Posted on Jan 14, 2015
How do you feel, knowing that 75% of young Americans cannot make the grade to even be considered for military service?
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Growing up in a family where most had served in the military, and many more were planning on serving at some point, our lifestyle was such that we didn't think much of being eligible for the military, we simply assumed we would be.
School was a given, as were early morning and afternoon chores, because that is what my parents expected of us, and quite frankly, the only people I knew who would not be able to join the military, were a few friends who'd had physical problems in childhood such as asthma or accidents of some sort that left them with a disability.
I worry now, that we are raising a generation who have no concept of service to our country, that I wonder who will pick up the torch when we have handed it off. So many are overweight by a LOT, have no drive or ambition to be better than they are... have no diploma, and certainly no wish to do something other than play video games, that I have to wonder, of the supposed, 25% of young adults who are eligible for military service, how do we reach them, in this day and age?
School was a given, as were early morning and afternoon chores, because that is what my parents expected of us, and quite frankly, the only people I knew who would not be able to join the military, were a few friends who'd had physical problems in childhood such as asthma or accidents of some sort that left them with a disability.
I worry now, that we are raising a generation who have no concept of service to our country, that I wonder who will pick up the torch when we have handed it off. So many are overweight by a LOT, have no drive or ambition to be better than they are... have no diploma, and certainly no wish to do something other than play video games, that I have to wonder, of the supposed, 25% of young adults who are eligible for military service, how do we reach them, in this day and age?
Posted in these groups: 
Military Family
Military service
Military Family Military service
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 12
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Sounds like a program with the youth, their parents, and the way that this country attempts to raise people. We have become soft and pushed an "everybody is a winner" mentality. It has lead to many young people (of my peer group and generation) not to understand how to work hard or earn anything in life.
We need to fix this Politically Correct namby pamby BS and get back to teaching that life is hard and it sucks, but you can deal with it.
We need to fix this Politically Correct namby pamby BS and get back to teaching that life is hard and it sucks, but you can deal with it.
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I am disappointed in the parents of todays youth, as I work diligently myself to raise kids capable of serving, not to serve, but capable to meet the requirements. My oldest daughter was in JROTC (I had nothing to do with it) and achieved her own goals set for herself. Then she came to me and said she wanted help applying for ALL the academies. I did, she was accepted by the Navy for the Prep School and off she went. However, I am struggling with issues with the 14 year old as I type this and his situational awareness and drive are just not there. As a leader in the military, I have found no way to motivate this young man to date. He is physically capable, however, I am sad to say that right this very minute I would NOT want him in my formation.
There is a lot of media about the military growing their own (our kids serve as we have served) and how certain family strains are revolving the door of service (much like NASCAR used to be). The fact remains that I am disappointed in parenting which would correct a lot of the deficiencies the youth has today medically and mentally from serving.
There is a lot of media about the military growing their own (our kids serve as we have served) and how certain family strains are revolving the door of service (much like NASCAR used to be). The fact remains that I am disappointed in parenting which would correct a lot of the deficiencies the youth has today medically and mentally from serving.
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1LT Voyle Smith
I worry about my nine year old grandson. He’s a bright kid but all he wants to do is play video games.
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If we fight WWIII we will make hardasses from the softies.
I firmly believe many of the young adults and older teens do not understand the concept of trying their best. For this reason, many have done squat in their lives, they don't know what hard work means, and they truncate their achievements because they lack motivation.
Because some have achieved so little and lived a relatively lethargic life free of many accomplishments, we don't know what they can achieve and where their breaking point is.
My parents had nice houses, cars, and lived a solid middle class life. I provided the same for my children. My parents told me to do my best in school and sports. I told my children the same things. For this narrative I will call parenting a wash between the generations.
In high school I took hard classes, made good grades, played soccer, football, and wrestled. I also snuck out every night to party. I went all out. Like many of you, our parents told us the standards and we just accepted them as this is just life.
I have six kids from two marriages. Three boys and three girls. Brent and Millie settled for GEDs. I saw very little motivation in them in general. No motivations for school and sports. I don't recall ever having a deep conversation with any of them while they were growing up. I don't think they thought much about the society and the world. I witnessed pure laziness. Cleaning their room was impossible for some of them. In retrospect the only interests I saw in them were in regards to food, themselves, electronic media, and bf-gf relationships. As a parent, I am not proud of what my children achieved in high school. Granted having six kids means there is a diffusion of focus as a parent.
I think I finally have that generation figured out. In general many of them never worked hard. If they never worked hard, they would never achieve much. If they do not work hard, then how do know what their constitution is? What can they accomplish? How do we know their breaking point? I firmly believe many are just skating in life.
I firmly believe many of the young adults and older teens do not understand the concept of trying their best. For this reason, many have done squat in their lives, they don't know what hard work means, and they truncate their achievements because they lack motivation.
Because some have achieved so little and lived a relatively lethargic life free of many accomplishments, we don't know what they can achieve and where their breaking point is.
My parents had nice houses, cars, and lived a solid middle class life. I provided the same for my children. My parents told me to do my best in school and sports. I told my children the same things. For this narrative I will call parenting a wash between the generations.
In high school I took hard classes, made good grades, played soccer, football, and wrestled. I also snuck out every night to party. I went all out. Like many of you, our parents told us the standards and we just accepted them as this is just life.
I have six kids from two marriages. Three boys and three girls. Brent and Millie settled for GEDs. I saw very little motivation in them in general. No motivations for school and sports. I don't recall ever having a deep conversation with any of them while they were growing up. I don't think they thought much about the society and the world. I witnessed pure laziness. Cleaning their room was impossible for some of them. In retrospect the only interests I saw in them were in regards to food, themselves, electronic media, and bf-gf relationships. As a parent, I am not proud of what my children achieved in high school. Granted having six kids means there is a diffusion of focus as a parent.
I think I finally have that generation figured out. In general many of them never worked hard. If they never worked hard, they would never achieve much. If they do not work hard, then how do know what their constitution is? What can they accomplish? How do we know their breaking point? I firmly believe many are just skating in life.
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