Is burning man off limits to AD military?

frieden · Post by **frieden** » Sun Aug 22, 2010 3:25 pm

I'm in the military and recently a co-worker brought up to me that Burning Man maybe an off-limits event for Active Duty members. Does anyone know if it is or is not?

Dr. Pyro · Post by **Dr. Pyro** » Sun Aug 22, 2010 3:25 pm

Absolute nonsense.

Orchid · Post by **Orchid** » Sun Aug 22, 2010 3:26 pm

One thing I learned in the Marine Corps is "it is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission."

Are you a student or staff at Keesler?

frieden · Post by **frieden** » Sun Aug 22, 2010 3:28 pm

I am staff

Orchid · Post by **Orchid** » Sun Aug 22, 2010 3:31 pm

I'd be as vague as possible: "going camping in Nevada with friends." I don't see why it would be a problem if you don't turn it into one.

Out of curiosity, is New Orleans off limits to staff? I only got to go once when I was at Keesler because I was a lowly student, not to be trusted.

frieden · Post by **frieden** » Sun Aug 22, 2010 3:39 pm

Unfortunitly she already heard that it is Burning Man that I am going to =/

No, New Orleans is not off limits to us...not even during Mardi Gras.

dragonpilot · Post by **dragonpilot** » Sun Aug 22, 2010 4:11 pm

frieden wrote:Unfortunitly she already heard that it is Burning Man that I am going to =/

Orchid wasn't referring to your wife, but your chain of command. I'd keep it on the QT with your superiors, and subordinates alike. Too many people have a negative preconceived notion of what the event is all about...that anyone who goes there must be a drug addled idiot. Could reflect on your performance evaluations reflecting poor judgment, etc...

Post by **AntiM** » Sun Aug 22, 2010 4:14 pm

My active duty friends go when they can. But then they're sailors, and you now how we are.

frieden · Post by **frieden** » Sun Aug 22, 2010 4:25 pm

[quote="dragonpilot"][quote="frieden"]Unfortunitly she already heard that it is Burning Man that I am going to =/ [/quote]

Orchid wasn't referring to your wife, but your chain of command. I'd keep it on the QT with your superiors, and subordinates alike. Too many people have a negative preconceived notion of what the event is all about...that anyone who goes there must be a drug addled idiot. Could reflect on your performance evaluations reflecting poor judgment, etc...[/quote]

Sadly the person I was referring to is in my chain of command, she is my floor supervisor but not my direct supervisor. She is one of those people that has a preconceived notion, but she know's I am responsible, so I don't think it'll effect my EPR at all. As long as it is not an "off limits" event, I can't get into trouble for going as long as I don't do anything dumb. That's why I need to find it whether it is or is not "off limits.:

frieden · Post by **frieden** » Sun Aug 22, 2010 4:25 pm

Sadly the person I was referring to is in my chain of command, she is my floor supervisor but not my direct supervisor. She is one of those people that has a preconceived notion, but she know's I am responsible, so I don't think it'll effect my EPR at all. As long as it is not an "off limits" event, I can't get into trouble for going as long as I don't do anything dumb. That's why I need to find it whether it is or is not "off limits."

dragonpilot · Post by **dragonpilot** » Sun Aug 22, 2010 4:52 pm

There I go being sexist!

Anyway, Burning Man would not establish an "off limits to military" policy. The military does that. Check with your local command.

Orchid · Post by **Orchid** » Sun Aug 22, 2010 5:30 pm

You should probably just ask your floor supervisor since she already knows where you're going.

frieden · Post by **frieden** » Sun Aug 22, 2010 5:43 pm

She doesn't know if it is or not.

Playa Foot · Post by **Playa Foot** » Sun Aug 22, 2010 6:06 pm

Wear your uniform so we can make fun of your shiny shoes.

happydragon · Post by **happydragon** » Sun Aug 22, 2010 6:18 pm

All I did was list GPS coordinates on my leave chit, and said I was "camping in the desert with some friends..." but I still expect to get "randomly" tested when I get back...

bluesbob · Post by **bluesbob** » Sun Aug 22, 2010 6:26 pm

Seems like this is a question for someone in your chain of command. But I don't see why the military would even bother. To start putting events off limits opens a terrible can of worms for any branch of the military.

Post by **Eric** » Sun Aug 22, 2010 6:46 pm

I checked with my wife (AD- Army) & she had never heard of it being off limits. She did say if your command knows you're going you can be almost guaranteed to get a "random" drug test when you get back, so as long as you just drink you'll be fine.

I'd still check with your direct chain of command, but I don't think it's an official "off limits" event.

frieden · Post by **frieden** » Sun Aug 22, 2010 6:52 pm

thank you and everyone for your help :)

geekster · Post by **geekster** » Sun Aug 22, 2010 7:55 pm

There is (or has been) a Marine Corps camp on the playa for more than one year so I imagine not.

Which brings to mind "why would it be?". Burning Man isn't "about" anything illegal or immoral. Sure, there will be some people who do things that might be illegal but so will people in Reno. Is Reno off limits? Burning Man does not condone any illegal activity so I don't see why it would be "off limits".

Isotopia · Post by **Isotopia** » Sun Aug 22, 2010 9:20 pm

You probably need to ask your CO.

You do NOT need to come here and ask for an informed opinion from this group. Especially for something that might ultimately get your ass in a wringer.

bauhaus · Post by **bauhaus** » Sun Aug 22, 2010 10:07 pm

its pretty hard to get kicked out of the marines.

Clar-i-ty · Post by **Clar-i-ty** » Sun Aug 22, 2010 10:09 pm

If there's no official memo from Command you're golden. However, you are supposed to be reachable. I know in the past I played fast and loose with that one, but that was many years ago.

Tell them that you will have intermtant email.

Its not a lie.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Mon Aug 23, 2010 12:00 am

We've had seals out there.
And the military always overflies, supposedly studying our camping success in untenable conditions.
Most successful refugee camp in nevada so far.

If asked, tell them you're learning new survival techniques.

Pink Daddy · Post by **Pink Daddy** » Mon Aug 23, 2010 6:05 am

I've Active Duty Navy and this will be my third Burn. In my experience, I don't tell my CoC what I'm doing, but just that I'm camping in the desert with some friends. I consider it a 'don't need to know' kind of situation. I have heard that some commands have an 'off limits' policy for Burning Man, due to previous military members going there and popping on piss test upon their return. When they went to see the old man and were asked where they got the drugs, they said Burning Man. So, the CO flipped out and made it 'off limits'. It's a command policy and not a military policy. Even if a command makes it 'off limits', it's really hard for them to enforce it.

In my opinion, you already know what you're supposed to do and what you're not supposed to do. Just like in any major city around the world, you have the option of doing things illegal at Burning Man. It's your integrity and choices that are important...

Post by **AntiM** » Mon Aug 23, 2010 6:12 am

I swear, there's enough Navy and prior Navy who attend we should have a "Drunk as a Sailor on Leave" camp or meetup.

Me and MyLarry, we both were ET1s, we met on DG, I was his relief. Ranger in camp was a MAA. Our ET2 on the Dupuke can't attend this year; but he had his Div-o and others interested in going. I think he spins poi on the fantail. Our EM3 is in prototype, technically he attended not as a sailor, but as a Depper.

ju1ce · Post by **ju1ce** » Mon Aug 23, 2010 10:56 am

Just make sure you don't do anything stupid out there and can piss clean when you get back. Expect to be drug tested.

frieden · Post by **frieden** » Mon Aug 23, 2010 1:56 pm

I checked with my supervisor today and he said it is okay for me to go, as long as i don't do anything stupid. which i don't intend on doing...so i'll be alright.

Isotopia · Post by **Isotopia** » Mon Aug 23, 2010 10:29 pm

it is okay for me to go, as long as i don't do anything stupid. which i don't intend on doing...so i'll be alright.

Which begs the question: Why are you bothering to go?

Token · Post by **Token** » Mon Aug 23, 2010 10:38 pm

Isotopia wrote:
it is okay for me to go, as long as i don't do anything stupid. which i don't intend on doing...so i'll be alright.
Which begs the question: Why are you bothering to go?

Because if they don't ask, and you don't tell, it's OK to bugger anyone on the Playa in the ass.

Just stay away from the pot heads and always drink from a sippy-cup.

C.f.M. · Post by **C.f.M.** » Tue Aug 24, 2010 10:00 am

HOOAH!