The United States Should Offer Millennials 1-Year Enlistments To Test Out Military Service

...but a huge waste of time and money inasmuch as most millennials are physically, mentally, or emotionally unfit for service.

http://www.sgaus.org

That is, certainly, an interesting concept...I hadn't heard that notion mentioned in quite that way till now...I'd merely point out that, though I completely realize you and/or others seeing this might well disagree, and, also, I'm completely aware this isn't a perfect alternative, nor does it exist in all states and/or territories, I quite honestly have been of the view that the state defense forces (SDFs), while not perfect substitutes, at least exist now, don't deploy out of state/territory or overseas, though they do have multi-yr enlistments...I know they're not exactly the same, however, merely if only because they do at least exist, I've often suggested them as a way to "test drive" to see if the life might be for those who might want to later try to go Federal, afterward...our dentist, as I'd related before, took my suggestion to try the NY Guard (NYG), the NY SDF, then went NY ARNG thereafter, having found the life was, in fact, for him...purely another thought, though it's quite clearly a good article, the one you have here, as well, obv....

I strongly disagree with this article for a few reasons.
1, while USAREC and recruiting commands from the other branches may be experiencing challenges making numbers, one thing to point out is the military doesn't really have time to continue to be a social experiment. The two year minimum contract is fine how it is.

2. Keeping with what I just said, by the time you send a recruit through basic and their speciality training, how much time will you really have to benefit from that soldier, from a command perspective?

3. The logistics of PCS moves and other TDY events, IMO makes it not worth it, unless you would set this up strictly for reserve components of each branch so that the troop could stay close to home.

3. From a liability standpoint, and this may seem like I'm reaching, but hear me out. Many leaders in the military feel as if a lot recruits aren't arriving to basic in at least decent enough physical shape to make it through basic without sustaining injuries. While you can stress physical conditioning to the recruiting commands, it becomes a back and forth game between recruiting commands and basic training commands, and ultimately I see time and time again recruiters trying to hit their numbers so they don't care if the recruit is truly in best shape for basic. That leads me to my point of if said troop gets injured in training or at their unit for a short few months the medical process will put even more strain on our military's medical resources and the VA.

4. Here's a point I think we run the risk of having. Recruits join for a year, don't like being told what to do and decide fuck it, I'll just ride out these months and get out. I see the potential for discipline issues due to these soldiers knowing they won't have any real repercussions because let's face it, by the time any real paperwork goes through, they'll be getting out. On top of that, I feel that many leaders would write troops off with the mentality of hey if you're going to just get out, why would I devote time into you?

5. How would the retention process work? Currently 15 months out on active and 12 months in the reserves, your re-enlistment window opens so now what would happen?

If you're with me at this point it might just seem like I'm ranting but I truly feel if they can't serve for at least 2 years they won't be worthwhile.