My platoon was training on placing and setting up the M-16 anti-personnel mine, also called the Bouncing Betty. I was pulling the safety pins and realized I pulled it in the wrong order. Trying to figure out how to reset or fix my mistake, I felt like I was a steak in a tiger cage with a spotlight on me. As I slowly turned my head, I realized that the drill instructor was standing there watching me. His only statement was, "Come here, genius."

I still remember his voice today.