I work in the national intelligence community, at a "low profile" facility just outside Washington, DC. There are no signs on the building. Military members that work there have to enter and leave the building in civilian clothes, carrying their uniforms in clothing bags, etc. It has become usual fashion for non-military men to wear nice slacks and polo shirts, when they do not have a meeting or conference that deserves a shirt and tie, or a business suit.
Accordingly, many individuals wear polo shirts embroidered with various emblems... university logos, previous military affiliations, etc.
The other day, I wore one of my 32nd degree double eagle shirts to the office.
Several brothers, seeing me, nodded their approval.
One individual in Army uniform, a person known to be very self-assured of their own omniscience in international events, stopped me and asked, "I don't recognize that emblem. What is it?"
I replied, "Oh, it's the crest of the 32nd G.D.T.F."
He looked stumped and said, "G.D.T.F? I don't know that one."
The die was cast and I couldn't resist, "It stands for 'Global Domination Task Force'."
"Never heard of it!" he says, "Is it a Joint unit? Where is it based?"
"It's more of a Compartmented, International Alliance organization. It's headquartered here in DC, but there're detachments just about everywhere." (Note: Hearing "compartmented" in my community means that you have to be individually cleared to have explicit knowledge of the compartmented subject.)
"Really! I didn't know."
After a bit of small talk, we went on our merry ways.
David Terrell 32, Fort Worth, TX
living in Herndon, VA
Accordingly, many individuals wear polo shirts embroidered with various emblems... university logos, previous military affiliations, etc.
The other day, I wore one of my 32nd degree double eagle shirts to the office.
Several brothers, seeing me, nodded their approval.
One individual in Army uniform, a person known to be very self-assured of their own omniscience in international events, stopped me and asked, "I don't recognize that emblem. What is it?"
I replied, "Oh, it's the crest of the 32nd G.D.T.F."
He looked stumped and said, "G.D.T.F? I don't know that one."
The die was cast and I couldn't resist, "It stands for 'Global Domination Task Force'."
"Never heard of it!" he says, "Is it a Joint unit? Where is it based?"
"It's more of a Compartmented, International Alliance organization. It's headquartered here in DC, but there're detachments just about everywhere." (Note: Hearing "compartmented" in my community means that you have to be individually cleared to have explicit knowledge of the compartmented subject.)
"Really! I didn't know."
After a bit of small talk, we went on our merry ways.
David Terrell 32, Fort Worth, TX
living in Herndon, VA