Being a career soldier was not in the cards for one particular recruit. Every time he took his turn at the rifle range, he’d lift his rifle, aim at the target, fire — and hit some tree way off in the distance. One day, despondent after claiming a number of trees but no targets, he said to the sergeant, “I think I’ll just go and shoot myself.”

“Better take a couple of extra rounds,” the sergeant shot back.

— Manuel G. Rodriguez