Millennials: The Army's Perspective

Check out this NPR piece when you get a second to do so:

New Basic Training Hardens 'Softer Generation'

In the piece, NPR host Scott Simon discusses the Millennial Generation with Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling, Deputy Commanding General for Initial Military Training, who is faced with the task of adapting military training to the generation.

Lt. Gen. Hertling explains:

"We are seeing a decline across the board in America," he says. "This isn't a decline in our recruits; this is a decline in our American society in terms of their physical capacity. It's just a softer generation."

The piece goes on:

"They're different. They have a technology edge. I think they're smarter than any generation we've ever had before," he says. "They certainly ask a lot more difficult questions."

They have loyalty, Hertling says, but he thinks the most important thing about this generation is that they want to change the world. "They want to contribute to something that's bigger than themselves."

"I think they're magnificent."