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The generation of Soldiers who were born after 1982 have been termed "Mellennials." The oldest are 32 with the youngest being about 14. The vast majority of our E6 and below (with some E7s in there) and CPTs and below are Millennials. This generation was raised in a cultural milieu of team work, helicopter parents, and everyone is a winner. Replace 'helicopter parents' with 'NCOs' and these are, frankly, great candidates for service, and I think that the Army's Mission Command doctrine is perfect for them. In fact, I think that if we want to tap into their full potential, then MC is a must.
Do you agree? Disagree?
Do you agree? Disagree?
Posted in these groups: 
Army
Mission Command
Army Mission Command
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 4
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I humbly disagree LTC (Join to see). I have seen timelines for Millenials go as far back as 1980, which disappoints me because I was born in 1980 and I do not identify with the Millenial generation at all. What a lot of people have a problem with is the perceived lackadaisical mindset of the millenial and there are "millenials" without the "I don't care" attitude. I also think there is a difference between being a "helicopter parent" and being invested in your child or Soldier's lives. You can teach, coach, and mentor people without giving them all trophies. Great question!
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I think that you are partially on the right track, but there are a vast number of us that are in the seam between generations that have a great disdain for "everyone is a winner" type attitudes. Everyone isn't a winner at everything, there are things that I am good at, there are things that I am not, I would rather be told straight up what I am not good at. That is what I will do for my subordinate leaders.
If you wanted to take this in a different direction, I think the question should be how is the mutual trust and understanding developed between the two or three generations that are now in the Army?
If you wanted to take this in a different direction, I think the question should be how is the mutual trust and understanding developed between the two or three generations that are now in the Army?
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My problems with the ones that have had the helicopter parents is that they are often unable to make decisions themselves. I need Marines that can think on their feet and make decisions without being told what to do or what the answer is. Additionally the group of everybody's a winner has trouble with not everything being fair.
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LTC (Join to see)
That's a good point SSgt Gregory Guina . However, at 18, 19, or even as a 22 year old 2LT, they aren't finished canvases. Positive seeds have been planted, but we can still prune them as we see fit. I think that MC is the perfect tool to properly foster this demographic.
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SSgt Gregory Guina
LTC (Join to see) I agree that they still have plenty of growing and maturing to go but it is often culture shock for them when they realize that they are average. I read an article a while back about the up and coming generation and there are some out there that seriously need counseling when they realize that they are not the best and are not special. Average is not a bad thing folks.
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