Do you agree with the (5) Reasons Young Americans will not Regret Joining the Army?

2015-07-24T11:05:52-04:00

Do you Agree with the (5) Reasons Young Americans will not Regret Joining the Army? SEE ENTIRE ARTICLE BELOW BECAUSE LINKED ARTICLE LINKS DON'T WORK.

By Wes Cochrane
J.D. Candidate at University of Richmond School of Law

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/5-reasons-young-americans-regret-joining-army-wes-cochrane?trk=pulse-det-nav_art

I'm looking for feedback from all the service branches as well as the survey. Do these (5) reasons resonate with veterans, retirees, other service branches, and the active duty RP Members?

What can other service branches offer what the Army can't?

Do you agree that the Army (or other service branches) are laboratories for Leadership?

Here is the entire article below because the link does't show up:

Introduction

In the fall of 2004, as a Junior in High School (yes, I’m a proud Millennial), I began considering my future in earnest. What did I want to be when I grew up? What did I want to do with this life? On one hand, these questions were a matter of deep psychology, extensions of my identity. On the other, there was a very practical element - I was only 17, but I knew I wanted to eventually marry and raise a family. I needed an education. I needed experience. I needed a resilient and upwardly trending source of revenue. Perhaps most importantly, I needed my life to matter. All of these thoughts coalesced to drive me to the U.S. Army. Truthfully, my reasons for joining the Army in the summer of 2006 (at West Point) were less than admirable - at the bottom of my list was patriotism or duty. It wasn’t until I re-deployed from Afghanistan in July of 2013 that I could say, with sincerity, that I wanted to be in the Army because I loved the Army.

Understandably, many men and women join the Army, or any organization, believing they will be impactful, enduring agents of change. What I realized in July 2013 on the way back to Fort Campbell, KY, was that the Army had changed me. My experience to date in the Army has built a professional and personal foundation, the likes of which I could never have predicted. Moreover, my story is not unique. I’m not special. Stories like mine have transpired across all ranks, regardless of the roads men or women take into the Army, regardless of the branches in which they serve. I chose to join the Army, but the Army has been one of the biggest surprises of my life. Here are five reasons why I believe young Americans must not overlook service in the U.S. Army for any length of time, whether it is to build a foundation or to enjoy one of the greatest careers this Nation has to offer, all while serving honorably.

1) The Army is a Laboratory for Leadership Development

Every branch in the Army exists to assist in one main mission: to deploy soldiers, weapons, and equipment to a geographic area where they can be leveraged to defeat a hostile enemy, and to sustain them there as long as necessary, providing continuous support until the mission is complete. That is the aim of the Army - to win in combat or anywhere it’s ordered to deploy. In order to win, leadership is paramount.

In the Army, whether you are a Member of Squad, a Team Leader, a Squad Leader, a Platoon Sergeant, a Platoon Leader, all the way up to a Division Commander and beyond, you will face myriad opportunities for horizontal leadership (i.e. among peers) and vertical leadership (i.e. bottom-up and top-down). The Army is a people business. Effective leaders are necessarily crafted in order to successfully and responsibly execute the Army’s mission. There is much that could be (and has been) written about the opportunities for leadership in the Army (from entry to retirement), and the countless ways one is tested on a daily basis as a leader. (Note: A great place to start would be “My Share of the Task” by GEN(R) Stanley McChrystal, which details his Army Career, much of which was anchored in leadership lessons.)

2) The Army will Remove you from your Comfort Zone...This is a Good Thing!

From day one, whether it’s basic training, or Initial Entry Training of some sort, you will be tested and broken down in order to be built up, with your teammates, into an effective unit. Additionally, most soldiers, regardless of rank and branch, typically move every three years and change jobs every 12-18 months. Many have condemned this as producing sub-optimal generalists, but the Army sees it differently. The Army has always been aware of the need to foster adaptability. Well before it was trendy to point out that the world is increasingly complex, the Army recognized the power in adaptability. It has been a learning organism since its inception. Since Washington crossed the frozen Delaware on a stormy Winter night in 1776, with a ragged, pitifully-manned, pitifully-equipped army, to launch an audacious, surprise attack on a superior Hessian force at Trenton, NJ, the Army has been finding ways to adapt and win.

You will be a part of that. You will jump out of planes. You will learn to lead in harsh, austere conditions. You will deploy across the world, sometimes to fight, sometimes to train alongside allied forces, and sometimes to even stem the spread of disease. You will learn knew skills. You will be faced with your shortcomings and have to persevere. You will deal (over and over again) with steep learning curves (not just in your twenties, but in your thirties, forties, and well beyond, depending on how long you serve). Ultimately, you will serve at the will of the Nation. You will subordinate many elements of your personal autonomy to the good of the Army and the Nation it serves.

3) The Army is One of the Oldest and Largest Networks in the Nation

The Army predates the founding of the United States and recently celebrated its 240th birthday. Many young men and women fret over being accepted into a specific university or echelon of universities, in hopes that their hard work will land them in a thriving network, thereby securing a bright, financially stable future. However, I would offer that a network, like a good education, is a pull system. You get what you pull out. That said, pull from an organization that transcends state lines, transcends races, transcends collegiate pedigree, transcends family lineage. To be a part of the Army is to join a lineage of leadership, service, and camaraderie that goes back to 1775. Veterans love to help other veterans. Even non-veterans are honored to work with or support veterans. I’m not trying to be parochial. I’m being a pragmatist. The Army (and military by extension) is a formidable network of men and women, of professionals, of leaders, that I would put against any other professional network in the Nation.

4) The Army is Eager to Offer Educational Opportunities to its Men and Women

This is simple. Regardless of Rank, every man and woman that puts on a uniform and serves honorably, has the right to earn a “GI Bill.” That is, the Army will absorb some or all of the cost of a Bachelor’s Degree or Graduate Degree for those that meet the basic requirements. Additionally, everyday, service members are awarded ROTC scholarships for College, fully funded graduate school (while being paid), and tuition assistance to earn an education while working. The list truly does go on. The GI Bill can even be transferrable to a spouse or child after a certain period of service. In other words, the Army could fund one of your children’s college educations.

One small example - I served with an Infantryman who enlisted after high school, deployed with the 101st Airborne to Afghanistan, went to celebrated Army Schools, rose to the rank of Sergeant, led a fireteam, was honorably discharged, and is about to finish his bachelor’s degree, for which he has no debt. He has plans to attend graduate school, and eventually run for public office.

5) These “Pros” can Equally Extend to your Family

Nothing builds a team like adversity. What is a family? A family is a unit, a team. It’s the most precious team you’ll ever be a part of. The Army is a hard life, but I cannot think of a better, more noble organization, when it comes to honoring and serving families. The Army loves its families. Knowing full well the demands placed on the family (e.g. deployments, moves, job changes, long hours, overnight training events), the Army provides three and four-day weekends (nearly one long weekend per month when not deployed), holidays off, family appreciation events, maternity leave, paternity leave, and 2.5 vacation days per month.

Additionally, reasons one through four all apply to your spouse and children. Your spouse and children will grow in ways you would never expect--they will learn to lead through trials, they will learn to operate effectively through change, they will meet amazing friends along the way, and they will grow through rich experiences in America and abroad.

Conclusion

Finally, the Army is not perfect. The cynic will read this and balk at the “rose colored glasses” through which a young man has viewed his profession. I urge him to remember that humans are fallible. Our world is broken. Our organizations are not perfect. A robust, well-led, “Team of Teams” is still exposed to imperfect humans. So why not join the team, grow from the imperfections, fight to leave it better, and build a rock-solid foundation that will serve you and this country for decades to come.

What has your experience been in the Army if you are a veteran? Would you disagree with these reasons or replace them? Will you commend service in the Military to your children? What are some barriers to young people joining the Army?

*These views are solely those of the author. They do not represent the views of the U.S. Army, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.

Career Management
Army
Leadership

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Jul 24 at 2015 11:10 AM

2015-07-24T11:10:37-04:00

I had issues opening this, but a lot of people have regrets.

Response by LTC John Shaw made Jul 24 at 2015 11:36 AM

2015-07-24T11:36:04-04:00

COL Mikel J. Burroughs Yes, these are five valid reasons for joining the Army and any other military service. I am proud of my service and appreciate the leadership and career the Army has provided to me. I am certain I could have has similar experiences in other branches, I am thankful Americans have many great choices to serve this great nation!

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 24 at 2015 2:25 PM

2015-07-24T14:25:43-04:00

1-4 are spot on and although family support in the military has come along away in the almost 17 years that I've served, I feel that there is still plenty room for improvement.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 24 at 2015 2:31 PM

2015-07-24T14:31:47-04:00

I don't know if the other military services do this, but, for one thing the Army does not take care of its war veterans suffering from PTSD. The war veterans can't even seek help for PTSD, because if they go to command they are discharged immediately. I found out this morning a good friend of ours, who's son is in the Army and got back from his second deployment to Afghanistan, told his parents, friends, wife with two children, he no longer believes in God, he hates God and all he wants to do, is kill people. He told his parents he can't get help from the army because they will kick him out, with a less than honorable discharge. I'm hoping he doesn't become a serial killer, since they said that's all he dwells on. They told my wife, they, and his wife's parents are on top of it but all they can do is observe him daily. This is serious. I have no idea how to tell them how or who to approach, with this.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Jul 24 at 2015 2:32 PM

2015-07-24T14:32:44-04:00

There are plenty of Service Members who are dissapointed by the military and/or regret their decision to join. If you were to stand at the center of any base and throw a rock, I'm inclined to think you'd be hard pressed to not hit one.
While I have enjoyed my service, I think it's intellectually dishonest not to acknowledge it's flaws, and the effects those flaws have on serving personnel. Poor personnel management, a broken awards system, an inconsistent promotion system that punishes people for choosing certain jobs, incompetent leaders, an overbearing beuracracy, check in the block training and education and constant political maneuvering/survival alone are reasons you'll often hear voiced.

Response by Maj Chris Nelson made Jul 24 at 2015 2:46 PM

2015-07-24T14:46:03-04:00

Individuals will make personal choices about which branch to join. For the most part, I think people look back at their military service and be proud of what they did...or at least the fact that they did it. There are always a few that will not, but that is what it is.

Response by MAJ Jim Steven made Jul 24 at 2015 2:46 PM

2015-07-24T14:46:32-04:00

I posted this to my FB newsfeed as well. I never understood why more people dont do a little time in uniform.
While I am sure I would have turned out okay, the Army has been nothing but good to me.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 24 at 2015 4:06 PM

2015-07-24T16:06:50-04:00

OK so I thought about this so I could make a logical response.
The Army CAN be a laboratory for leadership. I have had some of the best leaders in my middle to later career, I started my career with the worst leader I could ever imagine. It's ok though, as I teach all my NCOs, you learn something from EVERY leader, if they are the worst or the best you learn something from them that you can apply to your toolbox. Either, I am going to file that trait away as something that I will NEVER do, or I want to grow up to BE that leader and you file those traits away and therefore you add those into your natural abilities. This being said, not everyone is a leader. Not everyone HAS that ability and you cannot MAKE a leader. They MUST have that ability inside themselves in order to be able to introduce it to the laboratory.
Point 2 is true.
I still have contact with Battles that I made in units through the years. I have contacts who are now LTCs that when I finally leave the military will be good contacts to have because my degree is in the same thing that they are in charge of and will be going into when they leave. So that is an outside contact that I will have. I have maintained contacts that continue to teach me (all the way from SSG-SGM's) who are able to teach me new things and answer questions that I need to make myself a better leader and now a recruiter. So I agree with that.
I think point 4 can be taken one way or the other. While I have literally got my Associates degree through the Army and will have the majority of my Bachelors degree (and I am sure my Masters before all is said and done through the Army and TA). When I wanted to send my guys to schools at my last duty station it was like I was asking for a MOH for them. I also have MRT, EOL, SHAARP under my belt so I cannot complain myself, but I would not always say "eager".
Family does not really get included for the most part. I TEB'd my GI Bill to my daughter, but that was me. I had to do a LOT of work for that, I had to give more time for it (not complaining, just saying) and so I would not say necessarily that the Army loves it's families. I WILL say though that the Army DOES give a lot of things to Soldiers to try and ensure that they have some time with families (commands are the problem that stops them often times), so I am 50/50 on that point.
As far as not regretting: It is a job in the end. There are days I regret it. However after 12 years obviously it is not something that I "regretted" enough to ever give up. I am indefinite now and my eyes are on retirement in a few years. So, although on certain days I may "regret it" in the end I in no way do. I got to go to war, I got to do things that I would NEVER have been able to do as a civilian. I am a tanker, so I got to shoot tanks, I mean these are things that I CAN NOT regret. I LOVE that stuff. I LOVE the fact that I went to combat. I am now out recruiting and I LOVE the fact that I am off the line (I am tired of camping, I am getting too old for it), I do NOT regret it.
However to say that people are NOT going to regret it, that is a stretch honestly.

Response by COL Ted Mc made Feb 18 at 2016 2:39 PM

2016-02-18T14:39:04-05:00

COL Mikel J. Burroughs - Mikel; "The system" dropped your link so here it is again.

ALL of the reasons CAN be valid and applicable, but you have to actually work at them. On the other hand, some people simply aren't temperamentally suited to military life and joining the Army would be (over stated) a "disaster" for them.

Part of what is today's problem is that the Army is recruiting from the same pool that it always recruited from while the "quality needs" of the Army have gone up. (Think of it as "continuing to hire for the drive-thru window when you need shift managers".)

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/5-reasons-young-americans-regret-joining-army-wes-cochrane?forceNoSplash=true

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Feb 20 at 2016 8:34 AM

2016-02-20T08:34:41-05:00

The Link didn't show up so I had to go to Linked In for the original article but it is a great article and brings up very good bullet points. I'm a big Proponent of my Chosen Field and I am not hesitant at all to advocate for young people to join the Military. I tell them though decide what is important to you. If Quality of Life is Top Air Force then Navy. If Physical Fitness is your Passion the Marines. Army is Great for Overall Military Training. If you are a Geek like me Navy was a Very Good Fit. I got to work with and for the Most Talented Scientist, Engineers and Technicians.

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Feb 20 at 2016 10:31 AM

2016-02-20T10:31:53-05:00

ALl the link is from LinkedIn and for some reason it does show up in the original post, so here is the link again here in the response:

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/5-reasons-young-americans-regret-joining-army-wes-cochrane?trk=pulse-det-nav_art

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 22 at 2016 5:07 PM

2016-02-22T17:07:56-05:00

Do you realize you put "will NOT regret" just there?

Response by Sgt Dan Catlin made Apr 11 at 2019 6:26 AM

2019-04-11T06:26:18-04:00

5) These “Pros” can Equally Extend to your Family

Speaking in broad generalities yes, most of what is said is true. The exception is #5. Military life is hard on families, especially in times of deployment. It usually took about 2-4 months into a deployment or unaccompanied tour for a young couple to start having trouble. The letters would start detailing problems and blaming a guy for not being there. Too many of these ended in talk of divorce before the deployment was up.

Another problem is when dad is not there to help with discipline, too often he comes home to real problems. It takes a special kind of woman to be a military wife. And often that woman was from a military family, so yes it can produce strong families. But all too often, from what I saw the opposite was true.