More years ago than I like to remember I was an "aggressor" for a Survival, Evasion, and Escape exercise in Colorado. It was night and I caught two guys and were herding them to the "POW Camp" when they started talking about jumping me.

I had my M16A1 rifle, but we were told that there were no blanks for it yet. However...when we got to the training area, lo and behold! there was a box of blanks!!! We divided them up, we each go three. And I had one in my weapon, which was pointed upwards.

When I heard them talking about jumping me I suggested that they not do that. You see, I told them, they didn't have blanks so they issued us ball ammo.

They didn't believe me.

I triggered the blank round.

They walked quietly to the cage like good little boys.

Ah, the good old days of survival, evasion, and escape!