Did you know that A World War II Veteran has Surprising Words for Millennials Who Won’t Join the Military?

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Tue, 15 Dec 2015 08:29:53 -0500

Did you know that A World War II Veteran has Surprising Words for Millennials Who Won’t Join the Military?

A new poll reveals that even when most Millennials support military intervention against ISIS, they are overwhelmingly unlikely to join the military themselves.

RP Members what do you think?

https://www.ijreview.com/2015/12/491627-harvard-poll-millennials-wwii-vets-draft/

Does that sound cynical? Well, a World War II veteran doesn’t blame them.

Legion of Merit recipient Gaetano Benza, who joined the Army Air Corps in 1943 and fought in Normandy, told Independent Journal that during World War II:

“Guys would quit school and quit jobs to go to war. I can understand why people would not do that today because America is not America anymore.

“Yes, it’s still the greatest country in the world but we’re involved in so many things. During World War II we were out to take out a tyrant; but ISIS is out to take over the world.”

Benza told Independent Journal:

“The enthusiasm (today) is not there like we had when we were joining for the war.

“I was ready to quit school. I was in my last year of graduation. I was going to a navigation school at that time and when war was declared I was 17. And a lot of my friends were ready to quit school. … But you needed mom and dad’s signature to join at 17 so when I was 18 I immediately went into the Army. …

“When we were there we were out there to do a job and complete that job. We fought all the way through to the end.

“The way we plan today is not the way we planned and they don’t have the generals we had: (Douglas) MacArthur, (George) Patton, (Dwight) Eisenhower. They were the ones who fought these battles and they led us into battle.”

A World War II Veteran has Surprising Words for Millennials Who Won't Join the Military

"The greatest country in the world but..."

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Dec 15 at 2015 8:31 AM

LTC Stephen F. — Tue, 15 Dec 2015 08:31:26 -0500

COL Mikel J. Burroughs I am not surprised that a World War II Veteran has disparaging words for millennials who won’t join the military.
However I am glad to learn that a new poll reveals most Millennials support military intervention against ISIS. With our decisions to use air power alone it is not surprising that people outside teh military are not inclined to join the military since we have not been engaging ISIS at a point where most people would be able to fight. Only pilots and special operators have been actually fighting.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 15 at 2015 9:16 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Dec 2015 09:16:33 -0500

COL Mikel J. Burroughs I'm a millennial, don't be fooled by this survey it's pure BS, of course a 30 year old male or female who has something going on or have seen their better days would not want to serve if they haven't already did so like I did when I was teen.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 15 at 2015 9:19 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Dec 2015 09:19:07 -0500

COL Mikel J. Burroughs it doesn't even take into consideration if these people are even physically, mentally or financially stable enough to join the military.

Response by PO3 Steven Sherrill made Dec 15 at 2015 9:33 AM

PO3 Steven Sherrill — Tue, 15 Dec 2015 09:33:38 -0500

COL Mikel J. Burroughs This is a great posting.
Mr. Bemza summed it up perfectly, in WWII the war was fought to win. It was done half-assed. Today due to a myriad of outside factors from the economy, to social media, to political correctness, and everything in between, those tasked with fighting a war are tasked to do so with impossible limitations. How quickly could we end ISIL using dumb bombs followed by mechanized and infantry assault on ISIL controlled territory? If the generals were allowed to take the gloves off and win the fight in the way they see fit, it would not take long at all. Problem is that any collateral damage at all is considered unacceptable. So instead of winning the fight, they are forced to analyze, verify, analyze again, check for civilians, then send a candy gram before a strike can be made. When you tie the hands of those tasked with executing a plan, it is hypocritical to call it ineffective when it does not work.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Dec 15 at 2015 7:04 PM

PO1 John Miller — Tue, 15 Dec 2015 19:04:19 -0500

I can't say I blame him!

Response by SMSgt Emo McParland made Dec 15 at 2015 9:02 PM

SMSgt Emo McParland — Tue, 15 Dec 2015 21:02:46 -0500

I can only speak for myself; but I have to respect the person looking back in the mirror at me, & I do. If millineals aren't willing to help Our Nation, what are they willing to do?

Response by SSG Michael Scott made Dec 16 at 2015 11:09 AM

SSG Michael Scott — Wed, 16 Dec 2015 11:09:32 -0500

Be a man

Response by PV2 Glen Lewis made Dec 24 at 2015 6:21 PM

PV2 Glen Lewis — Thu, 24 Dec 2015 18:21:16 -0500

Nobody wants to join during wartime, millennial, baby-boomer or whatever dividing term you want to use.

Response by GySgt William Hardy made Feb 13 at 2016 10:16 AM

GySgt William Hardy — Sat, 13 Feb 2016 10:16:02 -0500

Thus far I have heard many say they support the military, but few actually join. Remember the phrase from the Vietnam days? You talk the talk. Do you walk the walk? A single digit percentage walk the walk....seems kind of low to me and speaks volumes, both about the millenniums and about our government.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 14 at 2016 4:57 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 14 Feb 2016 16:57:39 -0500

Polls and studies have one thing in common. They usually result in a conclusion that supports the views of the people paying for the poll/study.

Response by SPC David Hack made Apr 2 at 2017 8:16 AM

SPC David Hack — Sun, 02 Apr 2017 08:16:22 -0400

For me raising my right hand at nineteen and going through basic at twenty was a 'no brainer,' basically because I had no prior commitments and I wasn't going anywhere. SGT Benza's correct on one point, and that is that we don't have the generals like a Eisenhower, MacArthur, Patton, Abrams etc, unless you want to count Gen. Mattis, Gen. Franks, Gen. Horner and Gen. Schwartzcoph in with the others I just mentioned.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Jul 21 at 2018 1:50 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Sat, 21 Jul 2018 13:50:51 -0400

Thank you for the great share COL.