The Pizza Morale Operation (OCS)

— Officer Candidate School, Army

Master Registry #4 | Leadership, Resourcefulness

Setting: Officer Candidate School, Army

“I’m the morale officer in OCS. We had not eaten for about two days and there had been a lot of physical activity. We’re out in the boondocks of nowhereville but we’re still on post.

I as the morale officer ordered pizza from the civilian city that was miles away. I told him ’look I will pay you whatever if you take our pizza order and bring some drinks — we need some morale and I’m the morale officer, I’m doing my job.'

I spoke to one of our cadre, a Staff Sergeant, and I told him ‘man, you know I’m just doing my job, right?’ And he’s like ‘yeah’ and ‘we can’t really let the rest of cadre learn about this.’

He got the unmarked pizza delivery truck — which was actually a military vehicle — and he covered the pizzas with tarp and brought in the pizzas.”

Key Lesson: Creative problem-solving within rules. Taking initiative. Taking care of your people.

Best Used For: Leadership stories, resourcefulness, military background