the motorpool till 1800 anyways.

@blaznskais2048

2 жыл бұрын

Riiigghht!

@swumprat

2 жыл бұрын

I mean TECHNICALLY it could lead to people doing it fast instead of right. However doing it right the first time means no-one is going to bug you during nap time.

@deusvult6920

2 жыл бұрын

The issue is battalion likes to ask for things at the last minute when they knew they wanted it done like 3 weeks ago so 1SG needs people standing by to stand by for when the inevitable "we need accountability of your drip pans" detail comes down. Good NCOs use that time to do hip pocket training while occasionally sending their guys to the barracks to hide with their phones on

@kevinmoore6640

2 жыл бұрын

@@deusvult6920 yes, I know what you mean with hip pocket training, great practice, I learned alot from my own observation because leadership don't really give a shit in fort hood

@DrewGalyen

Жыл бұрын

My LPO (leading petty officer) in the Navy always seemed to be Petty Officer Case, Justin. Cause dinner on the boat was a M-F affair.

I fondly remember my last 2-week summer camp in the National Guard. I was an E4, and the "senior man" on the maintenance track along with another E4 and a PFC. I called it the year without adult supervision. We worked very hard at doing as little work as possible.

Once as a Lance Criminal, I took a 3hr nap in my truck while my company was doing PT and MCMAP; 2hrs later the instructor gave me hard charger kudos for doing an exemplary job during PT and MCMAP. Now as an E5 in the national guard I shelter and protect my Joe's from crappy details.

@louiewatson9389

2 жыл бұрын

A guardsman myself and I see so many ex Marines come in the guard. I now say that the guard is where Marines come to retire. 🤣

@louiewatson9389

2 жыл бұрын

@@Orlosthedruid I'd give my left nut to have to go to NTC in winter. I have always got sent in the summer. NTC sucks no matter what but at least it wouldn't be hotter than hell.

@dongrissom4540

2 жыл бұрын

Hell yea the E5 was the best team leader I got stuck with an SSGT as a team leader and it sucked

@xa3915

2 жыл бұрын

@@Orlosthedruid hell yeah, HELL paso Texas

@james-ud9lp

2 жыл бұрын

And we thank NCo's like you for it.

Dude, you have to do the mythical warrant officer, because they apparently don't exist either. Some say that if you ever find their hideout, you will never see them there again.

@popuptarget7386

2 жыл бұрын

CWs are who E4s hope to grow up to be one day.

@parablewnc42

2 жыл бұрын

We had a warrant officer on our ship. Saw him once, and he had a surprised look on his face. I took it as I scared him. Apparently he was just surprised someone found him.

@geoffbruce2824

2 жыл бұрын

So true, I spent 4 years on ship and found out in my last week we had a W3 in our Division. Never even saw his face...

@tyrant1384

2 жыл бұрын

Those are true sham-masters

@ismaeljimenez6562

2 жыл бұрын

My unit's maintenance oic is a WO and we see that pain in the ass all the time

We had a bunch of E4s deployed with us to Africa who got laterally promoted from SPC to Corporal because we didn't have enough SGTs. At first they were pumped up, but very quickly they realized they were doing SGTs work without the pay. AS SOON as we got back into the states, with no ceremony or anything, they all ripped of their Corporal ranks and put back on the SPC ranks. Everything in this video is true. Once I became a SGT I had my e4s tactically acquire everything from toilet tissue, to other companies colors, to NODS that were tactically acquired from us, and then were tactically acquired from the perps back to us. Army only has one thief, everybody else is just trying to get his stuff back. I was an E4 team leader that had to put another E4 up for KP duty, and after about an hour into his 8 hour shift, I went to find him and told him that he had to leave KP because we were about to leave the FTX and gave a destination that wasn't our own to return to that was like halfway across the United States. Sometimes you just have to look confident. I felt better about doing it after I found out what he did in that hour, they literally moved about twenty MRE boxes from one side of a clamshell tent to another. That is like 5 minutes worth of work for ONE guy. Let alone the whole mess of people they had in there.

@DVAcme

Ай бұрын

"Army only has one thief, everybody else is just trying to get his stuff back." I learned that fucking lesson in BASIC TRAINING. Served me well the rest of my entire military career, which was, incidentally, as an E-4.

When I was an E6 I loved my E4's out in the field the beer and hard liquor, TV, air mattresses, and other things that made life easy for a paratrooper NCO and his crew were just unreal at the time.

It's not just the NCO'S that need the plausible deniability. Also you should bring up the wizards of the military...I mean warrant officers. Those cats are magical. As a lieutenant I once walked into a room and I saw half a dozen warrant officers sitting around a table one looked up at me and said "can we help you sir?" I just said "no I must have walked into the wrong room, (I was new to the unit, and that building had the goofiest floorplan) y'all keep doing what you're doing" and then backed away slowly....I know a wizard's council when I see one and that's when I turn into that little buzzard from Looney Toons "uh nope nope nope nope nope"

@donoimdono2702

11 ай бұрын

I was once in the ward room having my div O sign off a document. 3 Wobblies and the Command Master Chief were at one table chatting, 4 junior loueys at another. XO stormed in - "Gentlemen, do you know what your men are up to right now?" All the Lts. stumbled over each other to get out of the room, while the Master and WO never even paused or missed a syllable in their conversation. 😎

We had a guy living in our barracks from another unit who started to in-process then just somehow fell through the cracks. The dude was living on the Army dime for 2 YEARS doing absolutely nothing before we had to move more people in and found him. He answered the door to my CSM with a full beard and civilian clothes. By the time they had finished his Article 15 paperwork, he had started ETS leave!!!

@UnNuclear

2 жыл бұрын

Legend

@BlerdDaddy85

2 жыл бұрын

Dude is a legend.

@kgot7436

2 жыл бұрын

That's amazingly believable

@MickeyKraut419

2 жыл бұрын

Sooo... what we really want to know is how many Senior NCOs and Officers at your battalion HQ ended up going before the Brigade and Division brass and getting a severe ass chewing for that massive failure of accountability.

@mr.nobody68

2 жыл бұрын

That is a true fucking hero

I did ADSW stint as wildland firefighter in the orchard training area. Our 3 brush trucks were 1st gen hummers w/a water tank and a pump motor. One of our hose reels broke and our SSGT. sent me & my teammate another Spc.4 to DRMO to get parts off a dead brush truck. While there we saw some CUCVs in the lot and checked them out, to see if we wanted to buy one at auction. We noticed that the bucket seat bracket bolt patterns matched perfectly with those of the HMMV.................. In very short order our 3 brush trucks had nice comfortable red vinyl bucket seats......we kept those for 3 1/2 months. About 4 - 5 days before our ADSW date ended, this light colonel noticed the seats and practically shit himself. Started talking about crash design specs, safety, rollover accidents, injury liability, ......whatever. When he asked who approved the modification, we told him the trucks were issued to us like this and we thought it was really cool. He stormed off to find "answers," we made a dust cloud to cover our escape. I doubt he ever found out who "authorized" the mod. 😎

Former Airforce E4 and this pretty much sums up every maintenance shop from AGE to Wheel and Tire and everything in between.

Sometimes the only person with a brain is an E4 One day we had gotten back from a field exercise, and a neighboring section needed 2 empty fuel cans, they wanted to swap cans with us, but all our cans were on top of the trucks and everyone was sore and didn't want to climb to get them, so I took the SGT and his PFC over to the side of one of our Wreckers, grabbed the D.D. and emptied the cans into the tank, handed the cans back to them and said "Two empty fuel cans, Sarnt" and walked away

Heard of an E4 mechanic that laid under a vehicle on a rolling creeper with his hand duck taped up onto some metal bar where he fell asleep for 2 hour and it looked like he was just working under the truck. In short, if it looks like your working, you are working. My Platoon SGT always taught us.... "out of sight... out of mind" meaning don't ever give your leadership reason to have to monitor your work and more then likely they wont care if your productive and just move you up the ranks if you pass the board because you've never "gotten in trouble".

@cyrusatkinson3307

Жыл бұрын

Dog, we learned in BOOT you could catch 20 if you stuck your hands in the bed springs like you were tucking that bitch tight! Guess we were just advanced lol

@XBravo1CharlieX

Жыл бұрын

I work as a mechanic in the private sector. I'm hourly and honestly I've done it you tie some zip ties together lay under a piece of machinery hold your hands up and put in some headphones (not playing anything) someone comes to see what you're doing and have to tap your boot. You didn't hear them because you're listening to music. Now this sham is one you do sparingly otherwise people catch on

@speedbuggy16v

Жыл бұрын

LOL, I may have done this a few times..

@VincentLauria6

Жыл бұрын

Had some of our SN use rubber bands on needle guns,attaching to their shins, so it appeared they were working.:: They took naps..

@ChristopherKnN

11 ай бұрын

1st Sgt in A school told me, "If you don't have to be there, don't be there".

As a former E-4 myself - I've no damned clue what you are talking about, man. I was _always_ busy. Always. Especially on paper. My day was completely filled - in theory.

As a former E4 on the USAF flight line, we were once told we were PFM. After I F'd up and made E5, I had to train some E4's in PFM. (Pure F-ing Magic). As an NCO I did rely on my E4s, but I also did my best to take care of them. I think what got me their respect was my willingness to jump in and get dirty with them. There's no such organization... officially.

In the Marines we call it skating v shaming. Seek cover Keep quite Accept no responsibility Take no action Evade

@djsimplistic702

2 жыл бұрын

As a prior Sgt. Of Marines...he speaks with integrity. Well done Devil.

@Tomyironmane

2 жыл бұрын

Keep your skates sharp.

@alexsheppard3775

2 жыл бұрын

GIVE HIM ONE

@johngrasso2124

2 жыл бұрын

Greatest acronym ever

@77mcmarine

2 жыл бұрын

Always Evade!!!

"The Shamurai" and "Waldo." Creative and to-the-point names.

@the_fat_electrician

2 жыл бұрын

LOL

@daniellim566

2 жыл бұрын

@@the_fat_electrician lol i was once called the shammander

It was a good time as E-4. Got my General's coin from Maj. General Ord when he came to visit us down in Panama and with that coin I had a lot of fun at the Officers' club on payday as my CO had to take me out for a meal and all I could drink and boy did I ever have a thirst. Nothing like being a full-bird private with a captain kissing your ass and picking up the bill. Almost makes me miss being a soldier...but then I see the current recruitment influencers and decide that I'd rather not be shoulder to shoulder with soy boys and drag queens.

My first deployment was as an E-4 and my team, was responsible for standing up COMMS (network, phones, internet, and satellite). We walked into the supply tent and ask the if they wanted internet in exchange for some gear. The three of us walked out with new GoreTex jackets and boots. Six weeks later we needed a new rucksack for some gear and hooked them up with satellite. It was widely known that our camp was basically run between the Army Supply dudes and the Air Force COMMS, and the cooks. Nobody messed with the cooks. They got whatever they wanted.

Footnote: If you leave the reserves and sign on active duty as an E-4, you can get almost 2 more years of shamming in while “getting up to speed.” You also make more money as a maxed E-4 then a newly pinned E-5 SGT.

I was given the task to "Tactically Unaquire" several full gas cans so I took them and swapped them with empty cans from other Companies.

@robertschumacher2707

2 жыл бұрын

Brilliant. NOBODY is ever gonna report that they suddenly have a miraculously full gas can.

@johngrasso2124

2 жыл бұрын

@@robertschumacher2707 Never came up lmao

@Cha-Khia

2 жыл бұрын

Fact is. That other company or some other company will need that gas, and the E4's will stop by and grab those now magically full gas cans. E4's don't ask questions, questions are for people who work.

@jumpinjehosephat1877

2 жыл бұрын

Grasso, you are exactly the person I'd expect to use his real name and real photo on his KZread account. Please, tell me you at least shower now.

@casartherandom3010

Жыл бұрын

@@jumpinjehosephat1877 what does that even mean lmao

As an E4 my NCO once brought to the motorpool after COB looked me in the eye and told me we needed a JBCP mount for our HMWWV before we went to JRTC and walked away. Lo and behold we had a JBCP mount for JRTC the next morning.

In the Navy we call it skating but some E-4's hold a lot of responsibility and power like a Boatswain's Mate or Aviation Boatswain's Mate, they pretty much run the division. Now Deck Seaman, those guys are master skaters and know every hiding place on the ship like aft steering, lol.

As a former E4, I laughed so hard, my feet fell off my desk and I almost, I repeat almost, spilled my coffee. Doc Out.

@SnerkleBurger

2 жыл бұрын

Ah shit. Potentially universe-ending paradox scenario there. Doc fucking with coffee (by spilling it), coffee fucking with Doc (by BEING spilled all over Doc). Gotta avoid those situations ...

@swaghauler8334

2 жыл бұрын

@@SnerkleBurger That's almost like pressing the STAPLES Easy Button inside a Government Office... You'll tear a hole in the very fabric of reality!

At my basic training graduation, my drill sergeant was like "wait, who are you?" and I knew I had succeeded. I carried this skillset forward, and spent about two years of my four year hitch in the Army as a specialist, and I can confirm that probably 87% of my time was spent shamming and doing nothing productive. Good times!

@crackersdrake8445

Жыл бұрын

Yes! After Battle Stations (Navy final boot camp test) we were all lined up on the toe-line and our DIs were coming around to shake our hand and congratulate us on passing boot. Our Chief gets to, pauses, and asks if I'm in the wrong way bc he doesn't recognize me. I knew then that I made it. That skill set served me well the next 4 years and I got out 3 months after I put on E5. I showed up where I was supposed to be, wearing what I was supposed to wear, when i was supposed to be there. Never had a day of responsibility and it was glorious.

@earlwyss520

Жыл бұрын

@@crackersdrake8445 I was a USAF Security Policeman, an E-4 Sgt. I wasn't as lucky, I can't begin to tell you how many times I was posted as a Fire Team leader responsible for three young Airmen, and potentially leading them into danger. I also managed to qualify as a Nuclear Weapons Storage Area Supervisor with 17 Turks & 4 other Americans under my operational command.

@WMMASceneNow

Жыл бұрын

Had a guy like that in my BMT flight. Volunteered early as one of the two supply closet guys, and skated from there.

SO FREAKING TRUE!!! I love this! I made spec 4 in the army in my 1st enlistment. I got out and joined the guard and since it was a combat MOS I actually converted to a corporal, the first corporal I had ever actually seen in the Army.. And then it all ended and I was "Promoted" to E5 sergeant and then E6... Oh the good old days of being a full bird private!!!!

makes me laugh! haa. my grandfather was a lance corporal in UK, his attitude was exactly E-4 as you described. practical, logical and looked after his "boys" when he was in service. The best thing was when he would tell us about the shady stuff they were up to and literally ditching a crate of grenades because he didn't want to report it on paper, so, he let his guys/squad just lob them anywhere so he didn't have to check them back in to armoury. RIP Robert, you cheeky chappie.

Sergeant E5's quickly make Staff Sergeant E6 and Sergeant First Class E7 when they take care of their Specialists/Corporals. Because when you take care of them, they take care of you. Given proper motivation (time off, pizza, gatorade, and pitchers of margaritas on Fridays), your section/squad will thrive.

@chiefkeef74

9 ай бұрын

Real story: dad was a supply sergeant (E6) back at Hood back in mid 2000's. The E4s in his company were able to get half my fuckin school supplies and 30 cases of MREs for high school. Mom didn't ask and neither did dad 😂

As an E-5 maintenance man, hazmat and other hard to obtain items routinely go missing from other divisions and contractors. Mysteriously, myself and my guys always seem to be in stock somehow

I knew a guy that walked around for three months with a blue folder full of random forms. He always looked excessively busy despite sitting in the snack bar watching movies all day

Used to work in receiving at a steel plant. I got my racks and stacks organized so well that i could have any truck offloaded, received, and sorted an less than 15 min. So they started looking for other things i could do to fill my time, without increasing my pay of course. So I quickly learned to do stuff like grab a stack of papers and walk angrily in the racks or pick up a load from machining and drive it in circles for an hour.

We used the acronym S.T.E.A L. (Stratecally Transport Equipment to Another Location)