Military HR incompetents
Some background, I work for the armed forces and was assigned to a remote area abroad with my regiment some time ago, (we have been there a while) I am not allowed to specify where exactly, but you can probably guess.

As part of the ‘peacekeeping’ effort we were assigned security duties outside of the main city and tasked to A. search suspicious vehicles and people going into the town that could be involved in insurgency directly or supporting and B. given specific targeted locals that we had to detain should they happen to try to get through our checkpoints.

Operating out of these conditions is extremely trying and hugely stressful as the threat is constant. We have little opportunity to relax as the local culture is a little outside of our experience to say the least and we are definitely not encouraged to mix! We are constantly tired and judgement gets eroded under these conditions.
After one long patrol, I was called into the commanding officer and charged with dereliction of duty as some local insurgents had apparently passed through our checkpoint without being detained. I had no representation to defend me against this despite having the right to have HR involved (we are getting progressive these days but it is a veneer only) I was made a scapegoat as the orders and intelligence we had been given were so non specific as to who were to detain the upper echelons were covering their arses as usual.
The other point is that the similarity of dress and appearance makes identification extremely difficult and the local language can lead to you being very confused and influenced especially as a lot of them have beards. I had absolutely no recollection (as did my squad) of this happening and doubt that it even took place.
I feel shafted first by the officers In charge and also HR who did nothing to help or support me and feel very disillusioned as a result.
None of this was taken into account as the insurgents had escaped to another province to continue the insurgency and have disappeared from those who are desperate to locate them before they do any more damage. I really don’t feel that this was my fault!

In short I was demoted and reassigned to a new military project far away from my mates and am awaiting to find out what my new duties will be when we become operational.
Yet another SNAFU but hopefully it will be a cushy assignment as we are far away from any trouble here in Alderaan.
(nimrodihnio making gravy for one., Mon 31 May 2010, 11:33, 12 replies)

Cannon fodder
may be the expression you're searching for.
(The Jannie, Mon 31 May 2010, 11:58, closed)

thanks
my fellow storm troopers on the death star appreciate your support. Tatooine was a really shitty place.
(nimrodihnio making gravy for one., Mon 31 May 2010, 13:16, closed)

I'm guessing...
...they weren't the insurgents you were looking for?
(Dr_Faustus filius of a femina canis, Mon 31 May 2010, 13:09, closed)

yup Apparently they were the droids we were looking for, Doh!

(nimrodihnio making gravy for one., Mon 31 May 2010, 13:16, closed)

Fuck that shit mate, sign off, they don't give two shits if you live or die, let alone what happens to your career or morale. As long as the spineless, inbred, stuck up bougeoir bastards can maintain their social standing and go hunting, what happens to the people below them or what happens in work in general is not a concern. People say that WW1 officers were uncaring buffons, they should see the fuckwits we have these days!

Best move I ever made! Civvy street aint perfect but its one almighty improvement.
(furey, Mon 31 May 2010, 14:22, closed)

yup
I was a scapegoat, The real person to blame was Davin Felth, word has it, it was him that let the rebels escape by shooting the OC, Captain Mod Terrik, in the back as they were escaping and allowed them onto in the Millenium Falcon.
(nimrodihnio making gravy for one., Mon 31 May 2010, 14:34, closed)

shiiiiit
fell for that....hook, line and sinker!
(Lip Up Fatty Fatty Reggae still loves BBQ food on, Mon 31 May 2010, 15:43, closed)

Oh. My. God.
You had me going there right until the very last line. Bravo! *clicky*
(Draco Rattus ate all the pies on, Mon 31 May 2010, 16:15, closed)

You absolute cunt!
:D
(John_Bonham's_snare gave you tinnitus on, Mon 31 May 2010, 17:55, closed)

o
v.g.
:)
( sanityclause is waiting until, Mon 31 May 2010, 18:58, closed)

did me
i was even trying to work out where in Iraq Alderaan was until it clicked..
(irv made you eat your parents in a chilli on, Mon 31 May 2010, 22:35, closed)

Head and shoulders above the usual standard of SW fakery
hats off to your, sir.
( emvee cruor deo cruoris, Tue 1 Jun 2010, 9:05, closed)

Very believable
"Alderaan" did it for me... Yeah, quick on the uptake, aren't I?
(Sir Itchalot has a very self-referential signature, Tue 1 Jun 2010, 12:57, closed)

your still
faster than furey and jannie above ;)
(nimrodihnio making gravy for one., Tue 1 Jun 2010, 13:30, closed)

Bravo!
That was awesome.
(The Cosmic Fool Became aware that the bird is indeed the word on, Wed 2 Jun 2010, 9:56, closed)