Have you ever enjoyed a mandatory fun day?

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 01:23:34 -0400

I know some prefer to have the day off, others prefer to have team events to boost morale. What are activities you enjoyed on these fundatory days?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2016 1:28 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 01:28:26 -0400

Not going. . .

Response by SGT Jerrold Pesz made Apr 25 at 2016 1:34 AM

SGT Jerrold Pesz — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 01:34:57 -0400

Never had one.

Response by SPC Kenneth Koerperich made Apr 25 at 2016 1:55 AM

SPC Kenneth Koerperich — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 01:55:19 -0400

Just because I work w/ them, & treat them like brothers, doesn't mean I want to be w/ them in my off time also. 24/7/365 is plenty. Some you just couldn't stand & their families were even worse. So, I'd rather skip it, or "cough, cough" be sick.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2016 2:11 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 02:11:22 -0400

Thanks for asking! Nope, not even once. I understand the intent behind org days, but considering I already spend more time with my coworkers than I do my own wife, I'm already as cohesive as I'll get.

Forcing the "fun time" always comes off as a shoddy way of a command trying to show they care.

A note to commanders, if you truly do care about your soldiers, make it about THEM, not about you, and certainly not about "the unit." Just save the FRG money and give the day off. Two cents from a Joe.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2016 4:15 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 04:15:46 -0400

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member I have usually enjoyed O days where you play some games, eat some food, maybe the leadership had to do the dunk tank or pies in the face to raise money. What I cannot stand are NCO calls/Morale events/whatever else you want to call them, usually on a Friday night after I had to spend my whole day at work at some restaurant or something with people that I have been seeing all day....just writing about them makes my blood boil. If I want to socialize, I'll do it in my own time with whoever I desire.

Response by SFC Marcus Belt made Apr 25 at 2016 5:15 AM

SFC Marcus Belt — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 05:15:04 -0400

Sure I have...until my last unit required the PT uniform and a formation march to the site, and every event was "Army-related". I get it, I understand the intent, but it most definitely was NOT fun.

Also, when I was junior enlisted, a day out of the motor pool was a good day. Now, these emails, PowerPoints and spreadsheets tend to pile up when I'm out of the office.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2016 6:13 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 06:13:09 -0400

I had an awesome company CDR that had a FRG summer event at the waterslides. He goofed off and raced the kids down the slides. Some people chilled out in the shallow end and there was very little prep/tear-down.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Apr 25 at 2016 7:29 AM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 07:29:44 -0400

We did barbeques. "Requirement" was to be there 2~ hours, normally stayed for 3-4 just hanging out eating, chatting.

Minimal buildup/minimal teardown.

Response by Cpl Jon Westbrook made Apr 25 at 2016 8:21 AM

Cpl Jon Westbrook — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 08:21:46 -0400

Softball or Baseball, Flag Football, paintball...

The only ones I've enjoyed were because either I was at sea and was craving a burger, or I legitimately enjoyed being around my unit.

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Apr 25 at 2016 8:56 AM

MAJ Javier Rivera — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 08:56:01 -0400

Had a few of those, both fun and annoying. As a Co CDR ( I guess I sucked since I had to retrain with a 2nd Co Command) I tried my best to protect my soldiers from all of that. Was I successful? Not always but I tried! This I can say: had a few fun Fridays within the company itch the sole purpose of letting the folks go before 1300. Very simplistic on the excecution of course!

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2016 9:00 AM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 09:00:22 -0400

I'll post something from another thread like this one...

First, the term "mandatory fun," is never something that a command should state. The term is what is getting everyone riled up. Our Squadron Socials are just that. If someone has fun, great. If not, then it's their loss. They could have taken the step to put their negative attitude aside and actually hang out with the people they work with outside of work to get to know them better and become a part of a closer knit team...or they can just bitch about it. I swear that I could take people to Disney World for free and they'd find a reason to run their gob about how it sucks...only because they didn't choose to be there on their own terms. Here's another thing. I am looking for...and the Army is looking for, people who thrive and remain positive in ambiguous situations. If you can't thrive and remain positive in simple situations, perhaps you need to reevaluate what you are railing against and why. I want people who are for things, not against things. I want people who spend their time fighting righteous battles, who live for the good fight and don't waste their energy and time complaining about the little things...because the big things are coming

Response by SSG Dennis Grossmann made Apr 25 at 2016 9:02 AM

SSG Dennis Grossmann — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 09:02:49 -0400

The only ones I can recall, One in 1993 when my PSG got really really drunk and was actually kind of fun to be around. Unfortunately we had someone go shoulder first into a fire hydrant. The second one was 2003 with a new CO we had beer and softball. I know there were others, but they don't even warrant an honorable mention the sucked so bad.

Response by SSgt Dan Montague made Apr 25 at 2016 9:26 AM

SSgt Dan Montague — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 09:26:21 -0400

Back in the day we got funding through MWR to throw a unit party. We would always load up on beer, food and beer and camp on the beach for the night.

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Apr 25 at 2016 9:50 AM

SrA Edward Vong — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 09:50:56 -0400

I got in trouble for showing up late for mandatory fun day. Not fun.

Response by SSG Trevor S. made Apr 25 at 2016 9:55 AM

SSG Trevor S. — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 09:55:00 -0400

I have enjoyed when I've participated in events. When I wanted to be a standoffish non-participant I didn't have fun, because I didn't want to. Still they can get too long and too competitive even when participating. Shorter events might be a key.

Response by SSgt Terry P. made Apr 25 at 2016 10:04 AM

SSgt Terry P. — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 10:04:48 -0400

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member A mandatory WHAT? I didn't know there was such an event .lol

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2016 10:27 AM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 10:27:05 -0400

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member I have fun whenever I'm told to, is like, I have no other option, do I? hehehe

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Apr 25 at 2016 11:40 AM

SGT Dave Tracy — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 11:40:41 -0400

Sometimes they're fun. Sometimes not.

The last one I participated in I ended up with 2 fingers broken playing flag-football. Spiral fractures that required surgery are rather nasty, but it's oddly interesting to watch them unnaturally twist around all on their own after the initial incident. Not that I recommend it. Just sayin'.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2016 11:56 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 11:56:48 -0400

Had many in my days, I'ts all in what you make of it. I always decided to make the best of it and have some fond memories, Stewart, it was my unit winning the tanker bar toss because we decided to spin and toss in stead of tossing like a spear (we were the last ones to toss). Korea just sitting on the hood of the BC's jeep drinking a beer with my section, Sill, the time my son won the fishing tournament with a cat fish (he was 5 or 6, still got the trophy). Germany .......... well we called them fests. Yup you can go with a Piss Poor Attitude and guarantee yourself a Piss Poor Time. Up to U

Response by CPT Joseph K Murdock made Apr 25 at 2016 2:26 PM

CPT Joseph K Murdock — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 14:26:37 -0400

One time I took 6 buses to a theme park. We were a fund raising monster.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2016 2:38 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 14:38:00 -0400

The best one I experienced was a Post wide Single Soldier Day. At first, all of us single Combat Engineers were bitching about having to be there as we were walking to the location. Then, all of a sudden, as we turned the corner to get the location in sight, the clouds parted and the Angels sang and the sun shone brightly on the very large Semi Rig with a very large Beer Tap Trailer attached to it. With the Post CSM telling us that for those of us that are 21 and older, to enjoy the beer.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2016 9:32 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 21:32:48 -0400

Sports, friendly competition, and food. And only as a substitute for the normal duty day. Never after duty hours or on the weekend... Because at that point the event is for YOU (the command team), not them... Just my opinion.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Apr 26 at 2016 12:34 AM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 00:34:40 -0400

I honestly did. They were few and far between, but it was pretty enjoyable. There was 1 time we rented out the base theater and another time a roller rink. Been ages since I've skated, but can't pass up free fun.

Response by MAJ Raúl Rovira made Apr 26 at 2016 1:20 AM

MAJ Raúl Rovira — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 01:20:57 -0400

It depends on the unit. The great units I loved it and went with my family. Depending on the activity.

The units I felt the poor morale, I avoided. I knew there would be indirect consequences for not attending. Next Slide.

Response by SPC Alexander Brandt made Apr 26 at 2016 12:31 PM

SPC Alexander Brandt — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 12:31:10 -0400

I played paintball for the first time thanks to one of our battalion-wide mandatory fun days. Do I love paintball? Yes. Does being told, "You have to attend," suck the fun out of everything? Yes.

Response by SFC Jimmy Hernandez-Benitez made Apr 26 at 2016 1:08 PM

SFC Jimmy Hernandez-Benitez — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 13:08:58 -0400

Everything was mandatory when I serve. lol

Response by MCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 28 at 2016 1:09 AM

MCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 01:09:40 -0400

I looked at Mandatory Fun Days the same way I looked at duty days, port-and-starboard (or Port-and Report) duty schedules, deployments, and other stuff... it's totally my choice to have a good time at it, or sit around and bitch and whine about it.

When I was young, I hated them - and loudly complained to any who would listen.

When I matured, I loved them - and loudly proclaimed my enjoyment to all who would listen.

I found, through the years, that being positive and looking for the fun in ANYTHING was a hell of a lot better for both me AND those around me, than sitting about and wallowing in the misery of the day. It's all about the cup being half-full. It may be full of urine, but at least it's half full!!!