What would be your ideal mandatory fun?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 21 Feb 2015 14:33:34 -0500

You know the saying, "Mandatory fun is never fun." But how can we make it really fun so that the saying will be "mandatory fun is always fun"?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 21 at 2015 3:06 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 21 Feb 2015 15:06:57 -0500

I think the assumption is that the word "Mandatory" is the problem, but perhaps the word "Fun" is.

I was in a unit that was very close knit, there were regular, after hours, events that were open invitations. There was a sense of family. For this unit, we looked forward to Family days, and Mandatory Fun days. In another unit I served in, we couldn't wait to get away from one another. It was all work, no play, and off duty time was spent anywhere but post, and with anyone but Soldiers. In this unit we dreaded Mandatory Fun.

I think there will always be some grumbling over these events, but the participation and enthusiasm that surround them, or don't, may be indicators of deeper morale issues in the unit. There will rarely be an event that is universally loved, but maybe that is not the real issue.

Interested in other perspectives on this.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 21 at 2015 11:47 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 21 Feb 2015 23:47:15 -0500

as a shop we go out bowling from time to time. the next round of mandatory fun will be laser tag.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Feb 22 at 2015 12:13 AM

SFC Mark Merino — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 00:13:10 -0500

As soon as you slap "mandatory" on anything, it loses cool points.....except mandatory range time.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 22 at 2015 12:23 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 00:23:02 -0500

I first learned what field day was to the Navy when I worked out of Kunia in Hawaii. It wasn't what I thought it was, lol.

But, you know... GI Parties and Field Days... All great fun! And mandatory too!

Response by LTC David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® made Feb 22 at 2015 1:20 AM

LTC David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 01:20:07 -0500

Although mandatory fun seems to be no fun, I have found that once people show up, many people change their attitudes. People are the most important part of enjoying your job, and if you don't like the event, or the mandatory part of it, as long as you enjoy the company, it makes everything much easier.

I think also forcing people to get to know each other outside of work is important. You can still maintain professionalism but you get to see a different side of people, which can help unit cohesiveness.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 22 at 2015 1:48 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 01:48:05 -0500

There is absolutely no way to make anything Mandatory Fun.

Once a person is forced to do something it loses its appeal. Plain and simple.

It is a Commands way of trying to make themselves Look Good and feel better about giving the Troops a break.

A DONSA in my world means you should not have to be at the Unit or a function. Hence the meaning of it.

Response by MAJ Jim Steven made Feb 22 at 2015 8:46 AM

MAJ Jim Steven — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 08:46:29 -0500

I would recommend that the events vary, but be regular, such as one event per month, but it's a different event.
Golf tournament or baseball in warm months, dining in/out or beer call in colder months.
And maybe a little less strict on the mandatory part, not forcing people to be on leave if they are going to be absent.
In other words, a little less mandatory, a little more fun.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 22 at 2015 12:01 PM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 12:01:41 -0500

Ideal mandatory fun?

None.

Response by MSgt Jim Pollock made Feb 22 at 2015 12:30 PM

MSgt Jim Pollock — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 12:30:23 -0500

No such thing. The purpose of morale programs is to increase morale. Functions that legitimately increase morale attract participation. It is impossible to determine which functions attract voluntary participation when participation is mandatory.

Then again, some functions are tradition-based or unusually important to the unit. 'Fun' isn't really a factor. Its a fuzzy definition...is the unit holiday party tradition based? I'd say missing it is probably a poor career choice.

Bottom line, judgement is warranted all around: Leaders should be lenient about the unit softball game. If they like it, they will come. If not, scrap it and try something else. Members should realize some events are truly important to a unit. Holiday parties are big ticket items. You should go.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 12 at 2015 6:03 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 06:03:30 -0400

By not using the word mandatory.

There are so many things that are mandatory. We need to stop and see if something actually makes sense before we say, yes let's have a function that is necessary for everyone to be at.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 31 at 2015 3:05 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 15:05:19 -0400

Can't be done. There is always going to be someone who doesn't like the event/activity/people. I saw someone on here suggest varying the events. That's a great idea but you're still going to hit events that some people just don't like. Case in point, toward the end of my deployment to Okinawa we had a "mandatory fun day" of playing golf for all the officers and staff NCOs. It was during the work day and once the round was done we were off for the rest of the day. Sounds like a great time right? However, I despise golf and even more I despise being forced to pay $50 to participate in an activity that I don't enjoy. You're always going to have some individuals who don't like the particular event/activity that you have chosen for the month/quarter/whatever. Therefore "mandatory fun is always fun" is never going to happen.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 31 at 2015 3:10 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 15:10:49 -0400

SFC Private RallyPoint Member Mandatory Jamming Session for all BN musicians, that would be fun!

Response by PO2 Gerry Roberson Sr. made Aug 22 at 2015 12:51 PM

PO2 Gerry Roberson Sr. — Sat, 22 Aug 2015 12:51:15 -0400

Philippines--late '70s--Air Department party-- CV CO and CTF flag CO visited to wish us a big "have fun, guys". The cases of beer, boomboxes, BBQ grills from hell, 4 and 6-bottle cases of hard booze appeared, and THE ADMIRAL AND CAPTAIN STRIPPED DOWN TO SKIVVIES, LEAPED INTO THE WATER and yelled, "Get into this damn water and have fun! That's an order!" An avalanche of US manmeat cascaded enmasse into Subic Bay and that afternoon and evening was 4.0!