In Switzerland every male age 19-34 is obliged to serve in the military. 18-21 weeks one time, then 3 weeks each year. From time to time, co-workers will be on military leave for a week or so to go march around, learn something fancy or kill some cows. Our apartment is actually just a few blocks from the Bern army base. So we see soldiers around the neighborhood all the time. They're in uniform, but unarmed.
And it turns out, Mondays are "pack up yer gun and head off to the army base days." Fridays are the opposite. You are not allowed to take your gun with you except to/from the base and home. Guns are NOT allowed in restaurants. Leave them in the car, was one suggestion. Duh.
But anyway.
So this morning, an entire battalion/squad/section/group/whatever (40 dudes or so) needed to "get to work" as it were. From the Bahnhof to the base. You take the 9 to get there.
So they're all waiting at the Bahnhof for the 9. Backpacks, luggage, berets etc. They're all packin' heat. Extreme heat. Fancy euro-style foldable weapons of extreme death and destruction. Swiss Army knives - the ones with the toothpick and nail file - very dangerous. The works.
The 9 arrives. They take an extra long time loading themselves into the tram, because, well, it's hard to load that many soldiers onto a tram with all their stuff. Plus civilians.
They fit everyone on ... except for one guy. They pushed and squeezed, and one guy wouldn't fit in. Tram leaves. Single soldier standing there. Alone. Left behind. Pulls out his cell phone, calls his section leader "Sarge! I've been separated from my squad! Help!!!"
He took the next tram.
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