Pauly and the Fatman

A young man went into the Army. At this time the Army was fully gender-integrated. All of the young recruits were admonished not to be flirting with the young women.

After many weeks of running, push-ups, sit-ups, and training all the young men were feeling fit and confident and the young women’s bodies were sleak and trim. One young man broke the “rules” and was caught talking to a beautiful young woman.

The drill sergeant made the young man do push-ups. (Push-ups is an acceptable form of corporal punishment in the Army.) The routine for push-ups is to drop to a prone position, perform a four-count pushup—two-times up and down is one push-up—return to the standing position at attention—heals together, arms at the side—and then the rest position. Every element of the push-up is to be performed precisely.

The drill sergeant made the private do ten four count push-ups and then return to the (parade) rest position. Each time the private did the ten four count push-ups and rose to the standing position the drill sergeant would have the recruit return to the prone position and perform ten more four-count push-ups.

This went on for many minutes. When the recruit was visibly exhausted the drill sergeant finally asked “do you know what you are doing wrong?”
The recruit replied: “No drill sergeant!” as was the custom.

The drill said: “Your heels aren’t together when you come to the standing attention position.”

The moral: Drill sergeants will let you fail as a form of instruction; people you work with will just let you fail.

Chinese proverb: A fall makes you wiser.

When you recover depends on how long it takes you to recognize the mistake.