Grappling with the Gray #48: An Army of One?

Are we setting ourselves up for failure... or worse?
In the wake of Jack Teixeira allegedly leaking classified information damaging to American security and embarrassing to American prestige, columnist Rob Henderson wonders if the lower standards and increasing incentives for military recruits has contributed to a less committed class of soldiers.
It’s concerning, if not surprising, that patriotism and support for the military are in decline. Much worse, however, is the spirit of self-interest that may be motivating enlistment. Rather than focusing on the higher values of service and a sense of history, the military’s ever-increasing recruitment budget trumpets how you can serve yourself by acquiring skills and financial perks.
Several years ago, my own son applied for a special forces division of the IDF. He described the process as three days of crawling in the dirt. Four of the 15 applicants in his group dropped out in the first 3 hours. The rest lasted to the end. They weren’t all accepted, but they all demonstrated a willingness to do what needed to be done because it needed to be done.
As our generation becomes softer, do we need to relax standards to accommodate the current zeitgeist, or do we need to preserve standards to slow the relentless slide toward self-indulgent mediocrity? And what are the possible consequences of each?
Join me and the panelists at 5:00 pm ET Wednesday on LinkedIn Live for this week's episode of Grappling with the Gray:
Melissa Hughes, Ph.D. Hughes is Founder and Principal of the Andrick Group, applying recent brain research to improve employee engagement, company culture, team dynamics, and innovation.
Dr. Jenna Ross, CMPC®, LAC. Jenna Ross is a doctor of performance psychology, a former Army National Guard Drill Sergeant, adjunct professor, mental health advocate, and podcast host.
Hon. Charles Williams is a retired rear admiral and former Assistant Secretary of the Navy, as well as a fellow of Hudson Institute, a research organization promoting American leadership for a secure, free, and prosperous future.
#ethics #culture #military #discipline #success