"Military protocol"

When I was a newly commissioned Lieutenant
in the Army, I was assigned as a temporary
assistant in an administrative office in a Military
Intelligence unit.

One day a long memo came around with a cover
sheet instructing all assigned officers to read it
and initial it as indication of their compliance. I
figured it meant me too, so I read and initialed it.

BUT a few days later, it came back addressed
specifically to me. An attached note read: "You
are not permanently assigned to this unit and
are thus not an authorized signee. Please erase
your initials and initial your erasure."