The latest episode of the Fit to Serve Podcast with Tim Wilkins featured retired United States Marine and founder of the Veteran Bushido Brotherhood, J. Derrick Fry. Fry and Wilki looked back on Fry’s years of service, the lessons he learned during that time, and how he overcame the challenges of transitioning to civilian life to create opportunities and a community for veterans like himself.
So a brief recap of the interview will not capture the full depth of the episode. We highly recommend watching the full interview. However, there were five key things that are important to consider, as they can help future service members and veterans alike.
Becoming a Marine is a Long Process That Involves Cardio
Fry went to a recruiter’s office and made a plan to fly there and jump into battle immediately. Turns out, it doesn’t work that way. Becoming a Marine requires a lot of education, testing, and preparation. Fry’s journey was filled more with preparation for war than actual participation in the conflict. Fortunately, growing up in a blue-collar family in western Pennsylvania prepared him for the task.
Even though he was willing to take the necessary steps, he advised future Marines not to take the oath today and not to board a plane overseas tomorrow. However, that extra time turned out to be beneficial for him, as the time spent in boot camp helped him acclimate to the environment and get in better shape.
“I went in there a little heavy,” he admitted. “It took running every day and being constantly on the move, doing cardio all the time, but I got used to it.”
The pressure to be great is very real
Many people think they know what it would be like to travel the world defending their country and participating in operations that risk lives. Fry took his understanding and applied it to everything he did because his future role as a gunner involved some risk.
“I could only say that people’s lives are in my hands.”
Even with all the preparation and thought he had put into his training, the gravity and realisation of the situation hit Fry as he and the other Marines prepared to board a ship.
Rescue the Americans who were in danger. As Fry said throughout the interview, at times he questioned his decisions up to that point.
“It was a legitimate war zone. We were sitting there in a beautiful ocean, and buildings were disappearing.”
Fitness during and after service may be a basis
Fry enjoyed his time on deployment as he was working, making a difference and spending time with fellow Marines. He called it a simple life.
“We’ll work out, lift weights and hang out – dude stuff.”
Fry also shared stories with Wilkins about his grandfather, including performing flies with 75-pound dumbbells at age 75. The indirect lesson he learned from his grandfather proved true in his life: fitness is more than a hobby; it can be a support.
“No matter what else fails in my life, (fitness) keeps me focused.”
Sometimes you need to make your own opportunities
Once Fry left the service and became a veteran, he tried to secure a job but struggled to do so because he did not have a college degree. Like many service members who need to return to civilian life, Fry struggled. The structured system that comes with becoming a Marine becomes a mindset and a lifestyle. Unfortunately, such discipline doesn’t transfer so easily to the business world.
Without any existing identity, community or purpose, Fry admitted he struggled with depression, survivor guilt and post-traumatic stress disorder and at one point turned to the bottle. He eventually got a job digging holes for a plumbing company, but he had no idea who he was.
“At 25, I was the coolest person ever,” he said candidly. Dissatisfied with where he was at this point and remembering that he used to be a barber at Quantico, Fry went to a barber shop one day with his tools and kept going back after the plumbing job was finished until he finally got a chance to cut someone’s hair. Once he got the opportunity, he never looked back.
“Within six months, I resigned from my plumbing job and started working as a barber.”
Becoming part of a community can be life-changing and saving
He also discovered jiu-jitsu while he was barbering. Training in this discipline allowed him to join other veterans who were trying to improve even better. fry got his
community, and this was what ultimately inspired him to create the Veteran Bushido Brotherhood. Creating a nonprofit that helps other veterans find their communities and themselves through fitness has helped him as much as it has helped those who needed his services. He confirmed that after struggling with confusion and various issues for a long time, training on VBB and MAT has given him a purpose.
“I am here to spread this message, not because I want to or because I have an ego, but because I have to,” he said. “Because it saves lives.”
