Is this an urban legend?

**Genosaurer** · 09 Apr 10, 01:22

(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.

**zraver** · 09 Apr 10, 02:01

Originally Posted by Genosaurer

(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

**Gun Grape** · 09 Apr 10, 02:19

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

**kato** · 09 Apr 10, 03:02

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

**Shek** · 09 Apr 10, 04:05

Originally Posted by Genosaurer

(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

)

**tankie** · 09 Apr 10, 10:14

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 .

**bigross86** · 09 Apr 10, 10:24

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...

**Stitch** · 09 Apr 10, 18:08

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.

**Genosaurer** · 10 Apr 10, 07:15

Interesting.

Thanks folks.

**Repatriated Canuck** · 11 Apr 10, 13:12

Originally Posted by Genosaurer

(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.

**Gus00** · 12 Apr 10, 07:40

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.

**Gun Grape** · 12 Apr 10, 11:31

Originally Posted by Gus00

. 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.

**Blue** · 12 Apr 10, 15:02

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.

**Gus00** · 12 Apr 10, 15:51

Could be, I'm just recalling from memory. I've never seen the video except for the first time I saw it live.

**dundonrl** · 14 May 10, 12:51

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)..