Posted on Dec 9, 2013
Do new generation of soldiers to lack respect and discipline?
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Many NCO's find the new generation of soldiers to lack respect and discipline.
What is your opinion on this subject? Is it natural to think this or is this newest generation different?
What is your opinion on this subject? Is it natural to think this or is this newest generation different?
Soldiers
Discipline
Generation
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 68
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Honestly, not to disrespect the post but I hate new Soldier bashing. I came in over 26 years ago and my NCOs talked about us - the new spoiled Soldiers. Every generation is different and every generation talks about the past one. It is our Job as NCOs to know how to lead them. If you can't then you are irrelevant and not needed as a leader. So stop complaining about the new Soldiers and learn how to motivate and lead them. PERIOD!
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SSG (Join to see)
I agree, new Soldier bashing is counter-productive. I often get called the "old timer" and I for the most part take it with a grain of salt and laugh with them. I first came on active duty in 1984 and left the service in 1990. When I returned to duty in 2006 I felt as if I was operating in two worlds. My age and my rank weren't what a normal E4 Specialist should have been. Today's younger generation brings so much to the table as new Soldiers experience wise that my generation never had. In 1984 we weren't linked with computers, cell phones and "gaming" was something a bunch of nerds did with Dungeons and Dragons. Now gaming is part of training but on a much different level.
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GySgt William Hardy
I was reading a post recently about training. I cannot remember if it was here or on another web site. He post basically stated that the National Guard has one point that really gives it a foot up to the active component.....They are a cohesive team that has trained together for more years than the active side. Think about it. In my case, I spent 10 years with the same people in the same intel shop. We knew each other and had everything worked out. We rarely brought in a new guy and the once they did join our section, they never left unless they were retiring. The active army on the other hand changes personnel often. People are coming and going on a regular basis. This makes it harder for the active side to "train-up" personnel where as the reserve side spends hardly any time on new guys and just perfects their jobs. I know of several Guard members who spent their entire careers together in the same unit. Not always in the same section, but always in the same unit. This makes a Guard or Reserve unit "tighter" than the active side. I think it is something to consider when we are talking about training and leadership. Any of you Guardsmen or Reservist have some thoughts about it?
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I'll tell you about this generation. I've been teaching this generation since 2006, and I train my Soldiers to train this generation. This is the most technologically advanced generation in history. What I mean by that (because every generation is more technological than its preceding one) is that these children do not remember a time without computers in the classroom, without free wifi at Panera, and without the world at their fingertips be it via the internet or Netflix. This generation is team-work oriented. They are more content to work with one another than they are by themselves. They understand that numerous heads approaching a problem together goes further than one. They also enjoy success. This generation is overloaded. The per capita hours this generation spends at work (to include homework the myriad of extra-curricular activities) exceeds what any other generation has done. These children spend more time on electronic devices, but spend far less time in front of the television. This generation is also the most educated generation in history with about 50% matriculating into a college or university (compared to 20% of the entire adult population, historically). <div><br></div><div>A few negatives: This generation isn't as fit as in the past, but that's because this is a generation of plenty. This generation doesn't understand personal sacrifice in a way as previous generations, but that's because they haven't been asked to. This generation is used to instant gratification but that's because their parents have given it to them. This generation is the way it is because of the previous generations' expectations and guidance. If you want to complain about Soldiers these days, then you must start at those who reared them ie the previous generation. </div><div><br></div><div>The military is reflection of the country it serves; it is not better. We are public servants. We must remember that, and we must evolve to continue to reflect that culture lest we lose sight of this fact, and lest we begin to think we are better than those whom we serve. </div>
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Whenever I hear this complaint in the past I would say (half jokingly) “they
must have learned this from their NCOs”
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