The Prayers of Officers
One day, three O-6s were hiking together and unexpectedly came upon a wide, raging, biolent river. They needed to get to the other side, but had no idea of how to do so.
The Air Force Colonel called out to God, praying, "Please God, give me the strength to cross this river."
POOF!
God gave him big arms and strong legs, and he was able to swim across. It did, however, take him more than an hour and he almost drowned a couple of times.
Seeing this, the Army Colonel played to God saying, "Please God, give me the strength and tools to cross this river."
POOF!
God gave him a rowboat and oars. He was able to row across but it still took almost an hojr, it was very rough, and he almost capsized several times.
The Navy Captain saw how things worked out for the other two, so when he prayed to God, he said, "Pleae God, give me the strength, tools, and the intelligence to cross this river."
POOF!
God turned him into a Marine Lance Corporal. He looked at the map, hiked upstream a couple of hundred yards, and walked across the bridge.
At 0500 a detail sets out consisting of the Captain, the Lieutenant, and sevaral enlisted. They go to the edge of Indian territory and the Captain says, "OK, Lieutenant. Our mission is to take this flag and put it on top of that hill on the other side of the border. How would you accomplish that?"
The Lieutenant goes out and surveys the landscape, noting all available cover, points of defense, points of enemy ambush, the distance to the hill, and other details important to such a task. He then returns to the Captain and lays out his plan for accomplishing the mission.
"Well, that's pretty good, Lieutenant," says the Captain. "And it might even work. But now I'm going to show you the Army way. SEARGENT!!!!!!"
The Seargent comes up, snaps a salute and says, "Yes, sir!"
The Captain returns the salute and says, "Take a detail of men and put this flag up on that hill."
Shalom.