Imagine, if you will, the storied World War II general George S. Patton looking down from the heavens upon a scene of marching Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets and using language that turns the heavens blue.

He would be cursing the ROTC program at Temple University in Philadelphia upon viewing scenes like this:

And this:

No, you’re not seeing things. Future officers in the United States Army were apparently required to don women’s high heels and march in Temple’s “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” event on April 1 — ironically coinciding with April Fool’s Day. The goal was to “raise awareness of sexual assault against women.”

Temple’s ROTC proudly posted the event it to its Facebook page.

Not all cadets were enthusiastic. One cadet allegedly posted at the social site Reddit:

It reads in part:

“Attendance is mandatory and if we miss it we get a negative counseling and a “does not support the battalion sharp/EO mission”. . . . Just a heads up for when you see us all over army WTF moments. US infantry, grunt works, and every other army page on the Internet. . . . . . this is hands down the stupidest fucking thing I’ve done. . .”

Other angry cadets confirmed the event at Reddit.

“I just don’t understand why Combs would court political controversy like this. Isn’t the military supposed to avoid faddish political movement and religious issues.

Anyways cross dressing violates several of our nation’s largest religions. That alone should have caused the Cadet Command to steer clear of this bullshit. Not to mention Army’s own fucking policy.”

Similar criticisms were seen at Tumblr:

“Its a Cadet Command wide thing, pretty much every battalion in Cadet Command has had to, or will have to do it. GEN Combs has picked it up as a CC initiative.”

“This is sadly legit. Did it at my school this semester, along with something called “Take Back the Night,” both of which made me uncomfortable just being a man and being there, let alone in uniform. This is supposed to be Cadet Command’s directive, that ROTC is to be involved in sexual harassment prevention on campus as part of SHARP stuff, but really none of these events are relevant or even well thought out. The “speeches” people give are either geared towards women or poorly constructed, and we are all sitting in uniform (men and women, both) listening and wondering how it is at all relevant.

I’m all for equality, but it is really poorly thought out to have us involved in this.”

Not only was this absolutely silly and humiliating for future officers, but most likely it breached Army dress regulations:

3B. ACU ACCESSORY ITEMS:

ACU PATROL CAP
ARMY COMBAT BOOTS – HOT WEATHER (TAN)
ARMY COMBAT BOOTS – TEMPERATE WEATHER (TAN)
BOOT SOCKS (GREEN)
TWO-INCH RIGGER BELT
MOISTURE WICKING T-SHIRT (TAN)
UNDERGARMENTS
ELBOW PADS
KNEE PADS
HOOK AND LOOP (VELCROED) FULL COLOR U.S. FLAG INSIGNIA HOOK AND LOOP IR SUBDUED U.S. FLAG INSIGNIA
HOOK AND LOOP SHOULDER SLEEVE INSIGNIA
HOOK AND LOOP EMBROIDERED GRADE INSIGNIA
HOOK AND LOOP SUBDUED NAME TAPE

On June 5, 1944, General Patton addressed the Third Army on the eve of the D-Day invasion with the famous words, “No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country.” The quote was immortalized by actor George C. Scott at the beginning of the movie Patton:

I’ve seen Patton several times over the years. As a history buff, I’ve seen several documentaries featuring actual speeches and film clips of General Patton. I don’t recall him encouraging his men to make the other poor bastard die from laughter at the sight of US Army officers wearing women’s high heels.