What are a few ways to bring morale up in the beginning of a deployment?

CPL Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 21:01:53 -0400

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Jun 26 at 2017 9:31 PM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 21:31:03 -0400

One of the standards was in house competitions. So we'd know where we are at physically before the deployment. Then we'd make a competition out of it. Who can increase performance the most. Who can lift the most. Who can run the fastest. The list goes on and on. One, it obviously helps keeping in peak physical shape. Two, it helps keep the mind off the deployment. Time is a killer, so it's good to keep engaged.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 26 at 2017 9:47 PM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 21:47:53 -0400

like Cpl Goolsby said, competition. learn some good card games while you're at it. spades, rummy, 5 card stud. i'd also recommend reading up on how people keep entertained in prison. the cons who write that stuff have come up with some pretty genius ways to keep your mind occupied.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jun 27 at 2017 1:20 AM

CAPT Kevin B. — Tue, 27 Jun 2017 01:20:17 -0400

Ours was pretty simple; work hard and then play hard. Also your orientation needs to be different. You don't have to do CONUS Crap for a while so do the unique. Try most everything. Meet some new folk. Even if it's not in theater, do as much as you can outside the fence. We used to work 6 Tens as baseline in Antarctica but when we're on traverse, sleep is your only time off as the rest of it is spent working and staying alive. In that mode time blurs. Now during the deployment, make sure you do whatever group contests. Sports, cards, darts. Do that with people around you. Get off that damn internet chat. Guaranteed to slow time to a crawl.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Jun 27 at 2017 5:15 AM

SSG Warren Swan — Tue, 27 Jun 2017 05:15:15 -0400

Keep up the OPTEMPO, art15's, porn, praise, and downtime. When they stop bitchin, all hell's about to blow wide open.

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made Jun 27 at 2017 8:37 AM

SGT Joseph Gunderson — Tue, 27 Jun 2017 08:37:14 -0400

As much as I hated the man, one of my first sergeants was great at keeping up morale. Unit BBQs, volleyball competitions, combatives tournaments... You name it, the guy did it. I think something important though that takes very little effort is to make sure that soldiers are not ran completely ragged. A little bit of downtime to unwind and relax at the end of the day can do wonders for morale. It is amazing how not having anything to do for a few hours, the ability to take a proper shower and hang out by the CHUs with your friends, has a lasting impact on morale.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 27 at 2017 11:51 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 27 Jun 2017 11:51:59 -0400

When I was deployed I was in S2 and during the first deployment we had a LT come help out from BDE when my S2 had to go on R&R. (It was just me and the LT in that S2 and all she really did was go to meetings and QC). She showed me how to make cartoons on Power Point. So I started to make some cartoons about our unit. They were respectful and not anything crazy. Our CSM had a motto of "safety and discipline." The Brigade was "Willing and Able" and then BN was "Rugged." So I made one about three brothers named Willing, Able and Rugged and incorporated safety and discipline (and how the BN beat the BDE at this baseball game) I showed CSM he thought it was great. One of them the S3 battle captain had me put up in the BUA to show the BN CDR. It was so awkward because there was no sound and all I got was a chuckle.

The second deployment I worked night shift in S2. We had a few more people but eventually I was the only one there at night for S2 (it was amazing). In our INTSUM/GRINTSUM I got from S1 the list of everyone who had a birthday each month in the BN and I put a slide in front for birthdays. I had a slide for holidays. In the email that I sent out with it attached, I started a quiz game. First I used the questions on the civic portion of the citizenship test and called it "So You Think You Can Be a US Citizen?" That lasted about three months. I asked one question a day I think. Lots of people played it that got it. The BN CDR, BDE staff even an analyst at MNC-I. The BDE S3 narrowly beat out my BN CDR and I guess the BN CDR told my S2 when the results were released in the BUA that he wanted a recount. An LT quit it because I sent out a question on Christmas when we didn't have an INTSUM because no patrols went out or it was limited patrols. I made a mug for the BDE S3 and the top four got a "certificate" from our shop. Then I started to just have random topics every month until we left. I thought it helped because that deployment was a 15 month deployment the second one. We had really no reason to be there especially when moved down to Tallil and were "training" Iraqis how to do route clearance.

But they did for Christmas had basketball and sports. Kind of a "day off." I think we had an org day one summer. Maybe both.

Response by Sgt Wayne Wood made Jun 27 at 2017 1:38 PM

Sgt Wayne Wood — Tue, 27 Jun 2017 13:38:35 -0400

Staff & Officers call (at the O club)... cook-out/field day for the snuffies. All within a week of mount-out... something to remember...

Response by SSG Steve Knox made Jun 27 at 2023 6:14 AM

SSG Steve Knox — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 06:14:56 -0400

Build comradery and trust with your platoon, squad or team. My squad came up with personal "click" words that would make you smile on those down days...a name, place or thing. Mine was "cars". This will be a huge payoff while deployed. If OPSEC allows, keep in touch with those that boost your morale.