What is the reason you believe that the younger generation is more inclined to enlist in the United States Military than the former?

2016-04-06T11:28:06-04:00

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 6 at 2016 11:43 AM

2016-04-06T11:43:20-04:00

The work force is still struggling. More people today now have degrees than the pervious generations but cant get a job. If you're a healthy and never got caught by the law kid, then the military is highly motivated to enlist or commission you. although, sometimes you cant even practice your degree in the military even if commissioned, which maybe another reason why people enlist.

Response by CPT Joseph K Murdock made Apr 6 at 2016 12:05 PM

2016-04-06T12:05:28-04:00

This is a tough question since we have been an all volunteer force for close to 40 years.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 6 at 2016 12:13 PM

2016-04-06T12:13:24-04:00

Do you have a source to stats that support that statement? Without knowing the actual numbers in comparison - I would say there's probably not a drastic difference in who's willing to enlist vs those who don't, between the generations. Some periods may be higher actually in the older generation - just due to the sheer size of the military at the time. Without being able to actually analyze the numbers based off time periods - it's truly hard to narrow down a reason imo.

Response by CSM David Heidke made Apr 6 at 2016 12:19 PM

2016-04-06T12:19:39-04:00

What if we don't believe that?

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Apr 6 at 2016 12:27 PM

2016-04-06T12:27:12-04:00

Same as always. "It's the economy stupid." Although anecdotal, I've seen more kids out here in the sticks go in because there're no jobs and more because the judge told them they had two options. This pattern is cyclical. Also the problem here has some to do with the results. The Guard up in Northern Idaho isn't what I'd call a crack unit. Lot's of bail outs because of leadership issues, lack of meaningful duty and training, etc.

Stopped by the recruiting offices in Coeur 'd Alene a while back. They seem to have a steady flow but the spaces are dingy and the service staffs tend to dump themselves into Undress Civ Alpha during business hours. I wouldn't call it a place that has a professional appearance.

Response by Capt Tom Brown made Apr 6 at 2016 12:28 PM

2016-04-06T12:28:43-04:00

For unknown reasons I don't believe they are, can't say exactly why, haven't read any reports or studies. Have seen a couple of articles about services cutting back on recruiting because of budget restrictions, still having difficulty recruiting and finding people who can meet the the basic entry mental and physical criteria.

Response by SPC James Harsh made Apr 6 at 2016 12:46 PM

2016-04-06T12:46:33-04:00

http://www.npr.org/2015/12/10/459111960/millennials-want-to-send-troops-to-fight-isis-but-not-serve

A Recent study shows the opposite. I'm open to a different outlook though this is what most people are seeing

Millennials Want To Send Troops To Fight ISIS, But Don't Want To Serve

A comprehensive new poll from the Harvard Institute of Politics dives into the politics of the nation's 18- to 29-year-olds. The poll also looked at support for Bernie Sanders and immigration.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Apr 6 at 2016 12:58 PM

2016-04-06T12:58:57-04:00

http://www.duffelblog.com/2016/04/millennials-lazy-freeloaders/

‘Millennials are lazy freeloaders,’ says nation whose longest wars fought by Millennials – Duffel...

WASHINGTON — Amidsta dizzying array of highly divisive issues inthe 2016 presidential election, Americans have found an issue on which there is overwhelming agreement: thoseborn in the Millennial generation remain “lazy pieces of shit looking for handouts,”despite a combined total of 28 years of continuous war in Iraq and Afghanistan being fought on the ground […]

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 6 at 2016 1:54 PM

2016-04-06T13:54:36-04:00

I have heard from many currently serving that it was the opportunity for low cost or no cost tuition and the chance to avoid huge education debt as a driving force. In some sectors, jobs are really tight. I would look at the data if you post a link to it.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Apr 6 at 2016 2:58 PM

2016-04-06T14:58:48-04:00

I completely disagree with your assertion. Entitled millennials join more often than those who came before?

Put the crack pipe down and slowly step away.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 6 at 2016 3:42 PM

2016-04-06T15:42:35-04:00

Your question assumes I agree with your premise. I don't. (And "former" who or what?) As a longtime member of the military, starting with Viet Nam, I firmly believe that the respect for and desire to be a part of the military has waned since, say, WWII. Men cheated like crazy to join up after Pear Harbor. The military back then was a patriotic OBLIGATION. Today, it's a job, more or less. It's a means to an end. Are there Lifers still? Sure. But i see the attitude about serving is nothing like the attitude during WWII, Korea, and Viet Nam. Oh, sure, everybody got puffed up after 9/11. Try to find that same level of patriotic fervor now. It's no longer there...and I am speaking about the entire spectrum. AND, furthermore, i don't see Iraq and Ass-ghanitan veterans joining the American Legion and the VFW, en masse. A relative few here and there across the nation, That's why AL and VFW posts are dying everywhere, literally. the youngest members are Viet Nam vets like myself. And we are in our middle to upper sixties at the young end. Many Viet Nam veterans are in their seventies. No, I don't see the enthusiasm to be anywhere near the same. Finally, there's is no way to legitimately compare your 20-year-old of today with the 20-year-old of WWII, let alone my Viet Nam 20-year-old. Far too many major, generational differences and on so many different levels!!!

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 6 at 2016 4:16 PM

2016-04-06T16:16:23-04:00

I have read several reports that the younger generation is less inclined to join the military than earlier generations.

Young Silent men in 1963 were 10 times more likely to be veterans than Millennials are today. Although Millennials came of age at a time when the United States engaged in military conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, they are far less likely to have served in the military than previous generations. Among men, only 3% of Millennials are veterans, compared with 35% of Silent men, who came of age during the Korean War and its aftermath. The number of young men serving in the active-duty military has decreased drastically since the establishment of an all-volunteer force in 1973, which is reflected in the decreased share who are veterans since then. Comparable historical data for veteran status by generation is not available for women, but contrary to men, the number of women serving in the active-duty military has risen since 1973.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 6 at 2016 9:59 PM

2016-04-06T21:59:08-04:00

A few points that I would like to contest:

1) The size of the military is determined by our elected officials in consultation with the Pentagon. Therefore you can never really say one generation is more inclined to enlist than another because people cannot keep joining the military until a generation hits some limit. The government sets the number and then that many people end up in the military via voluntary enlistment or draft. Here are the actual numbers: http://historyinpieces.com/research/us-military-personnel-1954-2014 for reference. Once again, these numbers are dictated and not representative of any one generation's desire.

2) I don't understand how anyone can accuse the recent generations of a lack of patriotism, as some have done in this thread. This country has been in a state of perpetual war for 15 years; in fact this has been the nation's longest war, and fought with an ALL VOLUNTEER FORCE! Recent generations did everything our elected leaders have required to defend the nation in an extremely tumultuous period in history. Military members have years of combat experience and have continued to raise their hand. Many of the differences listed in this thread are due to a change in culture not patriotism.

U.S. Military Personnel 1954-2014: The Numbers

Here are how the numbers of active duty military personnel have fluctuated over the past 60 years through the Vietnam War, Cold War, and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.