I mentor some O1s who are stateside right now & I’ve noticed that when they talk about work, they don’t talk about their Soldiers. They talk about higher & being frustrated with their commanders & don’t really have an answer when I say “But what are you doing for you Soldiers?”

I don’t think Gen Z is selfish. I don’t think they’re lazy. But I think there’s some combination at work here of them wanting to feel like they’re part of the team, that validation not being present, and maybe commanders not mentoring them well. I’m not sure. Open to discussion.

Like this absolutely gets into generational differences and I don’t think Gen Z is “bad.” I think they have a lot of qualities that nest well with the Army. I’m just not sure Army leaders are speaking to them or understand them.

From what I’ve heard, they also don’t seem to think of their Soldiers are “theirs”? Which could be my generation fucking them up and micromanaging them? I’m not sure. And obviously NoT aLL gEn Z, but I’ve heard it enough that I’m trying to figure it out.