Is there a way to motivate the new generation of military members?

2015-07-29T17:07:09-04:00

I am finding in today's military an undercurrent of failure or just accepting the status quo. What is the reason for this? How did we let it get this way?

Many times I have been told it is due to the everyone gets a trophy mentality of society. I agree to some extent, but the main area of blame, lies in the social structure provided to us by our parental units. When a child has very little human interaction, other than over a headset playing a video game,, and are never told they suck, of course the military is a culture shock. These young men and women come in and feel defeated almost immediately. Should they toughen up? Maybe...but ultimately it is on the highly trained Officers, NCOs and SNCOs to adapt to continue the warrior culture the profession of arms is founded on.

I have found it is important to meet them at their level. This generation does care, but they are a lot more skeptical about things than I was when I joined. Gone are the days of do as I say and not as I do. They want to feel genuinely cared about, and they want to see some follow through. This generation grew up with 9/11 and all of the hysteria that came along with that. No generation since Pearl Harbor during World War II has ever had to live with such a massive attack on U.S. citizens on our own soil.

Many of them joined because of 9/11, and they are patriotic. Imagine coming in at the end of 2 wars to a bunch of worn out, crusty, hardened vets. It is hard to fit in and prove yourself when you haven't been to Iraq, Afghanistan, or involved in any other campaigns.

My solution to this problem is to tell the branches stories. Some services are better than others, but inspire and engage the new recruits. Do not be afraid to provide professional development about the hero's in every major war and campaign. In doing so it prepares and motivates the young troops to be ready to react like, input hero here, when their number is called for the defense of this great nation.

Sure this seems like a lot of work, but it is vital to get the new recruits engaged early, and not ruin them or their dreams of serving their country by acting like what they do doesn't matter.

Response by SMSgt Tony Barnes made Jul 29 at 2015 5:08 PM

2015-07-29T17:08:32-04:00

I have found John Maxwells 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership are timeless.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2015 5:13 PM

2015-07-29T17:13:02-04:00

Let me tell you the mentality of my generation. "If I can't see why this matters and I don't believe in the cause then I won't try my best or give much effort at all. Indeed, I will actively work against those in charge to show them why it doesn't work."

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2015 5:22 PM

2015-07-29T17:22:12-04:00

I can't give this enough up votes, SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member. You are spot on, sir. Today's generation does seem to want to be engaged on a personal level. Unfortunately, a TI/DI doesn't have the luxury to engage each recruit personally. It is up to those of us beyond initial training to pick this piece up. Be we active or veteran.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2015 5:38 PM

2015-07-29T17:38:54-04:00

I believe there is a way to motivate the younger Military generation, but it will take a motivated older generation that is willing to provide that motivation. In my opinion, if you are not a self motivator and the simple fact of having the privilege to wear the uniform doesn't motivate you, then you joined the wrong profession.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 29 at 2015 6:37 PM

2015-07-29T18:37:29-04:00

Is it possible to reprogram them with military and personal values?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2015 9:36 PM

2015-07-29T21:36:29-04:00

MSG,

At 31 years of age I went through basic training and found myself questioning my decision. Not because I wasn't proud, not because I was struggling for a bit, but for the exact reasoning you described. But just as much as I found myself questioning, I found myself also attempting to understand.

As you said, a lot has to do with the parents, I will disagree on the whole of being told they suck, due to the nature of the online gaming environment where any child with a headset is spewing lewd language as if they just learned how to speak for the first time. I would assess that most of the shock they receive is because they have been brought up in a world with zero to very little consequence for their actions. Sure some have a better concept, but not as a whole. The generation you describe has never had to fear consequence on any level. They got out of line? Parents stuck them in front of the tv, maybe they could get away with back-talk and disrespect, then all of a sudden get the culture shock and KNOW that they can get away with it to some extent. Corrective Punishments are minimal, hands off policies, etc. So they can sit there and be smug and face dismissal and be chapter fodder.

Response by Capt Michael Halpin made Jul 29 at 2015 9:37 PM

2015-07-29T21:37:30-04:00

Isn't that the purpose of boot camp, to tear you down and build you back up as a Marine (or Soldier, Sailr or Airman)? I can only speak from a Marine point of view but, as we say, you don't join the Marines, you BECOME a Marine! They instill a pride in you and the confidence and recognition that you have become something better than you were. It continues after boot camp, that you are a Marine and will live up to Marine standards. By the time your enlistment is over it so ingrained in you that you can never lose it.
It's worked for generations and I haven't seen anything different with this generation.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2015 10:14 PM

2015-07-29T22:14:52-04:00

i think Capt Michael Halpin, is right on point. Basic is a time to either motivate the Trainee or get rid of them. We don't lower our standards. if needed increase BCT to 16/18 weeks, it's a long time costs money, as the old saying goes, "you get what you pay for". Let the DI's spend time with the recruit (and also pay the DI's Performance Pay commensurate with the hours spent). Place more DI's in a training company's. Some Trainees might need to be nurtured, just make sure it's within standards. What motivated the female soldiers to want to go to RANGER School? Maybe if we realistically answer that question, we will find an answer.

Response by SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2015 11:35 PM

2015-07-29T23:35:18-04:00

The Marines are a different breed. In the Air Force the issues start happening when they get to their first base and get a supervisor that doesn't care.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 30 at 2015 12:22 AM

2015-07-30T00:22:20-04:00

I know everyone's basic training experience isn't the same and that Ft Jackson is completely different than OSUT and so on. When I went through basic training in 2006 it was a joke. It was not challenging nor did it expel the weak minded, ill suited or unfit individuals. And I guarantee it hasn't gotten any harder since then.
Whatever the doctrine for order and discipline is now in TRADOC is failing miserably. While at ALC eating lunch in a chow hall I watched a "guidance/platoon" whatever they call them at AIT now sgt tell a pvt to hurry up it was time to go. The pvt rolled his eyes glared at this SFC and the nco walked away!!! I lost my appetite cleared my place and didn't eat it the chow hall the rest of the time I was there.
When part of the inbrief for a NCOES school includes things like:
-Trainees have more power than the post CSM
-Don't correct jr enlisted soldiers
-If they're drowning in the river let them drown (no joke)

It's time to give the brown rounds their power back and put them back into AITs. They have had their hands tied and the privates know it. There's no respect, no fear and that needs to change.
In most cases if a soldier can't be motivated he/she should never have marched a cross the parade field for graduation at basic. They should've been sent home so mom and dad could tell them they're still winners.

Response by SrA Matthew Knight made Jul 30 at 2015 3:09 AM

2015-07-30T03:09:04-04:00

It's difficult to come up with one means of motivating as I can personally think of several different types of "un-motivated" airmen, or just junior enlisted in general.

Leadership engaging with the junior enlisted is a great start. Even so much as asking someone how their weekend went and showing some interest in the response should help to some extent. If leadership hides in the back office all day every day it conveys an image that leadership doesn't care and this in and of itself can rub off on junior enlisted because if the commander or flight chief doesn't care why should I? So having a presence in the work place is already a good start. A good example was one of my flight chiefs back at Scott. The flight chiefs were generally scheduled a couple of times a month to work the lead weather desk but one of our flights in particular would take it upon himself to work even the actual forecasting desks alongside the junior forecasters. He would work alongside us and visit with us which showed us that he actually cared about his team.

Another way to motivate people which I haven't personally seen myself although I would implement if I were in a leadership position is I would do my best to show people exactly what impact their job is having on the overall mission. It doesn't matter if you are in the field or in a cubicle state side, what you do does impact the big picture. Unfortunately the junior most workers don't really get a sense of what good they are doing. My whole time at Scott was spent not really getting an idea of the impact my job had. Since I have been here at Whiteman it has been better as I actually hear to some extent what my work is being used for. In fact, one of my favorite moments so far has been receiving an e-mail from an Army pilot thanking me for a spot on weather brief from one of his flights.

Now these examples would be for someone who is un-motivated in the sense that they just aren't getting the importance of their work. Another example of an un-motivated member would be someone who just gets lazy because they don't care. At that point the only way I can really think of is to pull them aside and let them know exactly what the consequences of failing to adhere to standards or accomplish their tasks are. I know of plenty that would be the type that would try and skirt by with doing as little work as possible. In that case it needs to be made known that they have a job to do and failure to do so will result in possible paperwork, additional duty and even possibly loss of rank. If that still doesn't work then reminding them that demotion to civilian with no benefits carrying over is going to ultimately be the end result.

I can definitely say that morale and motivation is low among members, even myself some days. My motivation to keep pushing is looking at the big picture and thinking about where I want to be in the future. My plans are to work as a police officer after this enlistment and if I lose sight of that and stop performing whether it be on the job, PT or whatever it could negatively impact my plans on working in law enforcement. That's enough of a motivation to me to keep doing what needs to be done.

As far as feeling entitled goes, we are an entitlement generation. I personally don't feel it. I have three ribbons to most of my peers five or more. I understand that I don't have any more because I haven't earned them and I am okay with that. When I do what is required for the awarding of a medal/ribbon then I will take some pride in what I have accomplished. Some on the other hand feel like medals/awards and rank should be given to them without having to put some effort into working for them. If this happens just let them know what that little bit of extra effort can yield them in terms of rewards. I was put up for a chiefs group reward at my last base and even though I didn't win just knowing that I was chosen from our squadron of a hundred or so people felt great in and of itself.

There are so many ways to boost morale and motivate the young minds that are joining. Being a salty back office leader who just looks down on everyone is never going to accomplish that task. Showing some leadership and general interest in helping bring the junior enlisted up to standards and leading them in the right direction will bring about far greater results and will set into stone far greater leaders for the future.

Response by SGT Kristin Wiley made Jul 30 at 2015 8:20 AM

2015-07-30T08:20:29-04:00

The problem with new generation is the lack of knowledge on current events. They don't understand how the things happening in the world and our country can affect them. They have been sheltered from these problems, and don't understand the profound impact their service has on allowing our youth to continue to be sheltered. Many of them are motivated through instant gratification, getting off earlier, getting a new xbox, etc. My solution would be to educate them on current events, but I fear that our leaders can't do that without a political bias. If we can help them understand why ISIS or the Taliban are a threat to the homeland, or how their individual duties and responsibilities are important in the overall mission it may help motivate them.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 2 at 2015 4:15 PM

2015-09-02T16:15:24-04:00

I firmly believe multi-media and video games have screwed up a lot of our youth. When I grew up I was focused on doing well in school, wrestling, soccer, and football. I think there is something to doing your best in sports, being a good team mate, and working and playing your hardest on every play.