WE DON’T WANT YOU, UNCLE SAM

Weiss reflects on the challenges of recruiting Generation Z Americans for military service.

According to the author, an officer in the United States Marines, current recruitment shortfalls for the military are “terrifyingly grim,” and all the signs point to trends that “spell doom.” In Weiss’ view, this is especially worrisome given the rising menace of war across the globe and the enthusiastic patriotism of young citizens in China who are “nationalistic and ready to fight.” The principal issue, he asserts, is the failure of the military to connect with members of Generation Z, a generational cohort to which the author belongs. To both understand and rectify the problem, Weiss paints a fascinating portrait of a chronically misunderstood generation, one that is fiercely competitive and driven by a desire to make a unique, impactful difference in the world rather than just collect credentials. From his astute analysis, the author draws a bevy of practical conclusions about what successful recruitment would look like and how the military should refashion itself to be more appealing to a generation of prospective soldiers with its own set of demands and needs. For example, Weiss argues that the military should relax its admission rules regarding drug use, as recreational marijuana use is so common among Zoomers. Beyond specific proposals, the author convincingly argues that a major shift in American culture needs to be made to include a positive positioning of military service that prepares young people to embrace it. “Making it so socially desirable to dedicate time to national service has to be the preferred route forward. Apart from everything discussed already, the truly only way to do this is to make service part of the normal conversation of youth development in the U.S.” This is a wide-ranging and expert discussion of a complex issue, conveyed in unfailingly clear language.

An analytically rigorous and thorough discussion of a pivotal political topic.