Post; A page from the past

Mark Conley · August 29th, 2003

Believe it or not, this was an actual question from an officer’s test in the US Army back in the 1870's.

You are the lieutenant of a platoon of men consisting of one Non Commissioned Officer and eight private soldiers. You have been given a timber, rope, rock and support, and all fasteners required for a flagstaff forty feet high. You have been given this material and men to erect a flagpole in front of the General Headquarters building for your post. What shall your actions be to get the flagpole erected?

The correct answer? Turn to the NCO and order him to erect the flagpole in front of the General Headquarters’ building. Any other answer was a failing grade!

August 29th, 2003
Mark Conley Tribuni Angusticlavii	Post; A page from the past Believe it or not, this was an actual question from an officer’s test in the US Army back in the 1870's. You are the lieutenant of a platoon of men consisting of one Non Commissioned Officer and eight private soldiers. You have been given a timber, rope, rock and support, and all fasteners required for a flagstaff forty feet high. You have been given this material and men to erect a flagpole in front of the General Headquarters building for your post. What shall your actions be to get the flagpole erected? The correct answer? Turn to the NCO and order him to erect the flagpole in front of the General Headquarters’ building. Any other answer was a failing grade! __________________ “If we should have to fight, we should be prepared to do so from the neck up instead of from the neck down.”— General James H. Doolittle, USAAF