Can millennials make it in today's military?

2017-02-08T02:04:47-05:00

I joined the Air Force in 1981 after completing 3 years of JROTC. While my Basic Training experience wasn't exactly fun it wasn't bad especially for a woman. I'm told USAF is the easiest training.

Recently a friend's 18 year old daughter enlisted, she's halfway through and is complaining to my friend via mail. What are your thoughts on millennials in today's military?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 8 at 2017 2:06 AM

2017-02-08T02:06:05-05:00

Sgt Sherry Taylor-Bruce all depends on the individual and how they were raised. We should not change our standards.

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Feb 8 at 2017 2:30 AM

2017-02-08T02:30:29-05:00

They can if the training isn't completely altered, there are things that works and things that don't. Keeping up with current times is fine but the concept of teamwork and adjustment to things Military needs to start here to prevent future problems. Your not at basic to have fun, it has a purpose and that introduction should make Your military future easier and more productive. This is a place to begin a growing up process and become adults for any that aren't already ! Stick to the basics !

Response by COL Lee Flemming made Feb 8 at 2017 4:54 AM

2017-02-08T04:54:13-05:00

Absolutely...!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 8 at 2017 7:33 AM

2017-02-08T07:33:03-05:00

Every generation seems the next one can't be as tough or hack it compared to them. In fact each generation proves them wrong. Once they get that tough skin and don't take things personal all will be good. The first time being away from home, being on your own with no help from parents is a difficult transition. We all go through it to become adults. The military just speeds up the process showing you're not special and must take care of things on your own.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Feb 8 at 2017 8:58 AM

2017-02-08T08:58:26-05:00

There are those who are meant to serve which will adjust easily and those who are not meant to serve and they will have the hardest time. Personally, I don't think the majority of millennials could handle basic training. But I can guarantee boot camp will break them of their whiney ways.

Response by SGT Matthew S. made Feb 8 at 2017 9:32 AM

2017-02-08T09:32:13-05:00

Depending on where you draw the line, I was born around the very beginning of the "millennial" generation. During my time in the Army, I worked with many Soldiers my age and thereabouts. Many were good Soldiers, some weren't. Some are still in, and some (myself included, obviously) have gone on to other endeavors.

I don't know what has or hasn't changed as far as standards since, but for the bulk of the individuals I saw there was no issue about "making it" in the military.

I think it all comes down the individual person, rather than a group as a whole.

Response by SSgt Boyd Welch made Feb 8 at 2017 11:37 AM

2017-02-08T11:37:55-05:00

It's all about attitude. Some won't make it today, some didn't make 50 years ago. The great awakening comes the moment the trainee realizes, it's not about me, it's about the team. My first feeling of pride came in listening to the "heel beat" of marching as a unit. One team, one sound...

Response by SrA Jonathan Carbonaro made Feb 8 at 2017 3:25 PM

2017-02-08T15:25:47-05:00

Why do Older Generations assume Millennial's can't make it in the military? And if we can't whose fault is it?
From some research the term Millennial covers those born between 1980 and 2000. That means that Millennial's have fought the longest war in America's History. "We" being Millennial's also fought in 2 different countries at the same time. Many of us Volunteered during a Time of War.

If someone is to be blamed for inability to make it in today's military one most simply look at Older Generations, the everyone gets a trophy, everyone is special, can't hurt anyones feelings crap comes from older generations. I'm happy I avoided that crap as a child and teenager but those that were born in the late 90's early 2000's will have to deal with it.

It is up to the person on if they will make it. That's the way its always been regardless of generation. Their is a reason why Administrative, and failure to adapt discharges happen. Maybe your friends kid isn't cut out for the military, but every day people are successfully making it through basic and advanced training and into the military...

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Feb 8 at 2017 4:02 PM

2017-02-08T16:02:37-05:00

People have registered complaints with friends and family about basic training conditions for years. Generations! Don't read too much into that alone.

As far as Millennials go, most of the people I served with while Active Duty Infantry and in the Reserves have been Millennials, and while I can definitely see a difference between their generation and mine, they do their duty, are no stranger to hard work, and don't fall apart at the slightest hint of criticism. Can I extrapolate from this sample and apply those observation to their entire generation? No. But even then, some of the criticism of Millennials is a bit premature for a final determination of their entire generation. Wait until they are all in their 30s and 40s and we'll see what valid criticisms hold out over time, and which are simply not (or no longer) true.

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Feb 8 at 2017 5:47 PM

2017-02-08T17:47:51-05:00

I think in some cases we forget how tough Basic Training was and what a big adjustment it was for ourselves at the time. My Mother saved my letters home while I was in Basic and gave them back to me.....I get a good chuckle out of reading them today.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 9 at 2017 2:48 AM

2017-02-09T02:48:37-05:00

Sure they can. Honestly millennials are millennials because of the previous generation, putting blanket fault on millennials only sheds the parents blame and makes millennials dislike the military. Every individual is responsible for their own actions as they start to become an adult, but insulting a whole generation of people will never make that generation conform to your standards.

Response by PO1 Dallas Shewmaker made Feb 10 at 2017 2:15 PM

2017-02-10T14:15:38-05:00

First let me say that I agree that standards should not be changed. The military training process is very forward and transparent. Each and every recruit has the same opportunity to succeed or fail in this process. Each and every recruit is provided with as much information as they are willing to receive prior to signing on to our military forces. The training process (ie: boot camp) is designed to deconstruct the individual and build them to be an effective part of the military complex. If a recruit enters the training process and is unable to meet those standards or simply gives up in their efforts to complete them, the blame should be placed on the recruit and/or the person who didn't properly screen them in.

To answer the question at hand...

No, I don't believe that millennials can make it in the military environment as they enter. To name a few traits: they're self-entitled, complain without providing solutions, and become offended over everything that doesn't agree with them. When I think about how I was when I entered my military service, I was no different, though. Well, I was different... but not in a way that was better. I was an arrogant, over-confident, know-it-all that never took "no" for an answer. It takes a certain amount of all of that to make it in the military but it took the military to refine those traits. It took the military to turn those negative traits into positive attributes.

The same goes for millennials. Their unwilling to compromise will favor them in a fight against an enemy that won't ever quit. Their obsession over the trivial things can be transferred to an acute attention to detail. Their fearful attitude can be converted to a sense of caution that will keep them alive in tense situations. In all of this, their level of success or failure, just as it has been for generations before them, will rely on their own willingness to accept and adapt to the changes presented to them.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2017 1:32 PM

2017-02-19T13:32:31-05:00

I work with ADAF every day. I can say it isn't just the millennials who have "issues" with the military. I have come across a number of AD, Guard and Reserve at various ages, ranks, etc who make me scratch my head and go WTF?

GI's are going to gripe. It's part of being a GI. They don't want to be somewhere, they don't want to do something, whatever. I provide training and send them forth to do good things. Some will succeed and some will fail. I can only hope the majority of them succeed.