Approximately one-year ago, I received a new soldier into my squad. Tuesday's are Motor Stables (military vehicular maintenance) and I had to provide basic instruction to this soldier on how to perform Preventative Maintenance Checks and Services (PMCS).
During this time I decided to indoctrinate this soldier into the military life with a little wild goose chasing. I sent the soldier to see the Parts Clerk to requisition a Halon fire extinguisher for a 3/4-ton truck and a Halogen Repair Kit.
Halon fire extinguishers have been banned for use in the US Army because they put out fires by sucking all of the oxygen out of the area; soldiers had been known to suffocate themselves in the process. 3/4-ton trucks have not seen service in the US Army in decades and a Halogen Repair Kit is a fancy way of saying a light bulb repair kit--self explanatory if you think about it....
The soldier reported back to me an hour later, "...Uh...Sarge, we looked and looked in the parts bins and couldn't find any...and then we couldn't find the parts manual for the 3/4-ton to order the Halon Fire Extinguisher and the Parts Clerk is trying to find the NSN (National Stock Number) right now for the Halogen Repair Kit."