Why are these kids wearing camouflage?

The photo above accompanied this story, about the recent hot air balloon accident in Virginia. The caption read, "Search teams arrive at a command post for the recovery efforts from a hot air balloon accident in Ruther Glen, Va., Saturday, May 10, 2014."

But a close look at this picture reveals that these are not members of an experienced search-and-rescue team. How can I tell? It's not rocket science.

First of all, they're kids. The one on the right is sixteen or seventeen at the oldest. The two on the left whose faces you can see look like they've only recently hit puberty. In today's hyper-cautious world, there's no way a bunch of kids would be allowed into the woods unsupervised — not as part of an official search-and-rescue operation anyway.

Which leads to my second observation: They're decked from head to toe...in camouflage.

Now I'm no expert in the field of search and rescue, but if you're searching for people don't you want them to see you? Among these four kids there's just a sliver of hunter's orange. That's just silly.

A Google search of the words "search and rescue" reveals no shortage of images of actual search-and-rescue personnel, and none of them are wearing camouflage. Maybe these kids should have stayed home.

Funnier still, the older kid on the right is actually wearing a tactical vest. Are they expecting to confront Taliban fighters out there in the woods of Virginia? And both he and the kid beside him seem as if they really, really feel important.

We've all seen that look before.

What this photo reveals is the swagger and accouterments that accompany authority. These kids don't have any actual authority — yet — but they sure look like they want it. They've certainly got the attitude down. Future heroes, to be sure.

I'm sure someone in charge found something useful for them to do — making coffee or picking up trash, maybe — but my real hope is that a responsible adult took them all aside and said, "You look stupid; go home and change your clothes."

There are plenty of adults who need to hear that as well.