In the face of danger

[USMC Kato]

Earlier today I was in a promotion board (Military) and it went well, until a junior officer on the board questioned my demeanor/bearing during stressful situations...like combat or terrible accidents that occur on my watch.  Now and in the past I've always handled these situations by having a huge grin on my face....and laughing.  I can't help it, but everytime when the sh*t hits the fan I laugh and joke around a lot.  For me its helps me keep my head on straight and focus, even though on the inside I'm like omg omg omg. 

I guess the perception from some officers, or even some of my marines is that I take everything too lightly or not seriously enough which is way off the mark.  At the end of the board, I was recommended to be more serious and more professional  (which kills me because they have my whole record in front of them and they focus when I laugh during a firefight)

So in the face of danger, what do you guys do or act like?

[Moliere]

So in the face of danger, what do you guys do or act like?

I scream like a little girl.

[envy24]

So in the face of danger, what do you guys do or act like?

I scream like a little girl.

+1 lol

[Scraper]

So in the face of danger, what do you guys do or act like?

I scream like a little girl.

+1 lol

I can confirm that. Here's Envy when he sees me:



That's a real picture of him.

[ATB]

Congratulations?  Did you get promoted?

I think the officers would be more pissed about all the reports from your buddies regarding you stealing all of their kills.

Edit: The only dangers I face right now are when my youngest's diaper is too full. I face those times with breath held, grim determination, and love in my heart.

[CeeKay]

I imagine Moliere screaming while dressing up envy like a little girl.

[JayDee]

I poop a little in my pants.

[USMC Kato]

Congratulations?  Did you get promoted?

I think the officers would be more pissed about all the reports from your buddies regarding you stealing all of their kills.

Edit: The only dangers I face right now are when my youngest's diaper is too full. I face those times with breath held, grim determination, and love in my heart.

Actually I got promoted 2 weeks ago but had to go through the board mostly for formality and a debrief.  I steal kills because everyone else is too slow to finish the enemy 

[drifter]

Key words "junior officer on the board".

[TK-421]

So what do you do? Something very silly. You freeze. Your life doesn't flash before you, 'cause you're too fuckin' scared to think - you just freeze and pull a stupid face.

Yup.

[Bullwinkle]

It depends.  In prolonged tension like you're talking about, I start introverted and then let out tension with laughter/joking much the same.

In a situation where there's suspense followed by a shock, I scream like a little girl.

In real life, not movies.  True story:  When we first moved to our house, we had yet to learn about the little quirk of needing to give the back door an extra push when locking it.  Consequently, the alarm went off in the middle of the night.  I leapt out of bed in a full-standing position before I hit the floor and grabbed something bat-like.  We went through the call to the alarm company and were staring out the window when the doorbell rang.  Let's just say I made a noise and when I opened the door, the officers were grinning and trying not to make eye contact.

At the time, in my mind, I was going for a warning sound, like a Ben-Kenobi-Sand-Person-scaring wail, but I had no control over my voice or fear, and it resulted in more of a howler-monkey-getting-its-Girl-Scout-cookies-stolen screech.

Oh, and congrats, Kato.

[GGIronSkull]

It's weird, I seem to have the ability to separate the parts of me inside that are screaming (holy f'n Roni) and stay pretty dang calm and meet things head on and take care of things while everyone else runs around screaming and crying, puking, what have you...

Afterwards though....me, quiet place...and beer....lots and lots of beer.

Of course my youngest is out of diapers now so this does not happen much anymore.

[map]

What rank were you going for?

[USMC Kato]

What rank were you going for?

I got my E-8 Master Sergeant

[Ironrod]

I don't often face danger, but when thrust into a perilous situation I become cold and robotic. More so than normal, I mean. I don't melt down until the crisis is over.

[theohall]

I find myself in those situations to exude calm.  There is no laughing, but a matter of factness in my attidude and demeanor that focuses on getting out of whatever shits-storm is happening without getting anyone else hurt and trying to keep the more stressful parts to a minimum.  I have no idea why.

All of my life, whenever there is some kind of crisis with anyone or anything, I tend to be the one that stays calm throughout it and don't really mentally accept how screwed up something was/is until much later.  It's like my mind over-rides the "OMG" factor of whatever is happening and winds up working on a ridiculously sane rational level, until the crisis is over.

[map]

Great job. Not many people have been able to say they are Marine Master Sergeants. I'll assume you've stayed on promo track. How many years have you been a marine? And thank you for your service.

[Eel Snave]

I've found myself in situations where other people (or pets) are in danger, and the weird thing is I usually find that by reflex I put myself in the line of fire. Like, I'll put myself between the danger and the person I have to protect. It's weird.

[USMC Kato]

Great job. Not many people have been able to say they are Marine Master Sergeants. I'll assume you've stayed on promo track. How many years have you been a marine? And thank you for your service.

Thanks Map, I've been a Marine since 1994 straight out of high school. Promotions have been pretty consistent due to the many deployments I've had.

[Gratch]

When thrust into a perilous situation I become cold and robotic. More so than normal, I mean. I don't melt down until the crisis is over.

Same here, although I could count the number of actual "perilous situations" I've encountered in my life on a couple fingers.

[disarm]

when i find myself in a bad situation at work (anesthesiologist), where i usually have a pretty laid-back attitude, i think that i become very serious and focused on the task at hand...no joking, very to-the-point with anything that i say, and just focus on doing what needs to be done to help my patient.  it's like i get in a zone where little else matters and things just start happening...get in the way and i'll definitely let you know, but i'll quickly move back to the task at hand.  fortunately, it's a rare occurrence that i find myself in those kind of situations, but bad things can happen at any time and you always have to be ready.  after the fact, it's nice to decompress a little by discussing the events with my coworkers...and having a few stiff drinks...

[Teggy]

When Kato was hit by an RPG, he just laughed. Chuck Norris is a pansy.

[USMC Kato]

When Kato was hit by an RPG, he just laughed. Chuck Norris is a pansy.

I did a little, then I went into a coma