As a junior enlisted sailor its hard to stay motivated sometimes. Some days will be very long, mopping pways isnt exactly motivaing, some PO3 or 2 will think he's a master chief and will be the worst leader you ever saw he only made it cuz the advancement is like 80 percent, etc. Basically your primary duty is your enlisted job and anything officer related will have to come second.
Basically as a civilian you have nothing but free time to stay motivated and can take breaks to stay motivated/sane. You cant really take a break on a 6 month cruise on a ship. I know for me there has been many long days of duty etc. where Im just like "forget it im way too tired im going to bed' rather then studing the ACT, taking classes, working out, community service, etc.
Not saying its impossible but it will def be a challenge. Good luck.
OK Beef, what gives?
You're still in "C" school right? Are you in X-division or the 1st Lt Division right now? Sounds like it by the way you describe your duties. Yes, that kind of work sucks! I had to do 45 days in the galley while waiting for my A-school classes, and several weeks of cleaning duty at various times in the training pipeline waiting to class up or to transfer.
Don't let the haters get you down. Stick to your plan and power through the tough times. You don't have to kill yourself to try to be perfect all the time. You need some down time to recharge. Just try to stay consistent. Put your goals and steps down in a planner, notebook, wallet, whatever, and make sure it's somewhere you're going to look at it. Try to set-up a timeline for the things you can do while waiting to get to your ship, and just do a little bit here and there. If you give yourself a deadline for your next little step you'll be able to reach it and move on to the next.
F'rinstance, if your goal is to submit a package for STA-21 and you know you need to make your record and evaluations look as good as possible, make a list of specific things you can do:
- Complete NEETS Mod x by y date
- Complete x chapters of ACT study guide by y date
- Volunteer x hours at foodbank on Saturday
- Complete NKO course x by y date
You can take it, whatever they put you through right now. Your first 18 months are by far the most difficult; getting through school, reporting to a new command, being the FNG, mess-cranking. It all sucks, but it's necessary on your road to success.