Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 16

Thread: Is this an urban legend?

  1. #1
    Contributor Genosaurer's Avatar
    Join Date
    12 Mar 10
    Location
    Goose Creek, SC
    Posts
    410
    Country: United States

    Is this an urban legend?

    (Not sure if this is the right place for this?)

    I was at a DEP meeting today, and the CPO at the station gave us a warning: when standing at attention, bend your knees slightly, because if your knees are locked for a long period of time, you will cut off circulation to your legs and pass out.

    Is this really something that can happen? I got the impression that might have been yanking our collective chain, but it seems somewhat plausible.

  2. #2
    Staff Emeritus
    Military Professional
    Contrary by Nature.
    zraver's Avatar
    Join Date
    22 Oct 06
    Location
    Arkansas
    Posts
    9,774
    Country: United States
    Quote Originally Posted by Genosaurer View Post
    (Not sure if this is the right place for this?)

    I was at a DEP meeting today, and the CPO at the station gave us a warning: when standing at attention, bend your knees slightly, because if your knees are locked for a long period of time, you will cut off circulation to your legs and pass out.

    Is this really something that can happen? I got the impression that might have been yanking our collective chain, but it seems somewhat plausible.
    Its real

    Fainting

  3. #3
    Resident Curmudgeon Military Professional Gun Grape's Avatar
    Join Date
    12 Mar 05
    Location
    Panama City Fl
    Posts
    5,993
    Country: United States
    I've seen many a Marine do the face plant during long formations from locking their knees.

    You know they are not faking when the arms don't come out to break the fall. Face first into asphalt.


    Here is an example. It doesn't take a long time

    Last edited by Gun Grape; 09 Apr 10, at 02:21. Reason: Better face plant video

  4. #4
    Senior Contributor
    Join Date
    05 Sep 06
    Posts
    1,759
    Country: Germany
    One guy during my Pledge Ceremony broke his jaw in two places and lost four teeth due to that.

    The four others that dropped from the heat during the ceremony all went backwards, not forwards. And the two guys that dropped from a combination of alcohol and heat each managed to drop at least the guy next to them too

  5. #5
    Staff Emeritus
    Military Professional
    Shek's Avatar
    Join Date
    23 Feb 05
    Location
    Krblachistan
    Posts
    11,473
    Country: United States
    Quote Originally Posted by Genosaurer View Post
    (Not sure if this is the right place for this?)

    I was at a DEP meeting today, and the CPO at the station gave us a warning: when standing at attention, bend your knees slightly, because if your knees are locked for a long period of time, you will cut off circulation to your legs and pass out.

    Is this really something that can happen? I got the impression that might have been yanking our collective chain, but it seems somewhat plausible.
    Just lock your knees, close your eyes, and visualize concentric circles )
    "So little pains do the vulgar take in the investigation of truth, accepting readily the first story that comes to hand." Thucydides 1.20.3

  6. #6
    tankie Military Professional tankie's Avatar
    Join Date
    22 Nov 06
    Location
    u/k
    Posts
    10,558
    Country: UK
    Deffo a real thing ,I have seen it happen . It was on an adjutants parade ,he kept us waiting for nearly 2 hours so we would remember his name .






    TANKIE.

  7. #7
    Staff Emeritus
    Military Professional
    Mostly Harmless
    bigross86's Avatar
    Join Date
    07 Aug 03
    Location
    Tel Aviv, Israel
    Posts
    11,339
    Country: Israel
    I was the [sarcasm]lucky bastard[/sarcasm] chosen to be one of 15 people from our brigade chosen to be the honer guard to welcome our new Division CO. It was freezing outside, the drills were all useless because we weren't allowed to wear gloves and our fingers nearly broke off every time we lifted our rifles.

    When the day came, as usual, he was running late, but at least our sergeant let us chill until he was something like 5 minutes out. The CO came, we saluted him went through the whole spiel. The guy was a real decent fellow, knew we were freezing our royal hind parts off, wrapped the whole thing up in about 7 minutes. Our sergeant was fairly pissed though, he had a good half hour's worth of ceremony planned...
    Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.

    Abusing Yellow is meant to be a labor of love, not something you sell to the highest bidder.

  8. #8
    Senior Contributor Stitch's Avatar
    Join Date
    14 Nov 06
    Location
    Patterson, CA
    Posts
    1,674
    Country: United States
    Never seen it happen, but heard about it; I know when I was in our high school marching band they told us not to lock our knees our that would happen. I think I missed the one parade where one of our musicians did do a face plant, instrument and all.

    "Yeah. See, we plan ahead, that way we don't do anything right now. Earl explained it to me." - Tremors, 1990

  9. #9
    Contributor Genosaurer's Avatar
    Join Date
    12 Mar 10
    Location
    Goose Creek, SC
    Posts
    410
    Country: United States
    Interesting.

    Thanks folks.

  10. #10
    Canadian again at last! Military Professional
    Join Date
    17 May 05
    Location
    Yellowknife, NWT
    Posts
    1,400
    Country: Canada
    Quote Originally Posted by Genosaurer View Post
    (Not sure if this is the right place for this?)

    I was at a DEP meeting today, and the CPO at the station gave us a warning: when standing at attention, bend your knees slightly, because if your knees are locked for a long period of time, you will cut off circulation to your legs and pass out.

    Is this really something that can happen? I got the impression that might have been yanking our collective chain, but it seems somewhat plausible.


    Wiggle your toes and flex your leg muscles helps a lot.

  11. #11
    Regular Gus00's Avatar
    Join Date
    29 Sep 09
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    56
    Country: United States
    Several years ago I remember watching on television as President Bush (W.) was speaking during D-Day anniversary activities at Normandy. Behind him was a multi-service honor guard holding flags when suddenly the Marine of the guard sagged a bit then went down like a sack of potatoes. He never made it to the ground because two secret service types materialized from thin air and caught him carrying him away. Without so much as a blink of his eyes the Air Force guard beside the Marine reached out with his left hand and took hold the Marine's flag. A moment later there was a new Marine in his place. Bush never noticed what was happening behind him and never missed a beat in his speech.

    I tried to find the video online but had no luck. Maybe someone better at web surfing than I can find it.
    Last edited by Gus00; 12 Apr 10, at 15:51.

  12. #12
    Resident Curmudgeon Military Professional Gun Grape's Avatar
    Join Date
    12 Mar 05
    Location
    Panama City Fl
    Posts
    5,993
    Country: United States
    Quote Originally Posted by Gus00 View Post
    . Without so much as a blink of his eyes the Air Force guard beside the Marine reached out with his left hand and took hold the Marine's flag. A moment later there was a new Marine in his place. Bush never noticed what was happening behind him and never missed a beat in his speech.

    I tried to find the video online but had no luck. Maybe someone better at web surfing than I can find it.
    If the Air Force guy caught the flag than it was either a Sailor from the Navy or a sailor from the Coast Guard that fell out.

    Flag order for a Joint Forces Color Guard is National Colors, Army, Marine, Navy, AF, Coast Guard.
    Attached Images  

  13. #13
    Regular
    Join Date
    01 Mar 08
    Posts
    151
    Country: United States
    Hate to admit it but it happened to me one morning in basic training. We had been standing standing in formation waiting for the chow line to shrink a little. September hot and humid in Alabama before breakfast. I broke out in a cold sweat, felt a little dizzy and the next thing I remember is waking up sitting against a pillar in the company area, with a knot on my head. Everybody was gone except for the Senior drill and the XO, who propped me up there. Damn strange sensation that is. Took me about 30 seconds to realize where I was.

  14. #14
    Regular Gus00's Avatar
    Join Date
    29 Sep 09
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    56
    Country: United States
    Could be, I'm just recalling from memory. I've never seen the video except for the first time I saw it live.

  15. #15
    Military Professional dundonrl's Avatar
    Join Date
    23 Mar 07
    Posts
    523
    I had it happen to me.. (and I didn't think I was locking my knees) blacked out and started to fall backwards.. luckily the guy behind me caught me and escorted me to medical (we were in formation on the flight deck, and had been there for about an hour)..

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

     

Similar Threads

  1. Random Thoughts on the Mighty Hog - Part 2
    By Shipwreck in forum Military Aviation
    Replies: 168
    Last Post: 21 Nov 09,, 23:46
  2. IDF lessons from 1982
    By troung in forum Warfare in the Modern Age
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 18 Jun 09,, 03:51
  3. Replies: 296
    Last Post: 15 Oct 08,, 17:17
  4. Replies: 123
    Last Post: 05 Nov 07,, 22:39
  5. The Urban Legend Continues
    By Shek in forum The Middle East and North Africa
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 28 Nov 05,, 13:39

Share this thread with friends:

Share this thread with friends:

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •