Attempting to copycat the success of the show, Rear Admiral Dave Thomas, Commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic, went undercover for a day as an E-3 (a much lower-ranking seaman) aboard USS Whidbey Island. Admiral Thomas, who was in his 50s at the time of the filming, cleaned rust off the deck using a "needle gun," and participated in training exercising for the LCAC or Landing Craft, Air Cushion. There were no tears, hugs, or monetary awards at the end of his day, but his his fellow seamen did attempt to act surprised that they'd been working alongside a superior officer all day. Though many who watched contended the jig was up before it even began.
According to commenters on the Surface Force Atlantic Facebook page, there's no way anyone would have believed a man of Admiral Thomas' age would have been an E-3. Not only that, but according to some, it was obvious that most of the supposed TV crew were actually part of the admiral's security detail, which would have sent up another huge red flag. (Maybe next time he should try a nose ring or some fake tattoos. That's worked for the real show.) But hey, it was a good effort, and an admirable gesture on behalf of a military superior to try to get an idea of what his crew goes through every day.
