A recent episode of the Fit to Serve podcast with Tim Wilkins featured retired United States Marine and founder of the Veteran Bushido Brotherhood, Jeric Fry. Fry and Wilkins take a trip down memory lane to remember Fry’s years of service, the lessons he learned throughout that journey, and how he was able to overcome the struggles of transitioning into public life to create opportunities and community for veterans like him.
A brief summary of the interview would not do the episode justice, so it is highly recommended to watch the full interview. However, there were five important things to consider because they can help future service members and veterans alike.
BECOMING A FITNESS IS A LONG PROCESS THAT INCLUDES Cardio
Fry entered the recruiting office and immediately had plans to fly and jump into battle. Turns out, it doesn’t work that way. There is a lot of education, testing, and preparation to become a Marine. Fry’s tour was filled with preparation for combat rather than actual involvement in the conflict. Fortunately, growing up in a blue-collar family in western Pennsylvania prepared him for that.
Although he was determined to take the necessary steps, he advises future Marines not to swear in today and jump on a plane overseas tomorrow. However, that extra time served him well because the time he spent at the training camp helped him acclimate to the environment and get in better shape.
“I went there when I was hard,” he admitted. “It was running every day and constant movement, constant cardio, but I got used to it.”
THE PRESSURE TO BE GREAT IS VERY REAL
Many people think they have an idea of what it would be like to travel around the world to participate in life-threatening activities for the sake of protecting their country. Fry took his insight and applied it to everything he did because of the stakes involved in his future role as a gunner.
The only thing I knew was that people’s lives were in my hands.
Even with as much preparation and thought as he puts into his training, the awareness and seriousness of the situation hit Fry as he and the other Marines on the ship prepared to leave.
rescue Americans who were in danger. As Fry says throughout the interview, there were many times he questioned his decisions leading up to that point.
It was an official war zone. We were sitting there on a beautiful beach, the buildings disappearing.
FITNESS CAN BE A SUPPORT DURING AND AFTER SERVICE
Fry enjoyed his deployment time because he was working, making a difference, and spending time with other Marines. He described it as a simple life.
“We’d work, go lift weights, and just hang out. Men’s stuff.”
Fry shared stories about his grandfather to Wilkins and, including one when he was 75 years old, doing flyes with 75-pound dumbbells. An indirect lesson he learned from his grandfather that rang true in his life is that fitness is more than a hobby, it can be an anchor.
“No matter what else is going wrong in my life, (fitness) keeps me focused.”
SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO MAKE YOUR CHANCES
When Fry left the service as a veteran, he tried to find work but struggled because he did not have a college degree. Like many service members who need to transition to civilian life, Fry struggled. The organized schedule that comes with being a Marine becomes a mindset and a way of life. Unfortunately, that doesn’t transfer to the business world easily.
Without a current identity, community, or purpose, Fry admitted that he suffered from depression, survivor’s guilt, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and turned to the bottle at one point. He ended up getting a job digging holes for a pipe manufacturing company but we no longer knew who he was.
“I was the coolest person I’ve ever been at 25,” he said humbly. Unsatisfied with where he is at this point and remembering that he used to be a barber in Quantico, Fry went to a barber shop with tools one day and kept going back after his job as a plumber until he finally got a chance to give someone a haircut. Once he got his chance, he never looked back.
“Within six months, I quit my job as a plumber and was cutting hair.”
BEING PART OF THE COMMUNITY CAN CHANGE LIVES AND SAVE US
It was while cutting hair that he rediscovered jiu-jitsu. Going to train in this field led him to be among other veterans who were just trying to get better. Fry got his
community, and that’s what led him to eventually create the Veteran Bushido Brotherhood. Creating a non-profit organization that helps other veterans get their communities and themselves right has helped him as much as those who needed his services. He confirmed that after a long period of being confused and struggling with various problems, VBB and mat training gave him purpose.
“I came here to spread this message, not because I like it or because I want to promote myself, but because I have to,” he explained. “Because it saves people’s lives.”
There was more to this podcast than can be captured here. You can see the full episode of Fry’s interview over Muscles and Fitness YouTube channel. Be sure to subscribe to see more episodes of Fit to Serve and other podcasts and shows when they air.
You can read more about Fry here.
