Back in Air Force Boot Camp, it was our flights turn for KP duty. The Drill Instructors had us up at zero dark thirty to complete our daily rituals, and then march us off to different squadrons to complete our KP obligations.

The group I was assigned to was to be the first to leave, due to the fact we had the farthest destination. As we were ready to fall out, my squad leader told me to take the daily trash to the dumpster. I told him I couldn't as we were preparing to depart. He told me he'd have them wait until I got back.

Well I ran the trash down to the dumpster, and when I got back of course, my group had already departed. I asked my squad leader about having the detail wait until I got back. He said nothing and sheepishly turned away. I panicked. I had no idea where I was to go. I ran out of the barracks, and looked around in the dark. There in the distance I could see a dozen or so "Lackland Lasers" swinging in the distance. I took a chance that it was my group marching away, and I took off running.

Over the grass, under the static display aircraft, through parking lots, all the basic training forbidden zones. As I got closer, I could see that it was in fact my group. I silently slipped in to the open position of the marching squad, and got right in step and clicked on my Lackland Laser.

I had taken about a dozen steps or so, when the DI noticed something had changed and halted the squad. He counted us silently, and then counted us again. He turned away, and then turned back and counted us again. He stood there silently glaring for a few seconds more, and then continued to march us on to our destination. When we got to our KP duty station, he was still fuming. At some point, somehow, he figured out what had happened.

He pulled me aside, and said "Airman, I don't know what you were trying to pull, but I'm on to you". I stood at attention and feigned ignorance. He stood glaring at me for what seemed like minutes, and then smirked, winked, and walked away.