I can do that!

Old (that is, recovering) Marines are dangerous. When you're at boot camp, it's slowly drummed into you that "This recruit can't do that!" is NOT a valid response. After boot camp, young Marines are taught, by word and by example, that they can and must do anything.

Not trained to do something, but still it needs doing? Better figure something out, Devildog, because I can't do that is not a valid response.

I've seen some truly hilarious disasters result from this (involving, variously, camo netting, trailer hitches, floor buffers, commo wire - the list goes on). But it has always remained one of my absolute favorite traits of Marines in the ranks of sergeant and below. They'll get it done. Whatever it is. Somehow. It probably won't be efficient or pretty, and in fact it may be horribly unsafe, but it will get done.

The Army is a little different. Being a large organization, the Army has a course and a guide for everything. "Analysis paralysis" is a bigger problem in the Army. Soldiers will wait for a qualified "camo net installation specialist" to show up with "Field Manual 32-14 - camo net in the temperate environment" and the prescribed net-hanging accessories.

While the soldiers are waiting on those things, three Marine PFCs, under the direction of an overdue-for-promotion lance corporal, will be hanging by their toes and hanging the netting with 100mph tape. It's a cultural difference.

Anyway, the problem is that this carries over into later life. Marines will look at an idea, a project, and think, I can do that. Somehow. I can make that happen.

I have an old Marine friend who, being a bird lover, designed and built a remote-detonation device to keep squirrels out of his bird feeder. Sort of an anti-squirrel IED. An old Soldier probably would have just purchased something out of a catalog.

I'm not even going to comment on how awfully this manifests itself with vehicle repair. Or home gunsmithing.

But today I have a fabric-related project. Can't find the bag you want, Abby? That's no problem...I can do it myself!

Stay tuned for the doubtlessly disasterous resolution on this one...