--- title: "‘What happens if you refuse to shower’ & other dumb questions" date: "2020-04-29" modified: "2020-10-30" authors: - name: "Shannon Corbeil" job_title: "Contributor, Air Force Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/scorbeil/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-culture/dumb-military-questions-part-five/" categories: - "Basic Training" - "Entertainment" - "Join the Military" --- # ‘What happens if you refuse to shower’ & other dumb questions ![]() *"What happens to a recruit in the military if they refuse to take a shower during basic training?"* U.S. Army vet Jennifer Campbell doesn't even flinch about this one: "Oh, you gotta smother them with a blanket." I wasn't sure what this meant, but thankfully Green Beret Chase Millsap elaborated: "If you refuse to take a shower, your friends are going to force you to take a shower." And if anyone is still confused by this, Air Force vet Mark Harper makes it very clear: "They bring the soap to you. It's called a blanket party. Lotta fun." --- ![]() Ohhhhhhhh. Now I get it. I love this question because it's the first time I've ever seen U.S. Army vet Rosario Eléna get *effing angry*. I was scared. And delighted. Moving on! *"How do you break up with a woman who was a marksman in the U.S. Army. I'm not a fan of guns all around me."* Campbell is really getting the hang of answering these dumb questions: "I would do it from at least 400 yards away. She's a marksman, not a sharpshooter, so you should probably be alright." ![]() Hint: That's the smile of a woman who can definitely take you in a fight. *"Would a modern soldier with Spartan-level training be significantly more effective than the average modern soldier in special forces?"* Let Millsap hook you up with a little dose of history here, okay? "Spartans, at the age of seven, were ripped from their mothers and sent to the agoge, where they were taught to lie, cheat, steal, bribe, and even sing, so they could become the best warriors in all of Greece." Other vets had answers that weren't exactly helpful but were nonetheless important, like U.S. Navy Vet August Dannehl, who started doing impersonations from [the 300 film](), or Eléna who just weighed in on the fact that the soldiers would be sexier if they were Spartan. ¯\_(ツ)\_/¯ ![]() Wait, is that Leonidas or [Jarred Taylor]()? *"How would one go about buying a naval ship like a destroyer or a frigate? And how much would it be?"* "You know, Craigslist has a lot of hidden gems," offers U.S. Marine Jen Brofer. She's not wrong. Dear question-asker, wherever you are, if you want to buy a Navy ship, now is the time. All of your dreams are coming true! The United States government is [currently auctioning off]() a Halter Marine Logistic Support Vessel for id="listicle-2639200274",000,000. I guessed -25, so I wasn't too far off, and that's something I'll always be proud of. *"How can I prepare for joining the United States Marine Corps?"* Let's see if you can pick out the Marines and the non-Marines in these answers: --Pull-ups --Have your parents yell at you for no reason --Start wearing really little shorts --Pick up a backpack, put your entire room in it, and start walking around for days --Running, just keep running --Eat every meal in four minutes or less --Get a fistful of crayons and start coming up with recipes --Stay awake for long periods of time for absolutely no reason --Shower with a lot of people --Empty your head *Zing!!* [It's fun to make fun of other branches!]() ![]() Don't miss our other installments right here: **[Vets answer dumb military questions - part two]()** **[Vets answer EVEN MOAR dumb military questions]()'** **[What do snipers think when they miss' other dumb military questions]()** ## Author Shannon Corbeil has worked for We Are The Mighty as a digital video producer, writer, and host, as well as a staff writer covering military history, trivia, and valor. Shannon is a fierce veteran advocate, covering the achievements of members of the military community and volunteering in multiple veteran non-profit organizations, including Pin-Ups for Vets and Warriors for Peace Theatre. Her undergraduate degree is in Humanities and Philosophy and her Masters is in Strategic Intelligence. A screenwriter and actor recently seen on SEAL TEAM and THE ROOKIE, Shannon writes about exciting projects in the entertainment industry. She is an alum of the Writers Guild Foundation Veterans Writing Project, a Finalist in the Disney TV Writing Fellowship, an inaugural fellow for the STARZ/VME #TakeTheLead Program, and has performed at the Geffen Playhouse and Kennedy Center as a writer, dancer, singer, and actor. As a U.S. Air Force Intelligence Officer, Shannon supported the 25th Fighter Squadron at Osan Air Base, South Korea, and conducted Cyber Threat Analysis at the National Security Agency. Her work has been seen in Business Insider, Task & Purpose, Military.com, and various other publications. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()