(Lead photo: Angelo Rickert) It really is a simple formula: the bigger the vehicle, the less likely it is that the operator can do their job alone without causing damage. This was drilled into me from day one when I was in the Army. I was rolling my eyes when my supervisors told me to get another guy to park a HMMWV, because I had parked bigger vehicles than that…you ever parallel park a 1974 Buick LeSabre? A Hummer is a piece of cake compared to that tank! But when I started driving LMTVs and 5-tons, it made more sense: between the canvas bed tops that obstructed view, the sheer length of the truck and the mirrors that somehow always managed to get knocked out of position, having a ground guide was cheap insurance. I’d rather annoy one of my fellow soldiers by making him wave at me as I was backing up for a couple of minutes than explain to my leadership why my LMTV was parked on the hood of a Honda.
Unfortunately, sometimes simple lessons are forgotten for one reason or another. That thing you see stuck in the power lines? That is a RTCH (say: “wretch”), a Rough Terrain Container Mover. It’s only reason for existing is to pick up shipping containers and move them with the maximum noise and minimal amount of speed necessary. The 118,000 pound monstrosity on wheels is a very useful tool (when it isn’t tangled up in wires like a kitten playing in yarn) but care must be taken when moving one around. Officially, it’s a one-man device, but yesterday someone learned why having a spotter is a good idea. We would love to be able to hear the office conversations that this particular incident stirred up…how bad do you think this guy got it?
Via: US Army WTF! Moments
Cleetus thought the new meds were working fine until he heard the telephone pole telling him to scratch its back……
Cleetus? Do you think you’re funny?
Having been in the US Army relatively recently ‘Cleetus’ is a pretty good definition. Especially for supply, we had a guy who was an actual retard driving SSA platoons RTCH. That said the way the military uses ground guides only endangers more people, the ground guides.
Looks like something I’d do – I never screw up with minor crap; but give me a way to completely screw the planet and that job will have my name engraved on it.