Moto = "un-cool"?

[Seeley]

Why is it that when I hit the fleet, motivated Marines get put down by their fellow Marines? They treat motivated Marines like they are 12-years-old and act like you have to be stupid to be motivated. What gives? Anyone else experience this, or is it just me? BTW, this experience is based on being in an infantry platoon...

[KingDonkeyPunch]

You just need to pick your time and place to be motivated. Especially with marines that have been in the fleet a while, and all that boot camp/SOI force-fed motivation has worn off. A lot of marines get disgruntled and salty after a year or so in the fleet, and consider those who say Oohrah! and many other supposed motivational sayings are only ass-kissers trying to get ahead. You will soon learn the politics, and fall in with everyone else. Believe me, I was the same way when I first hit the fleet.

[bigalholmes165]

Seeley, motivated is good.

Gung Ho is good.


BUT, marching about, calling cadence, left turn - right turn, all by your lonesome, is a bit much.


Has that ever been done? Sure it has, and probably so even today.


Just keep yourself squared away and in shape. Don't make a big deal out of everything. No goo-goo gah-gah's, o-boy we get to hump 10 miles today.

Not everyone is as motivated as you are and some are probably a bit disillusioned with the way things are going.


Just fall in and do your job. When you are finished doing yours, help someone else. Don't make a big deal out of it.

It'll be noticed, believe me.

[Seeley]

I've figured it out and I've been with this unit since early March, but its just kind of a let down 'ya know? Most of our seniors don't give a damn about anything anymore and tell us turret gunners not to expect to come back alive. Then they get drunk and tell us all of their stories from OIF I and OIF II, laughing, saying that this next time, they don't expect more than 50% to come back...Motivating...

[CPLRapoza]

What unit you with Seeley?

[RLeon]

Tact man. tact....there is a tactful way of being motivated and showing it in the Corps. No one likes a sh*tbird but over motivated geeks are not well liked either. For example...Don't shout ooh rah when you sent out to field day on thursday night...not tactful, you'll get some dirty looks.

Now if all your seniors are unmotivated then I feel for you. It's not very helpful when you have disillusioned leaders. Don't let them get you down.

[Seeley]

Well apparently whatever I'm doing is good because my SSgt said he's putting me up for the next Cpl board and two of my Cpl's pulled me aside and said I'm doing better than most of our NCO's.

[Joseph P Carey]

I am sorry Kid, but if we had a 'gofor' that was motivated to get his nose brown, we used to tell him anything he wanted to hear! It was better than doing things ourselves!

[GunnyL]

Seeley,

Stay motivated and stay squared away. You'll have lot's of acquaintances in the Corps but pick your friends wisely. Associate yourself with others who are motivated and keep themselves squared away.

I made the mistake of associating with the wrong crowd when I was a young Marine and it put me behind the power curve in terms of promotions and achieving my goals. I eventually got there but it took me longer than it should have.

I think that most young men and women join the Corps to separate themselves from the pack. So continue to set and achieve your goals and continue to separate yourself from the pack. Study constantly, take as many MCI Courses as you can get your hands on. Study your craft and constantly strive to better yourself and perfect your skills as a Marine. And STAY MOTIVATED!

Semper Fi!

GunnyL

[sgt.lane]

good words of wisdom GunnyL....................

[Namvet67]

The gunny is telling it like it is in the fleet! There are all types of Marines and some are more influenced by their enviroment that others. Some really don't like being in the Corps and probably won't make rank. Some are probably going to be lifers, some are short timers and some really don't know where they are going. It's your choice where you go in the Corps! I was also told that 50% of us would never come back from Vietnam. Pick your associates wisely and don't let it get to you. Semper Fi