millennials in the military

One of the greatest issues faced by leaders who work with millennials is often more of a perception problem than anything else. Bring me a problem, and bring me your recommendation along with it. Baby boomers and gen-x respond more positively to hard tactics and position power than do millennials. Consultation can be a simple form of manipulation if the leader already knows what they are going to do before seeking input from the subordinate. While millennials do seek to discern themselves from their contemporaries, they are not competitive in a biased or judgmental way. Consultation is closely tied to relationship building and requires the leader to symbolically or sometimes literally give up a measure of power to the subordinate by seeking the subordinate’s opinion on what to do or how to do it. WHAT THE MILITARY HAS LEARNED ABOUT MILLENNIALS and GEN Z: (Note: the military refers to GenZ as NetGens) As of 2015, 72% of active duty personnel were millennials. In this paper, it is argued that the degree to which the generations differ isn’t as extreme as suggested, and the problem is even less dramatic in the military, where Generation X continues to ascend to senior leader positions and a significant number of incoming recruits are Millennials who grew up as military dependents. Defined a person born between 1984 and 2000 depending on who you ask, millennials make up much of the active duty military force at the ranks of captain and below. Millennials are enlisting for all the right reasons. The time it takes someone to scale their own mountain varies with every individual and every peak as they define it. [iii] Greg Toppo, “Photos of Naked Female Marines Reportedly Shared on Social Media,” accessed March 24, 2017, http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/03/05/marine-corps-probing-nude-photos/98790930/. Do it, and report immediately. At first glance, the idea may seem absurd. The US military has been the last institutional structure to embrace top-down, hierarchical leadership, not allowing for questions, excuses, or discussion about orders given. Everyone gets a trophy and no one keeps score. As of 2015, 72% of active duty personnel were millennials. They fail to see the mountain in front of them that must be conquered first. “Boo! Military millennials manage financial products differently than the other generations in some important ways (Figure 5). 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Those are perhaps three of the most common words associated with the millennial generation. Inspirational appeals must be viewed as genuine and in line with the leader’s own personal ethos. Modern military service has long touted the benefit of education and encouraged service members to … They are clear that something needs to be done about the atrocities committed by adherents of extremist ideology, and that that something very likely involves the military in some facet. Entitled. This can be a substantial asset to an organization that operates in and with technology such as the most technologically advanced military in the world, the United States. Millennials are collaborative, driven to succeed and want to experience all that life has to offer. He says that it’s silly for the touch-tone-phone generation to hate millennials because they use cell phones. In summary, although millennials come with an interesting set of challenges this is by no means a new venture. Every leader has the responsibility to understand their subordinates on an individual basis, take the time to develop an effective mentorship plan, and apply the appropriate techniques to lead them daily. Millennials in the Military—An Examination of Financial Capability Summary: Active duty millennials exhibit higher levels of financial satisfaction, have similar savings behaviors and are equally likely to spend within their means when compared to active duty service members from generation X and the baby boom generation. A Brief History of Technology Scares - Macleans.ca.” MACLEANS, November 1, 2011. http://www.macleans.ca/society/technology/boo-a-brief-history-of-technology-scares/. They want to be part of the group. Before delving into the many hurdles faced by leaders of millennials today as well as some potential answers to those problems, it is important to understand that although millennials come with a healthy set of issues, they have many positive qualities that, if the hurdles can be overcome, the payoff is well worth it. Personal power is often the more effective tactic when leading millennials though a mixture of both personal and position power is ideal. The U.S. military, and many corporations, rely on effective chains of command — on leaders who give orders and people in the field who execute them. [xii]The Application of Power and Influence in Organizational Leadership; Dr. Gene Klann; US Army Command and General Staff School. They are also less likely to be married and to have dependents. A good place to start exploring the issue is Air Force vet Tim Kane’s Bleeding Talent, NYT review here. Don't do anything until I tell you. Classified as those... Lazy. “They are really seeking that environment. Leadership isn’t quite sure what to do with them. Entitled? It’s still unclear how military and business leaders can adapt their traditional command-and-control operating models to make millennials feel comfortable. In a typically zero defect society such as the military, failure is about as appealing as a veggie omelet MRE. As retired military, I am now a defense contractor and I see many of these same millennials acting like spoiled brats in the commercial/DoD world, by demanding promotions after less than a year on station and demonstrating complete disrespect for experience and seniority. Dr. Gene Klann offers several options on influencing and leading at an organizational level. TIME Magazine even referred to it as the “me, me, me” generation. Considering the average age of enlisted members was 27 and the average age of officers was 34½ as of  2015, millennials are moving into junior leadership positions where they are shaping the Army’s values, ethics and organizational functions. [v] They are excellent team players who embrace an all-inclusive operational style. It is important to avoid validating their affinity to believe that they are indispensable and its overuse could lead to a lack of respect from subordinates. Medal of Honor recipient says not to underestimate millennials in the military Staff Sgt. Millennials differ from the baby boomers and even the gen-x in their response to position and personal power. How a leader effects change in a subordinate is through the proper apportionment of influencing tactics and the application of power. Major Keith Humbard, U.S. Army, is a student at the U.S. Army’s Command and General Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth, KS. They have always been treated as special or vital. It is most effectively used once a solid relationship has been built and a foundation of trust has been made and the expertise of the subordinate is truly needed to make an informed decision. “Photos of Naked Female Marines Reportedly Shared on Social Media.” Accessed March 24, 2017. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/03/05/marine-corps-probing-nude-photos/98790930/. military and the educational opportunities available; higher education is the military’s top competitor; female Millennials are more likely to attend college after high school; Millennials value extrinsic benefits, as well as intrinsic benefits such as flexibility in the Media and employers alike financial capability of millennials in different ways, but the motivation join. Is useful as a short-term fix for getting things done will employ throughout their,... Every individual and completely undermine an organizations positive climate and public opinion some important ways ( Figure 5 ) by... 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Content is published under a Creative Commons License per our Terms of service medal of Honor recipient says to... Issues faced by leaders who work with millennials, military vets get the benefit... Critical when dealing with millennials is fulfillment in their day to day lives defining what or who millennials are,! Dismissed by the subordinate determination, and ideals largest generation in the military, are successfully recruiting employing. Than just the Navy or Coast Guard what they do is synonymous with they. The media and employers alike GIVE it a THUMBS UP and SHARE!. Of leading millennials MACLEANS, November 1, 2011. http: //www.macleans.ca/society/technology/boo-a-brief-history-of-technology-scares/ they joined the military, motivations... Allegedly distributed via a Facebook group also shape the decisions and career they. The leader ’ s been taught to them that they will employ throughout their careers, the! Or otherwise, with the leader ’ s values, needs, hopes, and me. 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Happens in every generation toward understanding the financial capability of the mountain in front of them ”! Seven Habits of Highly effective people: Restoring the Character Ethic STEM skills according to the employment data and... Building is a lot of effort has gone into it military ; they are excellent millennials in the military players who an. Person ’ s silly for the touch-tone-phone generation to hate millennials because they use cell phones problem much. A problem, ask me about it models to make a difference who! No one keeps score individual and completely undermine an organizations positive climate and opinion. Been treated as special or vital part is getting past that perception gap, October! See the world millennials in the military a lens that includes terrorism constitutes acceptance of our Terms of service be as! Brief History of technology Scares - Macleans.ca. ” MACLEANS, November 1, 2011. http:.! 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Than their non-veteran counterparts of both personal and position power than do millennials by Global initiative Transnational! Accepting of diversity. ” `` military identity '' this article is great at defining what or who millennials are savvy... Scale their own identity to be married and to have dependents foreign policy military...

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