Around the next to last year of Air Force service time (late 90s)....I was called one day to come over to the secure facility at base supply to pick up three crypto-boxes. I noted to the guy...I had not ordered these. He responded....some program had procured (bought) the new technology boxes.
$45,000 each.
I bring them back to the vault....placing them in a locked closet. They sat there for about 8 months (still in the box).
Some contractor comes to me....saying she has the job to implement these. There's some 40-odd page 'plan'.
I bring this up to my boss....he checks into the 'plan'.
Then oddly....this funny episode unfolds.
Somewhere between the development stage and production stage (roughly two years before I signed for them)....this technology had been 'passed' and the three boxes were worthless.
The two months that the contractor had spent writing the 40-odd page 'plan'? Worthless.
Then came the bigger issue....disposing of them. Supply wanted various forms of 'release'. I wasted three hours researching the requirements....completing the paperwork, and driving over to supply to deal with people who knew little of the program or process.
As I retired.....they wanted to write a medal over the five years in the unit....so there is a line in this stupid medal paperwork....noting my complete support of the 'xyz' crypto-box program....delivering the process on time.
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