Which concerns you more: the known enemy or some of the Soldiers we are seeing in the formation?

2016-04-11T13:15:17-04:00

I had a wise leader who once told me that he was not as worried about the known enemy as he was some of the Soldiers he was seeing in his own formation. He said we have eyes on the enemy. But he had a hard time wrapping his brain around some of the rookies showing up to the unit with a plethora of serious issues. He said he has great concerns about the strength of our homes today and a rising trend of Soldiers showing up broken psychologically or behaviorally. Has that been your experience? What are you more concerned about? The known enemy or some of today's new recruits?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 11 at 2016 1:18 PM

2016-04-11T13:18:22-04:00

Soldiers can grow. I can train them, coach, and mentor them. It's the rare few that struggle and they usually get out after their first enlistment. And as far as the enemy goes? Send me, I'll fight anyone.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 11 at 2016 1:23 PM

2016-04-11T13:23:06-04:00

I spent 3 years as a recruiter when I was enlisted, and there is a tremendous amount of pressure placed on these NCOs from higher. If there were some way to mitigate that, it might help with first -term Soldiers turning up with issues.

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Apr 11 at 2016 1:25 PM

2016-04-11T13:25:39-04:00

Since I worked in the Aircraft Maintenance world, we never got to fight the enemy directly, however those that we supported did. In the various units that I have been in, there were many Airman who were indeed broken up psychologically, and in some cases, financially, etc. This of course has always led to the mission not being accomplished in a timely manner due to manning, appointments and more.

In this case CH (MAJ) William Beaver, some of our troops not being in the right state is as much of an issue as the enemy we are facing. We are putting our troops responsibilities while they may have other issues going on. Something interesting that I have noticed is how leadership tends to handle these issues. Rather than mentoring their troops, they are often seen as the "problem child", and would rather take the easy way out of packing their bags. Sometimes, those with personal issues would rather just keep it to themselves (I surely did).

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 11 at 2016 1:40 PM

2016-04-11T13:40:22-04:00

CH (MAJ) William Beaver There will be cases when we will not be successful in our efforts to save or change them. Once they are a Soldier then, they are, and failing their being discharged under CH 11 or something similar, we're faced with insuring they are fit for duty. There will be success stories as well when we are successful in helping them turn around. Structure, comradeship, defined expectations provide many with what they need to turn around.
A problem our society has is that in some cases, they have not been in an environment that has afforded them the opportunity to earn ever increasing responsibility (helicopter parents). The expectation is that we mature with age but some of this is being removed from today's youth by parents that make all the decisions for them in an effort to keep their children from experiencing failure. There is nothing wrong with failure, we pick ourselves up and try again, it builds character and mental fortitude. They aren't broken, they're works in progress. It concerns me more that the leadership thinks of them as "broken" than it does that they need some work.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 11 at 2016 2:01 PM

2016-04-11T14:01:16-04:00

CH (MAJ) William Beaver while in BCT, I saw some guys that I thought were not graduating. Taking the easy way, complaining the whole time, sleeping every time they could, to my surprise, they all graduated with me. So far, that I know, 2 are out for failing UA's. If BCT were more a kind of filter that would clean the incoming troops, things would be completely different.

Response by TSgt James Emanuel made Apr 11 at 2016 2:10 PM

2016-04-11T14:10:38-04:00

My feeling is that today there is no dramatic transition from civilian life to military at least in the Air Force. The Marines seem to have the most difficult and most prestigious indoctrination. I always felt that I had it easier than any of the other service regimens. Mine was in the mid-60s. A totally different culture. The family unit was a lot tighter. We were taught to do what we were told. For the most part parents were responsible and fun to be around. They were involved in our lives.

Today, I think many of the recruits are there because of the economy. They have no marketable skills on the open market. Along with that there may be social awkwardness and isolation. Emerging from a marginal education system, kids are ushered into adulthood barely able to hold intelligent conversations let alone organize their thoughts in writing. This current generation is much less physically active and is accustomed to just about everything being instantly available or within reach. No motivation.

Thus, instead of the military getting the cream of the crop, it is getting the left behind, the abused and neglected. What's worse is that the military is accepting them.

P.s. I believe that the Marines should handle basic training for ALL branches.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 11 at 2016 2:18 PM

2016-04-11T14:18:05-04:00

Good points by all. Different generation of troops compared to 10 years ago. As leaders, we must continue to uphold the standards and discipline. With that comes understanding of the human dimension. No doubt, leadership is much more challenging than before, but we must do our best take care of the mission while simultaneously taking care of our Soldiers, and ourselves mentally and physically.

Great topic!

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 11 at 2016 6:09 PM

2016-04-11T18:09:11-04:00

yes back in the push many marginal recuits were accepted, had one come off ac, with so many psych issues should have never been in the ac let alone the rc, this goes to recruiting, and retention, i will not even get into the rest but it is very problematic when the recruiteers send a broken sm to us as rc, and we find out all, and now have to fix it, the rc and arng are not dumping grounds the ac needs to step the fu** up and do their jobs

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 11 at 2016 6:47 PM

2016-04-11T18:47:40-04:00

CH (MAJ) William Beaver Sir, it is the job of leaders to coach and mentor the men and women in their charge, so that these men and women want to deliver the best job that they are capable of.

Response by MAJ Rene De La Rosa made Apr 11 at 2016 6:49 PM

2016-04-11T18:49:02-04:00

CH (CPT) William Beaver, it is what it is. Had a fellow chaplain that pointed out the obvious to me because I did not realize it: that the military has a plethora of programs to prohibit failure, yet these young men and women would find a way to fail. With the chaplain available (and certain funds allocated to them), AER, ACS, and a host of social organizations, the military has built this net under the military personnel, yet they continue to fail. It is not the military is not engaged; sometimes, we have to accept that failures will happen, and that it is an inevitability. Now, when they step outside the military, they will realize that there were people who really cared. Outside of the military, it is a dog eat dog world, and no employer is going to concern themselves regarding the welfare of their employee.

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Apr 11 at 2016 9:24 PM

2016-04-11T21:24:59-04:00

CH (MAJ) William Beaver - I'm more concerned with the enemy outside the wire. Reason: I have unwavering confidence in today's leadership to address the "leadership" issues before them. The problems with our current pool of service members aren't unique; they're not new. Every CoGunny, every Co1stSgt, every BnCO --they've ALL seen this before. The lessons have been passed along. And yes, some of today's leadership were "rookies" at some point themselves.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 12 at 2016 8:44 AM

2016-04-12T08:44:14-04:00

Both, to be honest. the enemy is scary and the MILLENNIALS are also a concern for me.