Send in the Troops!
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (118442)
Gainesville, Florida
September 12, 2017 6:45pm CST
Early this morning when I reported to work, I headed over to one of our city swimming pools to get staff assigned to their cleanup duties. All of a sudden, a small convoy of military trucks pulled up in front of me, and a squad of army soldiers in full battle fatigues and armed with M-16 rifles jumped out and spread out in front of the entrance. I approached the squad leader to ask what was going on.
Me: "Excuse me sir, what's going on?"
Army Guy: "We were assigned to guard this facility."
Me: "What? Why?"
Army Guy: "To provide security and ensure that everyone remains safe."
Me: "You do realize this is a swimming pool, right? I'm pretty sure we have everything under control here."
Army Guy: "This isn't the evacuee shelter?"
Me: "No sir. The shelter is next door at the gymnasium."
Army Guy: "My apologies. We're sorry if we frightened you."
Me: "Are those M-16s loaded?"
Army Guy: "Yes sir they are."
Me: "Carry on then."
That gave me a good laugh to start my hectic day!
Another funny thing was that the soldiers were very tight, formal and all business when they arrived. But that didn't stop my female lifeguards from salivating over them (what girl doesn't like a man in uniform?) So around noon I asked my female guards if they wanted to deliver meals and drinks to the soldiers, and of course they jumped at the opportunity! And when the soldiers saw my lifeguards coming, all of a sudden they were all smiles!
I'm pretty sure that over the next couple of days (or however long the soldiers are stationed here), I will be able to get anything I want from those soldiers!
...well, as long as I send my female lifeguards to do the asking! Haha
Do you think they'll let me go for a ride in an M-1 tank?
27 people like this
22 responses
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
14 Sep 17
@marlina it's ok to like men in uniform even if you're old and married!
I'm not suggesting you're old!
3 people like this
@kobesbuddy (74571)
• East Tawas, Michigan
13 Sep 17
LOL Jeff, this is so darn funny! I can't believe it, loaded M-16s to guard a swimming pool? Could it be, you have shark infested water, but didn't know it?
Female lifeguards+Soldiers in full uniform=Smiles
Female lifeguards+Soldiers in full uniform=Smiles5 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Sep 17
I think everybody is going to sleep with a smile on their face tonight...the soldiers for seeing some cute lifeguards; the lifeguards for seeing some cute soldiers; and me for getting to climb all over their military vehicles! They didn't let me play with the tank though!
4 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Sep 17
@kobesbuddy Of course, the big question I have in this entire situation is...why did they bring tanks with them if they're their to help keep us safe? What are they going to do, blow up looters with a tank? haha
4 people like this
@kobesbuddy (74571)
• East Tawas, Michigan
13 Sep 17
@moffittjc Darn it, I'd love to play with one of those tanks! Those military vehicles are awesome:) Smiles on female lifeguards, smiles on soldiers?
Can't beat that with a big stick!
Can't beat that with a big stick!4 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (79730)
• United States
13 Sep 17
Seems like a win win for you...the soldiers are happy and the lifeguards are happy
3 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (79730)
• United States
14 Sep 17
@moffittjc guess you'll have to keep your eyes on them 
3 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
20 Sep 17
@Marilynda1225 I always keep a close eye on my staff. They are college kids, after all! lol
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
14 Sep 17
I just hope my lifeguards and the soldiers don't start sneaking off in the bushes for a little too much fun!
3 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40055)
• Laguna Woods, California
17 Sep 17
@moffittjc - That is a great story! I think you handled it very well. It is a little scary to think the army could go to the wrong place. I read that a few years ago a bunch of vacationers were sitting on a beach in Southern Spain when an attack force made landing! They were British and they were supposed to be landing on the Rock of Gilbrater, but they missed that island and ended up on the Spanish beach. That's pretty scary, isn't it ... but also kind of funny!
3 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Sep 17
They actually were in the right place, because the whole recreation complex (pool, stadium, gym) all share the same address. They just went to the wrong building! When you pull into the parking lot of the complex, the pool is the first thing you come to. So I don't want anyone to think that these guys didn't know where they were going! lol
3 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
19 Sep 17
@DeborahDiane My question is, when Britain accidentally invaded Spain, were the Spanish troops right there waiting for them, or did the whole situation catch the Spanish military asleep at the helm?
3 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40055)
• Laguna Woods, California
18 Sep 17
@moffittjc - That's good to know that they were not in the completely wrong place ... unlike the British soldiers that invades the coast of Spain!
3 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Sep 17
I love a woman in uniform...a cheerleader uniform, a tight nurse uniform, a sexy bikini uniform. Wait...that last one might not be a uniform, but you won't ever hear me complaining about it!
3 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Sep 17
@DianneN I promise, I'm not a sexist, chauvinistic pig!
3 people like this
@thislittlepennyearns (58134)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
13 Sep 17
Never a dull day in your life.
5 people like this
@thislittlepennyearns (58134)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
13 Sep 17
@moffittjc My best friend in high school lived with a police officer for awhile and one night I went to him and patted his leg and asked him if that was his night stick or if he was just happy to see me lol
4 people like this
@thislittlepennyearns (58134)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
13 Sep 17
@moffittjc
I can't believe they let you out in public lol
I can't believe they let you out in public lol3 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Sep 17
@thislittlepennyearns They try not to let me out, but every now and them I'm able to sneak out before they catch me!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Sep 17
Do you know if they sent troops to Jax? I was surprised to see them in Gainesville. I thought they would have been more needed in south Florida.
3 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
13 Sep 17
@moffittjc I'm not sure, we haven't seen any. However, where they need the help is downtown and we don't live near there.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Sep 17
@LovingMyBabies I saw on the news last night a story about the downtown area, as well as many of the areas of the city that were flooded from the storm surge. I can't believe Jax got hit as hard as it did. But I do hope they send those troops down to south Florida, because there are places down there that just got completely leveled and need all the help they can get.
3 people like this
@TiarasOceanView (70035)
• United States
17 Sep 17
Haha they probably will let you Jeff after the lifeguards coming over to them lol That is freaking hilarious. I love the all seriousness of it, at guarding the swimming pool.
That is freaking hilarious. I love the all seriousness of it, at guarding the swimming pool.3 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 Sep 17
They didn't stay long, as they were all reassigned to a deployment in the Florida Keys. The military sent 10,000 troops to the Keys to help with cleanup and recovery
3 people like this
@bluesa (15023)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
13 Sep 17
Lol, I certainly love a man in uniform! I blame Richard Gere...sigh. I am so happy you were able to inform them they were guarding a pool so heavily for those few seconds, lol. If you don't ask you won't know, send one of your lovely lifeguards over and ask for the ride in that tank!
2 people like this
@bluesa (15023)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
15 Sep 17
@moffittjc , sorry you never got to ride in the tank. Those islands were ripped to shreds, thank goodness the soldiers are heading out there to help.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 Sep 17
@bluesa It's probably better that I didn't get to ride in the tank. With my luck, I would have asked them to let me drive it and I would have run over a house or a car of something! Or I would have accidentally pushed the wrong button or trigger or something and fired a shell and blew a hole in the side of a building or something! Because that's just my luck! haha
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
14 Sep 17
Unfortunately, they cleared out of Gainesville yesterday afternoon and headed south to the Florida Keys. They are redirection thousands of soldiers down there to help with the devastated islands.
2 people like this
@Freelanzer (10745)
• Canada
18 Sep 17
A scary situation that turned out OK. I am with your lifeguards - love a man in uniform
3 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
19 Sep 17
I never realized just how much women love men in uniform! But judging from the comments, I think I should wear my uniform when I finally meet all you lovely myLot ladies! Haha
3 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 Sep 17
@ramapo17 Nancy, you and I are so much alike! I get the same way at parades and events in which Vets or active military are involved. I still tear up every time I hear the National Anthem. Just for everything it stands for.
1 person likes this
@ramapo17 (30441)
• Melbourne, Florida
23 Sep 17
@moffittjc I am the type of person that goes to parades and cries or fills up when I see any of the military marching down the parade route. My dad was a medic in the army in WWII, my grandfather was a marine and then went into the Coast Guard years later. My first husband was an officer in the Merchant Marines. I loveeeee uniforms.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Sep 17
I'm not the funny guy, it was the situation that was funny! I should have just left the soldiers there guarding my pool! haha
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 Sep 17
@ramapo17 In this situation, seeing our troops come in and take control of things and help us recover after the storm is a welcome sight, not a scary one!
2 people like this
@ramapo17 (30441)
• Melbourne, Florida
16 Sep 17
@moffittjc I would have been scared stiff.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Sep 17
I just want to play with the tank and see if they'll let me blow up something! haha
1 person likes this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
19 Sep 17
Sure- you already broke the ice by talking to that guard- now you're old buddies!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
19 Sep 17
Too bad they're not still here in Gainesville! They got redeployed to the Florida Keys to help with cleanup efforts down there. The Governor sent 10,000 troops down to the Keys.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 Sep 17
@MarymargII The governor said he wants the Keys back open for tourists by next week, but officials in the Keys said it may take many weeks before that can happen. The mayor of Key West said his city is shooting to be back open for business by October 20, when their famous Fantasy Fest event is scheduled to begin.
1 person likes this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
20 Sep 17
@moffittjc Good fpor him- they sure can use it by the looks of things.
2 people like this
(You are right re: females seem to love men in uniforms, why is that I wonder! 
)@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Sep 17
Don't worry, us men like a woman in uniform too! It must be a inform thing! haha
3 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Sep 17
@YrNemo Well, I was thinking lifeguard uniforms, or maybe schoolgirl uniforms, but I also like your suggestions! haha
3 people like this
@YrNemo (20261)
•
13 Sep 17
@moffittjc Serious? like nurses or air hostesses? or topless waitresses (in their uniforms )?
)?3 people like this
@1creekgirl (40523)
• United States
13 Sep 17
If the girls are pretty enough, you can probably ask for most anything you want!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
14 Sep 17
All of my lifeguards all college students, it's safe to say they are attractive.
2 people like this
@lookatdesktop (27129)
• Dallas, Texas
23 Sep 17
I wouldn't want to press my luck, maybe you can get some selfies with the ladies in uniform.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
23 Sep 17
I have plenty of selfies with the ladies, but for my safety and security I choose to keep them private! hahaha
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
23 Sep 17
@lookatdesktop Oh, that must have been horrific for those homeowners. A house is easily replaceable, but if they had lots of sentimental keepsakes inside the house, you can never get those back.
1 person likes this
@lookatdesktop (27129)
• Dallas, Texas
23 Sep 17
There was a news report about a demolition crew going to the wrong house and completely bulldozing it to a pile of rubble when the owner told them it was the house next door that was supposed to be destroyed, and boy did they sue.
A Pittsburgh man says he returned to his home after the holidays to find a backhoe sitting where he house should have been. City officials say a contractor a...
2 people like this
@lookatdesktop (27129)
• Dallas, Texas
23 Sep 17
@moffittjc and what if the family cat were inside at the time? OMG
1 person likes this
@Poppylicious (11133)
•
14 Sep 17
I think I must be a bit weird; I'm not turned on in the slightest by a man in uniform. Maybe it's because the sort of men I'm attracted to aren't the kind who would have a job involving a uniform. Hmmm ...
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
14 Sep 17
Yes, you're officially weird!
But you're not alone...I want you to know that I'm not attracted to men in uniform either!
1 person likes this
