Why Gen Z should join the reserves
Six years ago, I joined the National Guard. If not for the military, my career choices in tech and a master’s degree would naturally have led me to occupy very homogeneous social circles. I do occupy some such circles, but I also ditched my laptop and home office to spend July in Fort Stewart, Georgia, in the rain and heat, training for combat with other soldiers from across America who work in every trade imaginable: Big Four consultants, mechanics, cops, firefighters, waiters, stay-at-home moms (for 50 weeks a year), software developers, and truck drivers.
TL;DR
- The National Guard offers a way for ambitious young people to serve their country without putting careers or personal lives on hold.
- The military benefits from having soldiers with diverse professional backgrounds, such as attorneys, bankers, and engineers.
- White-collar workers can gain valuable experiences and contribute through military service, including disaster relief and training.
- There is a recurring suggestion among commentators and the public to implement national service as a solution for issues facing young men.
- National service, such as conscripting adults into the military, is proposed as a large-scale solution to problems like loneliness, mental health struggles, and economic instability in Gen Z.