LCDR meets with a Chief in his office. He asks, "Chief, how do you run such an efficient section? Are there any tips you can give to me?"

"Well," says the Chief, "the most important thing is to surround yourself with intelligent people." The LCDR frowns. "But how do I know if the people around me are really intelligent?"

The Chief takes a sip of coffee. "Oh, that's easy. You just ask them to answer an intelligent riddle." The Chief yells out to one of his favorite First Class's. The First Class walks into the room. "Yes, Chief what can I do for you?" The Chief smiles "Answer me this, please. Your mother and father have a child. It is not your brother and it is not your sister. Who is it?"

Without pausing for a moment, the First Class answers, "Well, that would be me." "Yes, Very good, thanks" says the Chief.

The LCDR goes back to his office to ask his junior officers the same question. "Answer this for me. Your mother and your father have a child.
It's not your brother and it's not your sister. Who is it?"

All of the junior officers look at the LCDR in amazement, "We're not sure, let us get back to you on that one." The junior officers then have numerous meetings to discuss it, without a resolution.

Finally, they run into the Master Chief, Master Chief! Can you answer this for us? Your mother and father have a child and it's not your brother or your sister. Who is it?

The Master Chief yells back, "That's easy. It's me!"
All of the officers' smile, and say, "Thanks!"

Then, they schedule a meeting with the LCDR, Sir we found the answer, we did some research and we have the answer to that riddle. It's a Master Chief.

The LCDR gets up, and starts screaming at them, "No, you idiots! It's a First Class!"