millennials-and-military-bridging-the-gap.pdf.pptx

The question of whether U.S. millennials will stay in the military is complex, with various factors influencing their decisions. While retention rates can vary by branch and year, there is a recognized challenge in retaining this generation, which now makes up a significant portion of the armed forces.

1. Millennials & Military: Will they Stay and Fight Too? Adapting America's Armed Forces for a New Generation

2. Generation Shift Millennials motivated by values, not just paychecks

3. Unique Values Millennials possess distinct characteristics that set them apart from previous generations. Perceived Different mindset Positive traits   

4. Recruitment Reality The US Army fell short of its recruiting goal by 6,500 in 2018 Work flexibility Competitors provide more flexible working hours Compensation challenges Corporate businesses offer more aggressive compensation packages Combat risk Potential combat exposure deters potential recruits Away from home Military positions require working away from home Millennial priorities Focus on global warming and social justice     

5. Military Demands The US military has been largely voluntary since 1973, with less than one percent serving. Adherence to strict hierarchical structure is mandatory. Military positions require working away from home. Service members face potential combat exposure. Rigorous training develops self-reliant, disciplined recruits. Structure Commitment Risk Discipline

6. Modern strategies for attracting millennials to military service To attract millennials, the military has begun modernizing its approach through digital recruitment, purpose emphasis, mentorship focus, feedback systems, and realistic expectations. The 2019 US Army campaign moved to Instagram and e-sports platforms, while weaving meaning into service and positioning senior leaders as approachable mentors to satisfy millennials' desire for meaningful work.

7. Adaptation challenge The military faces the unique challenge of balancing necessary adaptation with preserving its essential disciplined culture. This requires careful consideration of which elements can change while maintaining effectiveness. Corporate environment Corporate: Network-based structure, greater flexibility, emphasis on innovation, individual achievement focus. Corporations can more easily adapt to millennial preferences for flexibility and innovation. Military structure Military: Hierarchical structure, limited flexibility, emphasis on discipline and tradition, collective mission focus. The military's hierarchical structure makes it unattractive to millennials who believe in being part of a network. Military vs. Corporate: Bridging the Generational Gap

8. Retention keys To successfully retain millennials, the US Military must adapt without compromising its essential nature. Meaningful impact Tie positions to long-term purpose and meaningful impact beyond immediate duties. Embrace innovation Make room for innovation and become comfortable when traditional ways are questioned. Constant feedback Provide immediate, constant feedback and individual appreciation to millennial service members. Realistic expectations Project realistic expectations about military service to prevent disillusionment and improve retention. Digital leadership Develop approachable leadership that connects on digital platforms used by millennials. Flexible discipline Build flexibility into the system while maintaining core discipline and military standards.      

9. THANKYOU Presentation By Bikram Debnath Monojeet Banerjee Dibyendu Chatterjee Subhojit Karmakar Indrashish Malik Shibu Prasad Pallabi Deb Barman Megha Chirania