Thoughts on the current generation of service members, leadership in the face of risk, and the problem with the way our military often responds to tragedy.
Brad’s warning about not letting your work identity become your whole identity is wise. But one of the risks for people who find work that is a “calling” (which I assume is the case for many special forces members) is that by definition, their work becomes central to their being. I’ve worked with a number of people who lost their calling, and it was like a death with an extensive grief tail. I wrote about that which may be of some interest to you and your readers:
You're absolutely right. I want to believe it's possible to hold employment in your "calling" without facing consequences down the line, however, it seems rare. I think the best we can do is accept that an institution will never complete an identity. It can come close, but as you pointed out, everything ends in time. I look forward to reading your article.
This was such an interesting read. Obviously not in the military, but I noticed you both agreed that this generation really doesn’t tolerate bad leadership the way older ones did. They have a sense of impatience or not afraid to question authority.
Im curious… without sounding “back in my day…”
Do you see this as positive progress? More emotional awareness? Or do you think we’ve lost something? i talk to John about this all time.
"Obviously not in the military"? I wouldn't say it's obvious... You never know.
I'm pretty well removed, but I think in the net of everything, what Brad is describing is positive. I would say we still have some residual impacts from the way things were set up to get us through WW1, WW2, Vietnam, etc. Ways the military was structured to handle things like a draft and traditions around officer and enlisted that once were productive but now look a bit antiquated. It's also a unique time where the answers to "how to fight a war" are no longer found in a book or some Army manual. That creates an interesting tension between innovation and subordination.
The shift in moral/ethical tolerance is something else though, something more interesting. Represents a difference in the way young people place value on different things.
Brad’s warning about not letting your work identity become your whole identity is wise. But one of the risks for people who find work that is a “calling” (which I assume is the case for many special forces members) is that by definition, their work becomes central to their being. I’ve worked with a number of people who lost their calling, and it was like a death with an extensive grief tail. I wrote about that which may be of some interest to you and your readers:
https://open.substack.com/pub/bairdbrightman/p/the-death-of-a-career?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
You're absolutely right. I want to believe it's possible to hold employment in your "calling" without facing consequences down the line, however, it seems rare. I think the best we can do is accept that an institution will never complete an identity. It can come close, but as you pointed out, everything ends in time. I look forward to reading your article.
Your writing gives me insight to a world that I don’t know. Thank you for the insight.
One of my favorite interviews of yours to date. Great conversation with wisdom that can be applied to all. Thank you
Oh man, thanks Kyle. I appreciate you saying that and I appreciate you reading.
This was such an interesting read. Obviously not in the military, but I noticed you both agreed that this generation really doesn’t tolerate bad leadership the way older ones did. They have a sense of impatience or not afraid to question authority.
Im curious… without sounding “back in my day…”
Do you see this as positive progress? More emotional awareness? Or do you think we’ve lost something? i talk to John about this all time.
"Obviously not in the military"? I wouldn't say it's obvious... You never know.
I'm pretty well removed, but I think in the net of everything, what Brad is describing is positive. I would say we still have some residual impacts from the way things were set up to get us through WW1, WW2, Vietnam, etc. Ways the military was structured to handle things like a draft and traditions around officer and enlisted that once were productive but now look a bit antiquated. It's also a unique time where the answers to "how to fight a war" are no longer found in a book or some Army manual. That creates an interesting tension between innovation and subordination.
The shift in moral/ethical tolerance is something else though, something more interesting. Represents a difference in the way young people place value on different things.