Military Leaders for Kids

In today's Politico, two retired military leaders make a tremendous argument for real investment in programs of positive youth development. Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army General Hugh Shelton, and former Secretary of the Navy John Dalton, should be applauded for drawing attention to the growing challenges our children face.

These men are joined by many other former military leaders who are leading the Mission: Readiness National Advisory Council to educate policy makers about how investments in kids will help us stay on track for a strong 21st century military and economy.

They are working to bring attention to the fact that over 72 percent of 17- to 24-year-olds do not meet the basic educational, physical and moral standards required for service.

And are correct in saying that...

The most important long-term investment we can make for a strong military is in the health and education of the American people. If we want to ensure that we have a strong, capable fighting force, we need to help America's youth succeed academically, graduate from high school and obey the law.

It is incredibly important to continue drawing attention the challenges our children face in this country. Whether you frame it in a discussion of national security, to fight crime, to create human capital for our future work force, or just because it is the right thing to do! We need more leaders who are willing to stand up to ensure we are investing in our future.

Read the entire article here.

Comments

[PlaceboStudman]

We also need to help the military move away from it's previous role of interferance in places where we don't belong in the first place. We need to educate, not just our children, but our children's parents and community that the logical, rational response to us having the best fighting force, the best defense is to take care of ourself first. We need groups like The Peace Corps and other domestic agencies to work on building our core psychological infrastructure, to convince not just our children, but everyone that the best defense is not always a good offense, if we (in football terms) remain on the field (of battle) and end up fumbling the ball because we are overworked and exhausted. We need to help this country work on its mental and emotional fitness in the gym of life before we even consider sending it out onto the field of play/battle!

[metfan5567]

And yet, the Army created a video game as a recruitment tool. Seems kinda silly to then say that most of those video warriors will never measure up.

Maybe all of the defense contractors can pay a "recruitment" tax to fund physical education at all public schools.

[mommadona]

War, as a political tool, is no longer an option in the 21st Century.

Parents will not allow their young to be used in such a way ever again in the country, after the last eight years.

"Onward Christian Soldier" is not our national anthem.

There needs to be a complete transformation of the military's "life-style"before it will be considered a 'wise career move' in the 21st Century.

THEN, you will get the best and brightest who wish to serve in that capacity.

Sincerely
~A Viet Era Female Vet who's son was a Marine in Fallujah under Bush43~

[oldGunny]

30% of American youth do not graduate high School.
29% cannot pass the ASVAB (entrance exam)
The rest of the unqualified are either Moral (Drug or Felon), or have a Physical condition (asthma).
A few can get waivers but not many. (unless you join the Army)

This was shocking to me when I started Recruiting for the Marines in 1994.
By 2006 I would tell new recruiters that only 1 in 4 of the people the meet will ever be qualified.

[esquire07]

"The United States military must be ready to protect the American people and our allies from the emerging threats of the 21st century. "

What a joke. The only thing American have to fear is the criminals within the Military Industrial Complex who thrive off never ending War and sending America's young to die for Corporate profit.

American public schools are chronically underfunded, while the military always has monet to drop bombs on innocent people around thw world.

The United States will be destroyed from within, not by any foreign enemy or so called "terrorist­s."

[vinny]

Would be great if someone would provide the source and/or method for the dubious statistic suggesting 72% of American youth are unqualified to serve in the Army. You can't easily find source/method on the army or DoD website. What you can find are several generals saying that it is only about ONE QUARTER OF APPLICANTS who are fully qualified.

So what's the deal? You are suggesting American youth are too uneducated, unfit, and immoral to serve, but you don't back up your claim. Please clarify.

[AbbieXHoffman]

He is saying that he wants people who are FIT to serve and serve well. There is no jingoism at all in his post.

No matter how you skin the cat, we need a military and they do many things besides just engage in war.

Seems to me it would be better to have educated individuals with high skill potential, who make conscious highly informed decisions to join the military than to have uneducated people who don't know what they are getting into and who don't have the skills to be leaders in the military.

[Rog49Thomas]

How about investments in our people and our country just to make lives better? To help people reach their full potential.

I know that's a dangerous idea (and may even be socialism) but it sure beats preparing for war.