The First Sergeant

After seeing Tammi's Sergeant Major joke, I had to post this one...

One day, the First Sergeant was invited to the Officer's Club with
the CO to eat lunch. When they entered the main dining room, they
found the place was quite crowded. They did notice three Lieutenants
sitting at a table with two empty chairs, so the CO asked them if they
could join them.

They promptly invited them to join them. They ordered lunch and joined them
in conversation as they ate. At one point, the First Sergeant mentioned that
he had observed characteristics about many officers from which he could
determine the sources of their commissioning.

The Lieutenants were eager to hear about this and asked if he could tell how
each of them had been commissioned.

The First Sergeant turned to the Lieutenant on his left and said he went
through ROTC. The Lieutenant confirmed that was correct and asked how he had
noted this. The First Sergeant replied that the Lieutenant, through his
conversation, seemed to have a strong academic background but limited
military experience.

The First Sergeant then told the Lieutenant on his right that he had gone
through OCS with previous enlisted service. The Lieutenant confirmed that
this was correct and also asked how he had determined this. The First Sergeant
said, again through his conversation, that the Lieutenant seemed to
have a firm military background and a lot of common sense.

The Lieutenant across the table from the First Sergeant asked if he had
determined his source of commission. The First Sergeant replied that the
Lieutenant had graduated from the United States Naval Academy. The
Lieutenant stated that was correct and asked if he had noticed his high
level of intelligence, precise military bearing, or other superior qualities
acquired at the United States Naval Academy. The First Sergeant replied that
it was none of these that led to his determination.

He had simply observed the Lieutenant's class ring while he was picking his
nose.

You can't take those First Sergeants anywhere!