>Having spent years picking up cigarette butts off the ground when I was in the military but a non-smoker, it infuriates me (and others) to see it. I don't see it much here due to the heavy military population, but I'm sure it happens because I come across the piles of cigarette butts now and then in parking lots (typically large discount shopping centers-no connection intended, just an observation).
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>Tracy

Tracy;

In basic training they would give us a “smoke break” throughout the day. You know the drill – after you smoke you “field strip your butt”. Those of us who did not smoke were “allowed” to police up the area and remove all remains of cigarettes and butts.

I was 17 when in basic training and they decided to give me “butt can detail”. A butt can was a 505 can painted red, had a hole for a nail to pass through, with several inches of water and was hung on each wooden post through the open bay barracks. These were the depositories for all used cigarettes.

We were going to have a white glove inspection the next day. I was not allowed to empty the butt cans until 2100 hours. The Latrine Queen (guy in charge of the Latrine) would not allow me to use the Latrine to empty and clean the butt cans. The barracks guard had orders that no one could leave the building.

How do you clean butt cans when you are restricted from using the latrine or go outside? Why you use your imagination! I gathered all the butt cans and asked the barracks guard to open the door – I was not going outside. The door was opened and I threw the contents of each butt can on the sidewalk in front of the barracks. There were perhaps 12 cans.

At 0500 the Inspection team came up the walk with our TI and CO. The TI yelled, “Whiteley”! You are off Butt Can detail! Not another word was spoken to me about this incident. It sure seems funny now but not so then.

A favorite act of smokers in the Air Force that I can recall was using mashed potatoes on your plate to stick your cigarette butt into. That always made me sick to see. That was a universal act that Airmen, non coms and officers seemed to enjoy. Such a sight was common when you had KP and had to wash 2000 to 10,000 plates depending upon what size base you were on.

Now they tell me they have civilian KP’s. They told me, “KP builds morale”! I guess the people in the Air Force today have no morale. :)

Tom