During basic training in 1968, the night guard ‘discovered’ my footlocker lock [gasp] unlocked and reported it.
For the next several days, my crime (and punishment) were undisposed. When the next poor SOB in the barracks screwed up, we were ushered off to CC....Correctional Custody....where we were submitted to 4 hours of general abuse, water abuse and a variety of other demeaning treatments.
The next day, the Sergeant stood us all in formation and asked me if I’d like to say what happened (he wanted everyone to know the what failure brought) I said “No Sir!”
The other guy (someone I’ll forever think of as a -—well, you can imagine) detailed the encounter at CC with excruciating detail....
Later, having kept the stupid lock, I found that it would open easily if pulled - with no key. It was defective.
You should have checked the lock immediately when you got it.
This little charade the military does with locking lockers is to teach recruits security.
If one can't even secure a locker, how in the world are they going to secure anything else?
It also teaches following directions.
Being detail oriented, following directions, and securing property can keep one alive in many circumstances, military and civilian.
You called your drill sergeant “sir”?
Haha. Same thing happened to me. If you did not turn the knob after pushing in the pin in the lock, the DS could pull it down. Some people did know that and did do that to get locks opened quickly and get ready in time. I had no idea about the charade or own it works.
It all followed by the dreaded “you re all dead! The enemy got in his locker and just through his grenade at you.” And we would be getting the run push up run sit up drill and be doused with gas when gasping for air... yes... we were all dead, vomiting and passing out.
Worst part is the DS was a dude who had lost family in gas chambers. He wanted us to be reminded of something. :(