I smile a lot. "Smiling's my favorite!" That's the kind of person I am. I laugh at pretty much any dirty joke or sly comment. I can't help it. So it really took me by surprise when this happened...

Here's what I got told today by an instructor: "Why are you smiling? Cut it out and take this seriously! I mean it, stop smiling, stop laughing, and act like your life depends on this." He said this with his "I am Man. Speak from Diaphragm." voice.
 

Sorry, but smiling motivates me and others. It keeps me positive even when my instructors are quite grouchy. I'm having a hard enough time trying to stay awake as death by Power Point encroaches and another FM has to be read. Let me smile!

I take my job as a soldier very seriously. I iron my ACUs every Sunday night. I give my all during PT in the mornings. I get to class an hour early just to review my products that my team made the day before. I participate in class discussions. I take charge of my team when it's time for the daily Practical Exercise (i.e. Guesswork). I work through lunch to catch up on everything. So what if I do it with a smile? I refuse to give in.

:-)