DISCIPLINE, PUNISHMENT, ACCEPTANCE, AND LIFE IN THE U.S. ARMY

When something goes wrong, some will look for an excuse. In the U.S. Army, where the rules are a mountain, you get used to it. You get recruits from all walks of life. They come from the civilian world, where the rules are few, the routines even fewer. They come in with a lot of freedom, then step into a world where you can’t make the bed wrong, sleep past reveille, fail to shine your boots right, or not show up for work. In the Army, a mistake can be anything. Forgetting to say “Sir” to an officer or not standing to attention when they walk in. You might not think it’s a big deal, but it is.

There are a thousand ways you can screw up. And each one brings punishment. The black book, small as a notepad, keeps track of all the rules. It’s in the Code of Military Justice. You break a rule, and the accusing officer decides what you get. They can throw an Article 15 at you if it’s severe enough. That means you take the punishment or go to court martial. It could be extra duty, loss of pay, or worse — time in the brig. All because you folded your laundry wrong.

The best thing to do when you get caught is simple. Don’t make up stories. Don’t give them excuses. Stand there, serious as hell, and say, “No excuse, Sir!” That’s it. No stories. No bullshit. They’ll respect that, and they’ll likely go easier on you. Maybe just give you latrine duty or a night shift…