Quebec Run Wild Area
training hike
2015
On the trail we notice up ahead a group of young men and women dressed in their ACUs, Army Combat Uniforms. Technically, the term fatigues is no longer used, so ACUs it is. These folks are clearly engaged in some kind of training. All the firearms I see are holstered so I feel reasonably comfortable asking what’s up.
One of the comrade-in-arms responds. “We’re practicing reconnaissance, route-finding and team maneuvers.” I don’t understand what else he says because it’s in soldier-speak.
My friend Perelman was a police officer. When describing an incident, he might say, “I approached the vehicle and ordered the suspect to exit the vehicle. He failed to comply and became increasingly verbally uncooperative. In light of this, and for officer safety reasons, I physically removed him from the vehicle and placed him prone on the ground in accordance with departmental use of force policy.”
Whereas I would probably say, “I walked up to the car and told the guy to get out. He said screw you and started yelling at me. So I yanked the jagoff out and threw him face down on the ground.”
When it comes down to it, don’t mess with Officer Perelman.