Millennials are collaborative, driven to succeed and want to experience all that life has to offer. The military, the top employer of millennials, still needs to make a serious attempt at understanding how to best take advantage of what this generation has to offer. Ingratiation is best used in moderation. [i] Like many of the generational gaps between the leader and the led that have come before, millennials often confound their leadership and display behaviors or opinions that their leadership categorize as entitled, lazy, or even narcissistic. Entitled. “They’re incredibly accepting of diversity.”. One significant hurdle facing military leaders today is the unique challenge of leading millennials. What they do is synonymous with who they are. You've got “elder” millennials like myself (‘84) who grew up playing outside with their brothers and generally getting along very well without technology. 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/. IF YOU LIKED THIS VIDEO, GIVE IT A THUMBS UP AND SHARE!!! 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. Wait until told. Snowflakes. Those tools are fortitude, determination, and patience. Thanks for tuning in! [xi] Stephen R. Covey, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People: Restoring the Character Ethic (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1989). The military understands this, and they’ve been able to create an attractive environment for younger generations at both the organization and personal level. Millennials are the future of the Army. 2. Covey, Stephen R. The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People: Restoring the Character Ethic. Millennials are also typically people who have a strong desire to make a difference and who seek fulfillment in their day to day lives. 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You see a problem, ask me about it. [viii] Their life experiences have left them without the tools necessary to begin the arduous journey from beginner to difference maker. If a leader does not make the development of their subordinates a priority than positional hard power will become the default and will quickly exacerbate a millennials devotion to the organization and its leaders. What most millennials want is appreciation, when earned, an opportunity to make a difference, and a voice that is heard if not always heeded. [v] Simon Sinek, “Simon Sinek on Millennials in the Workplace - YouTube,” October 29, 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hER0Qp6QJNU. See their good qualities. Today, America’s military suffers the inverse vulnerability—abundance. 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. A common goal for millennials is fulfillment in their lives. 78, by Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, by International Review of the Red Cross (IRRC) No. “The biggest mistake that could be made is treating differently because of the cultural impression of them,” LaFeve recommends. Because of this, some do not identify with their generation; this coincides with most millennials having a lack of exposure and knowledge of the military… They stand at the bottom of the mountain staring at the peak, reaching for it unattainably. Pure gofer delegation. Nah, we’re brilliant. Separate millennials from the environment in which they were raised. [x] It can be very difficult in such a fast-paced environment such as the military where leaders are often completely reactionary to the multitude of fires that require extinguishing. Level 3. [xii] Critical to the healthy use of rational influence techniques is to avoid the potential blurring of lines between the leader and the led. But it is equally important to temper their ambition with a bit of realism about their future prospects. Irregular warfare with China, Russia: Ready or not, it's coming — if not already here, Counterinsurgency in the Philippines: An Inside Look at Partner Warfare, People's Liberation Army Operational Concepts, A NATO Urban Delaying Strategy for the Baltic States. Level 1. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. Task & Purpose spoke with Mike LaFeve, a retired Air Force colonel who served 22 years, part of it in Special Operations with multiple combat deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq. One significant hurdle facing military leaders today is the unique challenge of leading millennials. Will Commanders Trust Their New AI Weapons and Tools? The US military only has 1.4 million slots, so the headlines could have read “Millennials are Willing to Expand our Military Sevenfold to Combat Isis” but maybe it was easier to sell a negative. They have. Failure will not quickly or easily be forgotten. Clear generational divides have always been an issue. Dr. Gene Klann offers several options on influencing and leading at an organizational level. In fact, the problem is much larger than just the Navy or Coast Guard. British Army Seeks 'Snow Flakes' And 'Me Me Me Millennials' In New Recruiting Campaign The advertisements attempt to rebrand negative stereotypes … 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. It’s largely about self-improvement. Many of these guys enlisted because of 9/11 and fought during the early years of the Afghan/Iraq wars. Millennials are entering the officer and enlisted corps at a rapid pace. Allow them the latitude to lead their own shops how they see fit. “The hardest part is getting past that perception gap,” LaFeve says. Everyone gets a trophy and no one keeps score. Millennials should not be blamed or punished for the society in which they were raised, but evaluated for the individual skills they bring to the table. All rights reserved. “Being sexually harassed online ruined the Marine Corps for me, and the experience.”[iv]. It’s been taught to them that they are indispensable to society and the world at large. Personal power is often the more effective tactic when leading millennials though a mixture of both personal and position power is ideal. They are group oriented rather than being individualists. Original content is published under a Creative Commons License per our Terms of Use. Philosophers memorized and internalized ideas and stories and thought that writing things down was an act of laziness. Depending on the task and the person tasked, the level of initiative expected will vary somewhat but it is best to avoid levels 1 and 2 if at all possible. If they’re combat arms, they more than likely have multiple deployments. “[One] of their most positive aspects is that their level of bias — interracial, … And those characteristics are ones that they will employ throughout their careers, in the military or otherwise, with the right leadership. Many millennials could have retired with 20 years in service last year.. They dislike selfishness and are oriented toward volunteerism. It can be a traumatic event to realize that real life does keep scores, not everyone gets a trophy, and your level of effort is directly comparable to your peers. Though “innovation” has been a buzzword for a... Jocko Willink and Leif Babin have built their... Get the latest in military news, entertainment and gear in your inbox daily. This is especially true with millennials who do not disassociate their personal and private lives and who are working ultimately towards a sense of fulfillment. 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. [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/. These stereotypes do not apply to every member of the generation. Entitled? Relationship building is at times closely linked to ingratiation as it requires positive reinforcement through the offering of praise for jobs well done in order validate the trust gained. [ix] This is the first true hurdle in leading millennials. It is a common sentiment among older generations that technology has stunted the younger generation intellectually, rendering them incapable of critical thinking or even the most basic of common sense. If it is not than the appeal will be seen as ingenuine and promptly dismissed by the subordinate. -~-~~-~~~-~~-~- Please watch: "Stormy Danielle's day! According to the 2014 Military Demographics Review, 4 out of 5 active-duty service members were 35 years old or younger and more than half the active-duty officer corps fell in the millennial bracket. Understanding those generational stereotypes allows a leader a good jumping off point to begin to identify how best to influence their subordinates and lead their organization. Keep a millennial in the level 3 to 5 range and clearly articulate that expectation to them in order to enable and thus inspire on a daily basis. Generation Z values authentic environments and an organization’s mission. They feel an obligation to solve world problems that previous generations have failed to answer. 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. For millennials inspiring is synonymous with enabling. (aka the Millennials) could have ever made such an impact on the long-held military system called “The Chain of Command.” But guess what? In the end, how the military votes may have more to do with the more progressive social views of the Millennial generation now serving, and with … While millennials do seek to discern themselves from their contemporaries, they are not competitive in a biased or judgmental way. Bring me a problem, and bring me your recommendation along with it. Medal of Honor recipient says not to underestimate millennials in the military Staff Sgt. 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. The second attempt to install a new Secretary of the Army collapsed, the failure is attributed to the persons Christianity as was the first and because of that belief it is automatically assumed they are a threat to LGBTs? They fail to see the mountain in front of them that must be conquered first. In the late 400s B.C., the accepted manner of transference of information was the spoken word. They are forming a tight-knit generation. Hard tactics are effective at gaining follower compliance and is useful as a short-term fix for getting things done. Ask me what to do. So, that if there's a mistake, it can be fixed immediately. Classified as those who reached adulthood in the early 21st century, this age group is hated by the media and employers alike. Regardless of your take on young millennials in the military, all sides can agree on one point: The issue's about to become moot. There are clearly behavioral trends for each generation. Plus, military vets get the added benefit of colleges with additional flexibility. Many millennials could have retired with 20 years in service last year. Ask. 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/. Level 2. Lazy. A millennial that was born in the early 1980s is by this point coming to the end of their career and is thinking about retirement. In a typically zero defect society such as the military, failure is about as appealing as a veggie omelet MRE. 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. If these conditions can be achieved than the subordinate will be very emotionally invested in the outcome and will do everything possible to ensure its success. It can also be a critical vulnerability as the internet, by its very nature, can be used to exploit personnel and undermine an organization’s culture. Conrad Gessner echoed his sentiment in the 16th century when he spoke of the “confusing and harmful abundance of books.”[ii] Of course, these are extreme examples but highlight the fact that technology is ever changing and it is advisable to leverage those who are well-versed in its latest means of exchange. However, it’s Gen Z that now makes up much of the military recruiting pool (and forms 15% of Active Duty Enlisted in the Marine Corps). Millennials grew up in the “everyone-gets-a-trophy” era, but LaFeve says that this actually makes them more competitive, and it’s something leadership can use to motivate them to be better, stronger, and more efficient. If fulfillment is the peak of the mountaintop of making a difference they, of course, desire to reside on that peak every day. Here’s how the Military sees Gen Zs differing from Millennials: Do it, and report immediately. Recommend. One critical way the military motivates younger generations at an organizational level is through its recent emphasis on allowing individuals to pursue truth through innovation-focused organizations. Relationship building is a technique that must be developed over time as it requires mutual trust from all participants through their displayed competence. Nowak, Peter. 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. Fewer millennials have a college degree relative to the older generations, but about a third of millennials in the military are taking college classes part time. Here are 10 characteristics of military millennials that leaders need to understand as they engage and lead them: They are mostly in the rank window of E5-E6 and O2-O3. Their environment was different than ours.”. [iii] Acts of this nature can be devastating to an individual and completely undermine an organizations positive climate and public opinion. “When you offer them an opportunity to be in an environment where everyone is judged on merit and performance, it’s something they haven’t seen,” he says. So what happens when they join the military? Small Wars Journal is published by Small Wars Foundation - a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. 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. Baby boomers and gen-x respond more positively to hard tactics and position power than do millennials. Snowflakes. In summary, although millennials come with an interesting set of challenges this is by no means a new venture. Guys like me, born in the late 80s to e We can have the most secure job in the country, while taking online classes to earn a college degree paid for by the government. Sinek, Simon. Carr suggests empathizing with millennials, most of whom view a stint in the Army as a means to an end—it pays for college; it guarantees benefits. Socrates spoke against the corruption of modern technology, the written word. 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