Ok, I said I would share some of the pranks we pulled in the Air Force with the HoTDoPA: How to do Practically Anything! group. My shop at Eglin AFB was prime prank territory, I doubt I will ever be in such an environment again, lots of wickedly creative guys, and just enough unsuspecting naive troops to have fun with. However those days exist in a part of my brain that is clouded by a lot of youthful abuse, so recall may be slow.

New Troop 101:

Hat in the Freezer (standard) - Hats are required in uniform when outside, no exceptions. So you get a new troop in your shop, you wait for them to leave their hat unattended sometime during their first couple days, and snag it (preferably in the morning). Fill a large ziplock bag with water, insert hat. Place Hat in freezer. Wait for Airman to pack up and leave for the day, notice them looking for their hat. Laugh. Tell them to look in the freezer. Laugh some more. Now you either watch them take their chances and run to their car or even all the way to the dorms. If they try to thaw it out it will take some time, so let the next shift enjoy the antics and fill you in the next day.

Captain D's (semi-standard) - I haven't seen any around here, but hopefully you all have heard of the fast food seafood place Captain D's. The fact that some regions of the country are oblivious to this chain accounts for most of it's success.

Step 1: Inform new troop that they have a message from Captain Deese about their orders and they need to take care of that pronto.

Step 2: Supply handwritten message with phone number of local Captain D's.

Step 3: Try not to laugh as they call and ask about their orders.

The best time we had with this one, the person at Captain D's was familiar with the prank and played along.

The inter-squadron errand (classic)- For this one to work you have to get them early, and pick someone with hardly any technical knowledge, and eager to please. Also, for this to work the best requires a little communication between shops. There are a few versions of this one but this is the only one I can remember for now (the only other one I can remember is the old timers used say they did this joke with elbow grease, that would never work today).

Step 1: Send troop to another Flight (shop) to get a spool of flight line, because we are out. The joke is there is no such thing, the flight line is where the freakin jets are.

Step 2: Make sure they know not to come back without getting some.

Step 3: Notify the shop where you are sending the troop, get them in on it.

Step 4: That shop will say they have it on back order and forward the troop to the next shop.

Step 5: Repeat.

Step 6: Laugh as reports come in from all the shops.

Step 7: Laugh again as unsuspecting airman finally shows up empty handed.

The Solder Swap - So you have to train a new airmen on soldering technique, might as well have some fun.

Step 1: Get troop all set up at a soldering station.

Step 2: Remove piece or spool of solder, and replace with safety wire.

Step 3: Give an excuse to leave the area when they begin trying to heat up the solder.

Step 4: Laugh hysterically as the wire doesn't melt and they drop the wire because it gets too hot.

I once witnessed a guy try and melt this piece of wire for like 15 minutes before telling me the iron was broken. He never lived that one down, we never let him.

Not really a prank, more like hazing but this happens too:

More like hazing