"The most dangerous man in the Army is a 2d Lieutenant with a map and a compass." --Col. William L. Lyons, deceased.

Art is right; he was one.

Example: a training patrol lead by to 2d Lts. on a clear, wonderful, night with a beautiful full moon. We followed the same route we'd taken for the last four nights: up a hill, walk along the ridge for perhaps a mile, turn left, go down the hill, and wait for pickup in the assembly area (we were acting as Aggressor Forces). So: up the hill to the PATH we'd made on the top of the ridge, turn left, walk a bit, and the two LTs called a halt. Seems like they were lost...the radioed another patrol and asked them to "fire a shot to orient themselves". Way, way, WAY off in the distance a tiny shot was heard and the muzzle blast seen -- it must have been two or three miles away.

"I think that to the left of the moon," said one to the other. At this point, the sergeant slammed his steel helmet to the ground in disgust and was told "If you can do better, you go and do it, but it's on YOUR head, sergeant."

So we walked another half mile or so, turned left down the well-known path (note that no one else in the patrol was lost, only the officers) and arrived to rest in the assembly area. Nothing more was said in the hearing of the "other ranks" but I do know the battalion commander monitored the radio net....

Unless you're a direct political appointee, going through the perils of Second Lieutenanthood is a necessary part of becoming a military leaders, just as being in "other ranks" is necessary to being a successful NCO. Still...I believe, from my own experience and that of many others, what Col. Lyons said.

(Fragging or its equivalent can be documented back at least as far as the American Civil War. It was usually done as a last resort to remove a dangerous and incompetent leader.)