What kept your morale up during deployment?

PO2 Rocky Kleeger — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 08:51:30 -0400

For me, it was comedy. Finding a comedian, or two, to throw randome quotes from at opportune, or inopportune, times. Laughter, for me, was the best way to keep my own morale up, which in turn kept up the morale of my crews.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 8 at 2013 9:14 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 08 Nov 2013 09:14:47 -0500

PT is free.

Response by MSG Martin C. made Nov 8 at 2013 5:12 PM

MSG Martin C. — Fri, 08 Nov 2013 17:12:18 -0500

We use to play sports twice a week whenever mission permitted. We had our own ultimate football league. I was the NCOIC for the detachment and early own I realized that I had a huge challenge in my hands. I had my guys set small mile stones for each quarter of the deployment i.e. PT improvement, prep for boards month, quarter, promotion including Audi Murphy. I encourage th to try new things like learning guitar, or joining a book or bible club. Most importantly just be engage have compassion but still enforce standards.

Response by MSG Martin C. made Nov 8 at 2013 5:12 PM

MSG Martin C. — Fri, 08 Nov 2013 17:12:18 -0500

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 7 at 2014 5:28 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 17:28:08 -0400

For me it was talking to my wife and kids as frequently as possible. I didn't get to talk every day, but I would try to make time before going to bed to talk to them daily. It worked out for them because I was able to call when it was daytime for them, and it worked out for me because I was done with my work for the day. I know a lot of people had the opposite point of view on this and called very infrequently because it was hard for them to be away for so long. As stressful as it may be, I think frequent communication is best. It also helped my kids when I came home, because I didn't become a complete stranger to them when I got back. It was also good for my wife because it kept me connected, however distant, and I at least knew what was going on back home.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 7 at 2014 5:30 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 17:30:46 -0400

Shenanigans. Also, in hindsight, a disturbing amount of homoerotic humor.

Response by 1SG Michael Blount made Apr 7 at 2014 6:00 PM

1SG Michael Blount — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 18:00:27 -0400

Three things:

1. Being in contact with my significant other on a regular basis.

2. Joking around with the guys during lighter moments

3. NOT looking at the calendar or even counting backwards until I was AT LEAST half way done. Nothing sucks more than knowing this is your first day in country with 364 to go.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 7 at 2014 6:48 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 18:48:55 -0400

Chances to talk to my wife even if it was once or twice a week.

Creating small mile stones, like resupply convoys to main camp or a up and coming event on AFN.

Gym was probably not just a morale boost but also a great stress reliever.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Apr 7 at 2014 11:34 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 23:34:35 -0400

My co-workers bent sense of Humor, I was blessed to be in a Division full of Comedians. From the DIVO on down.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 20 at 2014 2:20 AM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 20 Sep 2014 02:20:45 -0400

Other than my last deployment which was at JB Balad I always deployed to Al Udeid doing air refueling missions. While at the Deid I tried to get off base to downtown Doha as much as possible to sort a go to things that resembled normal society such as the mall etc.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 30 at 2015 2:30 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 30 Apr 2015 02:30:19 -0400

My buddies! Knowing who I can vent to, the little random things people do for one another to make days better. We had a flag football thing going on and my buddy knew that: a) I don't understand a lot about football and b) I was missing my sons games, so he let me play the position that my son normally plays. Small things like that are super sweet and mean more than people realize

Response by PO1 John Miller made May 2 at 2015 4:24 AM

PO1 John Miller — Sat, 02 May 2015 04:24:28 -0400

Every time some Shipmates would get into a "heated discussion" I would start jumping up and down yelling "fight, fight, fight, fight!!!" in a Minions voice. I would get strange looks and/or laughs but the fight always stopped before it got started.

I would also imitate "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair. "Woo!!!"

Response by PO1 Cleve Ikaika Waiwaiole made May 2 at 2015 5:38 AM

PO1 Cleve Ikaika Waiwaiole — Sat, 02 May 2015 05:38:08 -0400

The gym. Hands down!

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made May 6 at 2015 4:52 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 06 May 2015 16:52:31 -0400

Laughing at the young troops bitching about how rough deployment is, and how much they HATE having to "deploy so much". Sorry, a 6 month deployment every 12 months ain't crap. When I first came in, we were doing 7 months deployed, 7 months at home, 7 out, 7 in, rinse and repeat. And we STILL had a boatload of training and month-long FTX's in shelter-halves when we weren't deployed. Little whiny knuckleshufflers and fingerdiddlers.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 15 at 2015 8:47 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 May 2015 20:47:02 -0400

My buddies and grumbling about chow. I turned that into an art.

Response by PO2 Johnathan Kerns made May 17 at 2015 9:16 PM

PO2 Johnathan Kerns — Sun, 17 May 2015 21:16:22 -0400

Boy there's alot of things I did to pass time but I'm sure that shit would get filtered out quick. So, I talked alot of shit, got as drunk as possible during port visits and had as many "friendships" with my female shipmates as often as possible.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 17 at 2015 9:41 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 17 May 2015 21:41:57 -0400

Doing my job, every day the same way, without the burden of some bored SNCO with a good idea fairy bolted to his/her shoulder to bother my high ops tempo kept my morale up.

Also, kopfta kabobs, cheap cuban cigars, and terrible crappy souvenirs at the kandahar board walk. When AAFES took over all tobacco sales on post I died a little inside.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made May 17 at 2015 9:56 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 17 May 2015 21:56:09 -0400

PT! Playstation! Helping others succeed!