Long time ago, my huey was down for phase maintenance. One of our new mechanics was sent out for a bucket of flight line. He came back after a loooong time very angry with an empty bucket.
For those not familiar with military humor, extremely elaborate pranks are pulled on people all the time. These pranks will often involve different units, many miles of travel, and being handed over from one experienced tormentor to another, always of a higher rank than the newbie. Phone calls will be placed while the victim is on his way to make sure he will be properly "handled". This is all part of a ritual welcoming to your new unit, how the victim reacts will determine if he has the proper attitude, otherwise it's rinse and repeat till he "gets it".
As an infantryman, we use to send them to get a box of grid squares, sound powered phone batteries, etc. When I was on sea duty, spent a few hours doing 'Mail Buoy Watch'. I didn't have flippers, but close enough!