Thats right! When we talk about common sense, we're generally not referring to those nickels you keep in your pocket, or the handful of quarters you carry when you know you are going to pass a vending machine.
This weekend I had drill with the Army Reserve, and my job specialty is a crewmember for a launch module for rockets that is attacked to either a track or truck chassis vehicle. Well, we also have a number of HMMV, or Humvees, as well as 5 ton trucks, reloading vehicles, and other all of which require monthly inspections, and thorough maintenance. This is only sensible, as our nations soldiers must rely on these vehicles if we are called to action!
Well, these inspections and maintenance have a name, and an acronym, which we use quite frequently. That is "Preventative Maintenance Checks and Services", or "PMCS". However, some people, in their infinite wisdom, do not understand that "Services" means we need to "Service" the vehicle. Now, the Army has plenty of mechanics whose job consists of repairing broken or malfunctional vehicles....but not servicing the vehicle. No, it is the drivers duty to make sure an undamaged, functioning vehicle is serviced.
During out PMCS, we have a form that has a space that says "Faults" and we fill out what is wrong with the vehicle. To the right is a space that says "Corrective Actions Taken". Well, again, soldiers in their infinite wisdom inspect a vehicle that is low on fuel, or low on oil, windshield wiper fluid, or the horn doesn't work.
Now, I understand many readers here are not in the military. However, if you were to join, would you not think it would be crucial to learn and understand YOUR job field? Time out.
Dont you think it is crucial to know your job, no matter what you do? Yea, I thought so too...
Well this weekend we had a soldier report "Low Wiper Fluid."
Folks, normally Wiper Fluid is a mixture that mainly contains Water. And that resource is easily accessible in a motor pool. However, some Joes like to report these things, like Low Fuel, and hand it to a mechanic.
Ladies and Gentlemen, how often do you roll up to a vehicle repair shop and tell them "Hey, Im low on Fueld?" ...I certainly hope you don't, because they're probably going to tell you that you are low on common sense, or lacking intelligence of some capacity. However, you occaisionally have that one soldier who doesnt know how to operate a vehicle so bad, that he doesnt know how to use the horn on a HMMV or 5 ton. Well, for those familiar with vehicles of this size, the engine has to start and the Air Pressure Guage has to fill up before you can operate the horn, or the wipers. Well, you also have to turn the lights on for the horn to work on a HMMV or a 5 ton. Why you ask?
The army has this funny thing where down range, we drive with the lights on during the day, and Black Out Drive (No lights) during the night. This is to remain concealed in the darkness from coming under fire. If you were to hit the horn in your blundering clumsiness in the night, that would counter the concealment factor.
I know this is not as much of a shocker to some of you folks who are not familiar with military vehicles, but the fact still remains that commons sense is not so common. You would think someone, whose specific job entails operating a vehicle, might have the common sense to know how to operate it. Or when they are doing Maintenance Checks and SERVICES, they actually Service the vehicle...
This is everywhere in the world, and we all become victims of a blunder once in a while, but really? Sometimes I wonder about people!
Well, this is a post where I want YOU to tell ME a story! Comment below with a Not So Common Sense story, either short or long, and I will pick the best and post it (Or Them) and it will be up top for everyone to see!
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