Marine Corps MSGT Rudy Galima is Our Warrior of the Week
Rudy Galima, Master Sergeant (USMC, Ret.)is one of the Head Instructors at Oceanside Jiu Jitsu, which is located right outside the Main Gate if Camp Pendleton, CA. You can follow them on Instagram @oceansidejiujitsu. He is also the Head Instructor for the Marine Corps Jiu Jitsu competition team on Camp Pendleton. Follow the @marinecorpsjiujitsu page on Instagram where he feature Marines on how they started Jiu Jitsu, video techniques, motivational photos with excerpts from Marine Corps doctrine, and updates from the competition team. The page was made to spread awareness of Jiu Jitsu to Marines, and how it helps us to deal with our daily stresses.
Do you Serve or have you Served in the Military Law enforcement or as a First Responder? If so when and where?
I have recently retired after serving 20 years in the Marine Corps. The first five years of my career I spent overseas. My first duty station was Okinawa.
Then, the next several years I was on Marine Guard duty, guarding our Embassies in El Salvador, Honduras, and Pakistan. After coming back from overseas, I got stationed with the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command in Hawaii. There, our mission was to investigate and recover remains from previous wars (Until they are Home!).
Upon completion of that tour, I’ve moved around to different units within the Camp Pendleton area and did a few deployments.
After Camp Pendleton, I was stationed on ship with the USS Cleveland, and later the USS Anchorage, where I was a part of Ships Company to be the liaison between the ship and the Marine Forces that come aboard for operations. I conducted a few deployments with the ship as well.
When my tours on ship was completed, I received orders to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, where eventually we formed the Air Combat Element (ACE) in preparation for a deployment.
Upon returning from deployment, I received orders to become the Team Chief for the Logistics Operations Team with the Tactical Training Exercise Control Group (TTECG) in Twentynine Palms, CA where I Taught, Coached, Mentored units during live-fire exercises, Command and Control procedures, prior to their scheduled deployments.
My last duty station, I was the Operations Chief on the Active Duty staff for a Reserve unit, where we were in charge of training the reservists in preparation for mobilizations.
What purchase of $100 or less has most positively impacted your life in the last six months (or in recent memory)?
I would have to say, David Goggins’ audio book, Can’t Hurt Me. I purchased this when it first came out, but I listened to it more than a dozen time over. It has an impact on me every time I listen to it. He is very inspirational.
How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success? Do you have a “favorite failure” of yours?
Early on in my career, I found out real quick how important accountability of personnel and equipment was. I’m glad I made that mistake early on, because it helped me put together processes throughout my career while moving personnel and equipment around the world.
What is one of the best or most worthwhile investments you’ve ever made? (Could be an investment of money, time, energy, etc.)
In the beginning of my career while on Embassy duty, a Colonel gave a brief on the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). The way he broke it down made so much sense for a young Marine at the time, and I immediately started putting funds in the TSP. I have to say, after 20 years, it definitely paid off.
What is an unusual habit or an absurd thing that you love?
I would have to say, I like to hold on to old clothes as long as I can. If you find photos of me from several years ago, I probably still have those clothes and still wear it too. Facebook memories would remind me often lol. I don’t like to go shopping for new clothes. But now that I’m retired and I can’t wear the same looking uniform everyday, I may have to buy some new outfits for the wardrobe.
In the last five years, what new belief, behavior, or habit has most improved your life?
Getting up at least an hour before everyone in the house to read, study, exercise, etc. That way it doesn’t cut into the time spending with family.
What advice would you give to a smart, driven student new to Jiu Jitsu. What advice should they ignore?”
1-Stay calm. 2-Breath. 3-Control your emotions. 4-Show up. 5-Keep training. If you do all of that, you will see progress and everything will fall into place.
Ignore all negativity and stay away from bad vibes.
“What are bad recommendations you hear in your profession or area of expertise?”
The saying that annoyed me, and probably most people was “It has always been done this way, so this is how we will do it.”. But, depending on the current situation, if we do it the same way, it may not work. Opening options, getting feedback from experience, and taking off the blinders may be a better option.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, or have lost your focus temporarily, what do you do? (If helpful: What questions do you ask yourself?)”
Definitely training Jiu Jitsu help a lot. If I can’t train, I would go on long runs (without headphones) and just listen to everything around me. This helps me realize that any problems I have, are smaller than the world around me.