How do you remain inspired when entering the fleet?

2018-09-08T16:33:40-04:00

GoodMorning, So I just hit the fleet last Thursday, and so far everything is fabulous. The chowhall is on point and my CO is the nicest Marine I know. However, after work I slime back to an empty braacjs room that smells like cigs, and has a troublesome feel as a homeless man might inherit after being dealt a badhand at life. Reality sets in and before long it's dark out and i slowly pull the covers over my head to supress the raw feelings of denial which only grow stronger over time.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2018 4:44 PM

2018-09-08T16:44:25-04:00

Barracks room at cigarettes? I can't believe that young marines and sailors are still stupid enough to smoke. My wife had an aneurysm from binge smoking. You are doing a great sacrifice being one of the many sailors and marines that are always out there protecting the United States against its enemies. We really appreciate your work. Don't feel lonely being there on board the ship. Be careful who you open up to. I am sure you can speak to This ship's chaplain. I'm sure you can go workout or play video games. If you are religious, seek church service on board. Take advantage of all the education opportunities you have on board. The military has something called resiliency training which may help you deal with the daily stress and strain of daily Fleet life. If you have a chance, check out this link I give you. We usually have four to six hours every couple months of resiliency training given to us every few months.

Again, I really appreciate your sea service. Being on rallypoint play one of the best things you could do because here you could vent to others. They don't care what rank you are. We are all brothers and sisters here to help you!

https://positivepsychologyprogram.com/master-resilience-training-mrt/

Master Resilience Training (MRT) in the US Army: PowerPoint & Interview

Master Resilience Training is a trainer course used in the US army that uses several modules to teach leaders how to foster resilience in others.

Response by LCpl Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2018 4:58 PM

2018-09-08T16:58:10-04:00

I have been in the fleet for a little while now but I still consider myself to be pretty new. I understand exactly how you feel. It's something that a lot of Young Marines have to go through and they first move into the barracks. You just need to always remember that you being a marine is something that not very many people can do and you are doing something that no one can take away from you. You need to remember all the positives that come along with being inside our beloved Corps. and it sounds to me like you need to find something to occupy your time. I think that you should look into going to the single Marines program (SMP). they offer a lot of great things that will help build up your morale as well as cause you to have a lot of fun. You also meet a lot of other Marines and a lot of the time they are just like you and are relatively new to the fleet. the Marine Corps is like life. It is what you make of it. If you put yourself out there and you go out and do things that are fun you're going to have a more fun time. Now I understand that sometimes things get rough and your morale in your motivation might go down. That's why you just need to find a way to build it back up. If you're feeling this way try finding some other Marine who are also relatively new to the fleet and ask them what they do to have fun and maybe even befriend them that way you can go out with them and have fun.

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Sep 8 at 2018 6:00 PM

2018-09-08T18:00:31-04:00

One thing for sure work is one thing but keep busy in Your off duty time, I'd keep my uniforms, boots (Spit shined then) etc all in shape but made a lot of friends as well both on and off base. Kept busy with bowling, playing golf, swimming, using the service club, going to the Base theater with friends, off base to stock car races, visiting area attractions more or less being a tourist. I also stayed active in Civil Air Patrol the entire time working with the Cadets the entire time I was also in USAF uniform and then some. (over 40 years worth of CAP ) I also enjoyed reading, social functions. In addition at one point I was taking college courses in my off duty time and usually three at a time four days a week and still did the other things. (finished 2 years that way) later in life finished four years with a BS degree. Being bored wasn't a problem.

Response by PO3 David Fries made Sep 8 at 2018 7:36 PM

2018-09-08T19:36:43-04:00

My first suggestion would be to not take to heart what the salty Marines say. Make friends. Do things, other than drink, off base. Look at furthering your education.

Response by Jose Martinez made Sep 8 at 2018 7:58 PM

2018-09-08T19:58:52-04:00

Think outside the Box, Time is very valuable, Quality Time at that, Help yourself achieve the Unimaginable. Take advantage of the environment, Form Good Habits and focus on your goals to help others attain theirs when the Time comes. Keep on Building.

Response by Cpl Raymond Hottinger made Sep 8 at 2018 10:02 PM

2018-09-08T22:02:18-04:00

this may sound stupid but get a hobby. while i was stationed on Okinawa i did a lot of walking both around the base (Futenma, lol it was huge. not) and in the the communities that were adjacent to it. Heck i still game with the best man from my wedding, regardless of the fact that he joined the Army, :) regularly via PS4. Also if you have a decent internet connection, if computers are your thing of course, there is also the option of taking classes via remote schooling if your base does not offer college classes on sight.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Sep 9 at 2018 1:07 AM

2018-09-09T01:07:59-04:00

http://www.dlncpace.com/

Trust me, honest, I don't know what class of vessel you're on, obviously, however, I'd read of this a long time now...you should be living in the shp educ ctr, doing online training constantly, certainly, to keep your mind engaged...are you dojn am assocs or Bach get? If so, what major? Grades? GPA? STEM? Non-STEM? Elaborate, of be interested to hear more, honest, OK? Hobbies? Interest? Reading? Sports? MCMAP, as I'm sure it must he done on board the ship? My Dad was Navy, a Grumman TNM Avenger mechanic noncombat during Korea in the Caribbean, his unit deployed a good deal to the USS Block Island...my next younger brother was USMMA Kings Point, I commissioned him, he went Merchant Marine, in Navy Military Sealift Command (MSC)...I'd tried going Navy sevl times, I submitted for NUPOC while undergrad after Army ROTC, I couldn't get it, I also went for the NFO wile I was USAF after going to OTS at Lacklamd, I wasn't able to interservice...more than anything else as an assignment, I'd wanted to be a flight surgeon on an aircraft carrier, or assigned to USCG...I have no frame of reference for what your existence is like onboard ship, I have two friends who were Navy, one was nuclear enlisted which I'd thought also of doing at one point, the six year program, he switched to electronics instead...the other friend went Navy OCS for damage control on Perry class fast frigate...I only relate all that to at least try to illustrate some level of cursory familiarity with Navy, if nothing else, I was trying to volunteer with Navy League to tutor STEM to kids in Naval Sea Cadets...I knew Marines in the BOQ I was quartered in where I was assigned, also, my Mom's Dad, my maternal grandfather, was USMC for awhile during WW2, though it evidently wasn't for him, apparently, he never spoke about it much, I guess it must've bothered him, in retrospect, I think, I found his records at NPRC in St Louis with some help from one of the Marine Corps groups, I forget at the moment which one, I'm afraid...if you'd ever care to chat, I'd certainly be most willing, if you'd ever care to elaborate at all, of certainly be most interested, by all means...once, I even saw briefly a few of the guys who'd gotten home from Lebanon back when that happened when I was in, I didn't speak with them much, however, as with the USMC guys in the BOQ I was in, I did admire them greatly, certainly, I just figured I'd mention that as well, certainly....

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 9 at 2018 1:10 AM

2018-09-09T01:10:42-04:00

Lots of medications.

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made Sep 9 at 2018 8:36 AM

2018-09-09T08:36:00-04:00

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made Sep 9 at 2018 8:43 AM

2018-09-09T08:43:20-04:00

You are not the first 18 year old (or thereabout) to land in the FMF. I know it can be eye opening. I had open squad bays with open heads/showers etc that were built before I was born. Find guys in the same spot you are in and find some weekend trips to make. Not sure where you are at (which base) but if you are at Pendleton there is a ton to do, if you are at Lejeune, you have to go farther out.

The Marines is not the easy life. It will be challenging in a lot of ways but also rewarding. Hang in there.

Response by SSG David McPherson made Sep 9 at 2018 3:04 PM

2018-09-09T15:04:15-04:00

First off GI your room to get rid of the smell of cigarettes and Instead of being a barracks rat, do something like go to the gym or get a hobby to get your mind off things