Is the "Entitlement" generation negatively effecting our military?

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 01:56:55 -0400

Our society has raised a generation to expect everything given to them instead of working for what they have. Society gives out participation trophies just for being on the team. They do not know how to fail because they were never taught failure and shown what kind of motivator it can be. As this generation continues to join the military, what repercussions will we see through the military?

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Sep 15 at 2015 1:59 AM

Capt Seid Waddell — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 01:59:15 -0400

Hopefully there will still be exceptions to that rule.; I work with some really sharp students in the University. And the demands of the military would not suit slackers.

Response by CSM Carl Cunningham made Sep 15 at 2015 2:16 AM

CSM Carl Cunningham — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 02:16:06 -0400

Yes.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 15 at 2015 2:17 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 02:17:22 -0400

Everyone seems to think they are entitled to everything without actually earning anything. So sorry if anyone gets their feelings hurt, ok here is a reward for finishing last.. you can't pass a PT test, ok no problem, you can still be a soldier because we don't want you to feel left out. that is what society has come to in the military today.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 15 at 2015 2:37 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 02:37:05 -0400

I'd like to say they will be weeded out during entry level training, but they are getting pushed through and arriving at units causing morale issues and dysfunction. The Military is also kowtowing to this societal trend as well, through constant perpetuation of sensitivity training and disciplinary constraints. Soldiers already exist that think that they should get everything they think they deserve. It is even within the NCO and Officers as well. “I did my job so I deserve a 1 & 1 evaluation.” NO you don’t, 1 and 1 is reserved for those that excelled that their Job, not just showed up and did what was required. So, in short, it is already becoming an issue within the Army. I can’t speak for the other branches. There is indiscipline amongst the ranks, which perpetuates the situation. Leadership ties their own hands by failing to correct these issues for fear of a complaint. “My supervisor counsels us when we make a mistake”, is not a valid complaint, but yes I’ve seen this entertained before by senior leaders. Anyway let me get down off my high horse and conclude my tirade. In short, we can and will continue to be a strong military force. This is another challenge that we will and must overcome to stay strong.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 15 at 2015 2:38 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 02:38:04 -0400

Excellent question MAJ Private RallyPoint Member

Response by SPC George Rudenko made Sep 15 at 2015 2:46 AM

SPC George Rudenko — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 02:46:46 -0400

It appears that with the awards DOD is considering, that entitlement is making its appearance.

Response by PFC Janelle Fletcher made Sep 15 at 2015 2:54 AM

PFC Janelle Fletcher — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 02:54:36 -0400

While I agree there has been a sense of entitlement created in some but I don't think it would be fair to label it as an entire generation. That generation is defined as having been born between 1979 and 1994 which would include myself, I believe you as well sir, and many others here that don't even realize they are being talked about. I wasn't given participation trophies or the "oh you tried" nonsense or any of the other people I went to school with K-12. Some of our parents actually had a head on their shoulders and made us work for an allowance and save that allowance if we wanted something larger. There will always be the entitlement group in EVERY generation be it because they were raised with lots of money and expect an easy life, they are lazy criminals that just want to work the welfare system, to the veteran who tries to scam the VA into a rating they don't deserve. Blame the individual baby boomers who have instilled that sense of entitlement that was passed onto people of my generation because again you can't blame the entire generation. Now of those individuals that have that lazy entitlement attitude they have the choice we all did when we joined, get with the program and adapt or get out. I wouldn't want to be in the foxhole with one of those that thought they were entitled to something because you have two options coming out of that hole and one of them is to NOT. Passing them in this qualifier or that qualifier for participation points would be outright dangerous to the person that has to climb in that hole with them. You want them to improve themselves and that will be done by not just giving out awards like they are muffins. They will not ruin the military but their superior NCO's and Officers will be the ones because they cater to their feelings of entitlement instead of making them put on their big kid pants.

Response by SrA Matthew Knight made Sep 15 at 2015 3:00 AM

SrA Matthew Knight — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 03:00:18 -0400

I will put it this way in regards to the entitlement generation, some may agree and some will probably get pissed off at me for indirectly calling them out. (I will state that this is directed at no-one that I know here on RP.)

Will the entitled generation possibly and probably start causing issues in the military? The short answer is yes, but here is why and this is what will probably piss some people off. I personally think that the entitlement generation failures will be caused due to a failure in the present NCO/Officer corps. As I grow nearer to my ETS most of the people that know me know my plan is to get out of the military. My primary reason is to pursue my own interests but a major factor in my decision is what I have seen as a continuous failure in AF leadership to actually show that they care about their people. I specify AF leadership but from what I have read this problem is across the board for the military. Anyway, I couldn't tell you how many people of higher rank have agreed with me. The biggest problem though is that although they agree, they make no effort themselves to try and change the way the younger generations are acting.

I hear time and time again NCOs say, "Well why don't you stay in, put on some more rank and help change that?" Every time I am told that it makes me even more upset at leadership because what it tells me is that even though said NCO already has the rank, position and knowledge to make the changes now when we need it most they want to personally be lazy and cruise along their last few years without making the changes while playing the blame game on those of us that get fed up with the system and get out. The present generation of NCOs and officers are the ones that have started to notice the issue, they are the ones that have the ability to change things for the better and yet they would rather sit idly by and entrust the corrections to the very generation that they are voicing concerns about.

Sure I can stay in and make rank and try and change things but my leadership is going to be officers and NCOs that were/are a part of the entitlement generation themselves. At that point it's going to be the norm and trying to change things will be a futile effort. You have the power now that I don't and won't have at least for several years. Stop expecting this generation to fix itself and try coming up with some ideas yourself while you can.

(Again, this is not directed at anyone in particular that I know on RP. It is more so directed at some of the leadership I have encountered during my time in so far.)

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 15 at 2015 5:36 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 05:36:03 -0400

I am quite amazed at the number of medals and I am sure Vietnam Veterans are miffed at this since many did not get their props and in especially dire circumstances......

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 15 at 2015 5:54 AM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 05:54:13 -0400

I have already seen it and the Reserves (my side of the house) is real bad about it, especially when it comes to promotions. I have seen plenty of service members getting promoted just cause they have to TIG/TIS requirement completed. I have went to the 1st SGT and CSM about them asking why when they know full well they didn't deserve it and they said its the only way to keep numbers up. We need to get back to holding them to a standard across the board and the Reserves need to step up IMHO. We are getting softer and softer as a Military that relies way to much on technology,. Yet service members get upset when they have to go to the field and not have there phones or I Pads , what happens when we get hit with an EMP and we don't have any technology?? My apologies for the rant. I think it is all relevant though as its due to the entitlement society we have.

Response by SN Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 15 at 2015 7:01 AM

SN Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 07:01:42 -0400

I believe that this enlistment generation will do a lot of changes to the military. .....for they seem not to care about anything except for making money. ....i think the professionalism of the military is going to change alot in the next generation. ...

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 15 at 2015 7:23 AM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 07:23:55 -0400

It will all balance out when the enemy gets outraged for not being given the 'win' they were entitled to and spreads memes about it on Facebook.
In seriousness, the issue will always be there when you have to balance the political correct with the core mission of the service and then consider the amount of time that has passed since the last conflict.
A great deal of our potential recruits in High School now weren't even born when 9/11 happened. Think back to when you had to take history in school. Did you care about all the wars, massacres, murders and scandals you were forced to read about?

I don't think it is entitlement so much as humility and desire to serve your fellow man. If we had a 9/11 attack every 5 years, the tone would definitely be different.

Response by LTC Bink Romanick made Sep 15 at 2015 7:44 AM

LTC Bink Romanick — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 07:44:43 -0400

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member The same generation that endured multiple deployments? Don't give up on the young uns they'll be just fine. Remember what they said about us?

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 15 at 2015 9:18 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 09:18:37 -0400

Completely

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 15 at 2015 9:20 AM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 09:20:04 -0400

They maybe a weaker group compare to the older one, but they do grow past it and become as strong as those that before them.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Sep 15 at 2015 10:47 AM

SSG Warren Swan — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 10:47:14 -0400

How can anyone be mad at them? How can you look at one of these members of this generation and say it's not my fault? IT IS YOUR FAULT!. Everyone wants to be offended the moment something hurts their feelings. Everyone thinks they're an individual rather than members of a team. Everyone wants to be the leader until it's time to do some leader type shit. We made this, and now we get to look at it. I sincerely hope as this generation grows older, they see the flaws they made just like we've done and do something to make positive change for the next. But if reality tv is any way to gauge the future, then we're all f*cked. Older American values and norms are being replaced with new versions and they don't coincide very well. The minute you mention "this is how we did it", you're countered with "this is how we do it now". Parents have discovered the easiest way to raise a child is to give them the internet, a game system that connects to it, and then they can watch tv in peace. No more block parties, hanging out as families on an outing, no more of the traditional things we took for granted when we were young. When was the last time y'all went out on a picnic? A BBQ in the park? Threw the football in the park or went with your kids to a pick up game of ball? This isn't a blanket statement because some of you on here, still hold onto the old ways of teaching, family values and discipline. But y'all are becoming the exception and not the norm. I fear and love my parents to death. I fear them not because of what they could do to me, but out of respect and the knowledge that at my age, 42 and size, 6ft2in and 290lbs, both of them say the same thing..."I brought you here, and I damn sure will take you out". Now try and say that to a kid today and CPS will be at your door before you get that last word out. Lastly this isn't a situation they caused, it's a situation we let get out of hand and we have to deal with it.

Response by SSG Richard Reilly made Sep 15 at 2015 11:57 AM

SSG Richard Reilly — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 11:57:02 -0400

Yes. Solution? Stop giving trophies for showing up and awards for also showing up.

Response by CPT Robert Boshears made Sep 15 at 2015 2:57 PM

CPT Robert Boshears — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 14:57:16 -0400

When an O4 passes an O5, in the streets with headphones on and IPhones in their faces... Neither realizing or rendering the necessary courtesy of a salute, then giving me the "deer in the light" look when I asked them how much they weighed, and did they think they would walk away from an over 4,000 pound vehicle, that they just walked in front of. Now, place these earphones on about 80% of the base, and that is much of today's fighting force.... When not on a crutch from an injury in basic.

Response by CPT Robert Boshears made Sep 15 at 2015 2:58 PM

CPT Robert Boshears — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 14:58:48 -0400

Sorry, these are not combat arms or Marines

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 15 at 2015 6:36 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 18:36:28 -0400

We see an astounding number of new Soldiers who have no sense of respect for authority. A growing number of Soldiers who think they know more than the most senior NCO's in the unit because they have access to a smartphone and a google app. And the most immature Soldiers the Army has seen in decades.