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?
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Military Family Military service
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 11
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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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A lot of interesting remarks posted here. I do see a strong lean toward "it's the schools." Not so sure that is the correct answer.
I believe it is our entire social system at present. Too many "haves" versus "have nots." Too much partisianship in our politics. We have developed into a "us versus them" society.
We shoud strive for more unity, not division. Then perhaps our youth would be inspired to protect that unity.
Now, go ahead and tell us how your side wants this but the "other" side does not.
I believe it is our entire social system at present. Too many "haves" versus "have nots." Too much partisianship in our politics. We have developed into a "us versus them" society.
We shoud strive for more unity, not division. Then perhaps our youth would be inspired to protect that unity.
Now, go ahead and tell us how your side wants this but the "other" side does not.
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I would like to tell you how proud I am to be a part of a fraternal organization called the Moose, our members support a residential school in Illinois called Mooseheart. The school is for unfortunate kids that don't have a family able to care for them for various reasons. During high school the students are required to participate in ROTC. The students love it especially the girls. Most of the students go on to College with state scholarships and assistance from the Moose. However some are proud to enlist in the military.
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Cpl Glynis Sakowicz
You know, my sister was a brilliant woman, She had a PhD in Psychology, yet she chose to be a teacher in one of the worst schools in San Antonio. her students were the ones that the others couldn't reach, and each year, so many of her kids made the leap from failing to near-honor roll status that I asked her once how she managed that.
"They are intelligent, its all ready there... the thing is, someone just has to show they care... that they WANT them to suceed, that THEY MATTER to someone besides themsellves, and when they realize that... there simply aren't any limits for them"
Every time I think of the statistics of so many kids in single parent households, where the single parent has to work their butt off to earn a living and the child pretty much raises themselves, I wonder who is there to remind these kids that they matter?
"They are intelligent, its all ready there... the thing is, someone just has to show they care... that they WANT them to suceed, that THEY MATTER to someone besides themsellves, and when they realize that... there simply aren't any limits for them"
Every time I think of the statistics of so many kids in single parent households, where the single parent has to work their butt off to earn a living and the child pretty much raises themselves, I wonder who is there to remind these kids that they matter?
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Everyone needs to be worried about raising this generation who has no concept of service to our country. From time to time, I get involved in the education of children, just to get shut down by the school board.
Most school boards conception is only of money, not education, yet, there are a few that care. We are in the change over of curriculum from what we used to know to common core. Common core does not concern itself with correct answers, but it wants an answer.
A lot of us are retired and for the most part can be engaged in the child's education, whereas, some of us are active duty and must transfer their children from one DOD school to the next. This is a problem in itself that the parent cannot get involved in the child's education.
Honor, Duty, Country is being removed from K-12 education, as well as higher education, because of the mindsets of the educators. The best that we can do is counter the education children receive in school by utilizing what we were taught. As military parents, there is no law against them banding together and teach the concepts of serving our country. When I say military, whether you served three years, or 30 years, we still paddle the same boat.
By paddling the same boat, we can teach our children values that we grew up with, so they will have those same values with they have children of their own. We owe it to our country, ourselves and the future generations to come.
Video games are as much as the parent's fault as much as it is the child's fault. Video games are nothing but entertainment, not a way of life. Those who have children in those age groups need to restrict the usage of these games. I grew up when there were no computers, or cellphones. Any computers at that time, the mainframe would fill your living room; only government and big business were able to afford computers.
But for those of us who are retired, or ETS'd, we need to get involved in our school system and start the change process to have Honor, Duty, Country put back in the classrooms.
Most school boards conception is only of money, not education, yet, there are a few that care. We are in the change over of curriculum from what we used to know to common core. Common core does not concern itself with correct answers, but it wants an answer.
A lot of us are retired and for the most part can be engaged in the child's education, whereas, some of us are active duty and must transfer their children from one DOD school to the next. This is a problem in itself that the parent cannot get involved in the child's education.
Honor, Duty, Country is being removed from K-12 education, as well as higher education, because of the mindsets of the educators. The best that we can do is counter the education children receive in school by utilizing what we were taught. As military parents, there is no law against them banding together and teach the concepts of serving our country. When I say military, whether you served three years, or 30 years, we still paddle the same boat.
By paddling the same boat, we can teach our children values that we grew up with, so they will have those same values with they have children of their own. We owe it to our country, ourselves and the future generations to come.
Video games are as much as the parent's fault as much as it is the child's fault. Video games are nothing but entertainment, not a way of life. Those who have children in those age groups need to restrict the usage of these games. I grew up when there were no computers, or cellphones. Any computers at that time, the mainframe would fill your living room; only government and big business were able to afford computers.
But for those of us who are retired, or ETS'd, we need to get involved in our school system and start the change process to have Honor, Duty, Country put back in the classrooms.
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Cpl Glynis Sakowicz
Until a year ago, I used to take part in what was called "Living History" where the school would invite in people who lived thru and witnessed events and times that changed this country. In most school textbooks, WWII is covered on two pages. Vietnam usually has one, Its as if they are wiping out the fact that this country was not instantly created with a bloodless vote. How can you expect kids to know the cost of freedom, when they have government sactioned books that wipe out ten years of confusing loss in Vietnam? How can we expect kids to believe that sometimes, you have to step up to defend what you love, when History Books go from Pearl Harbor, right into the horror of atomic bombs with barely a single footnote about the devistation of Auschwitz and Treblinka?
Its as if we have a generation without a moral compass, and no one there to tell them about the reality of keeping the freedoms that they use so casually.
Its as if we have a generation without a moral compass, and no one there to tell them about the reality of keeping the freedoms that they use so casually.
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SSG Lloyd Becker BSBA-HCM, MBA
This is why I suggest that every military member of every community needs to get together and begin a counter-curriculum that will teach, freedom isn't free and where is why. There is a lot of information on the internet that has not be spoiled by re-writes yet.
Houston may be a problem with that mayor of yours, but Houston is a big place. I used to drive truck through Houston. I would think a call to arms would be in order to bring all military to a meeting. By putting your heads together, you can come up with a battleplan to set up a curriculum that will teach what it means to be a US citizen and what the USA has done for other countries in the past.
Also, bring to bear, retirees and others to run for the school board. You must change the system from the inside. To offer up anything to the school board lands on deaf ears.
Houston may be a problem with that mayor of yours, but Houston is a big place. I used to drive truck through Houston. I would think a call to arms would be in order to bring all military to a meeting. By putting your heads together, you can come up with a battleplan to set up a curriculum that will teach what it means to be a US citizen and what the USA has done for other countries in the past.
Also, bring to bear, retirees and others to run for the school board. You must change the system from the inside. To offer up anything to the school board lands on deaf ears.
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I wish this statistic was a little more published...making the military something to stive for, a bit of an exlcusive club.
I say this only because I came from a place where the military seemed to be for people who had not many other options (yet, I am paid more than most of my hometown friends).
Instead of a "money for college" mantra, or even "anyone can serve", maybe they should push an agenda of something along the lines of "if you really think you have what it takes" or something along those lines.
I say this only because I came from a place where the military seemed to be for people who had not many other options (yet, I am paid more than most of my hometown friends).
Instead of a "money for college" mantra, or even "anyone can serve", maybe they should push an agenda of something along the lines of "if you really think you have what it takes" or something along those lines.
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its a sad state of affairs... this nation bas become a nation of Techno Geeks who cant stand up to reality...
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If you haven't taken a good look at what a lot of schools across the country are teaching, you should. Common core starting in the first grade, if this new method is really good why are whole states telling the gov. keep your money, we're dropping this? 2nd graders being taught it's ok to have 2 mommy's or 2 daddy's and what it means! Sex ed (co-ed in some places) opposite/same sex feelings are normal, in middle school!! The koran being taught in schools, but Bible can't. If you want to change every thing about a country start with educating the children! Now happening in the U.S.A. More than just sad it's wrong!
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SPC (Join to see)
Gave this a downvote. Homosexuality is alright. It’s not your business. It’s nobody’s business. Teaching kids not to hate people is just fine. It’s called being a decent fucking person. It’s really not that hard. And no school is teaching the Koran. It’s called separation of church and state.
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I don't have any feelings about it. It makes me think how unhealthy or society is.
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So your talking about all of the ones who graduated under W and Trumpski then!! LOL cause that is exactly 75%.
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