Military analyst and writer Amy Bushatz discusses the impact of technology on the military culture. Topics include Millennials influencing the force, betrayal felt by service members, changes in military communication dynamics, and evolving perceptions of military spouses and benefits.
The halo effect and horn effect influence first impressions, impacting trust and perceptions.
Millennials in the military bridged gaps by openly advocating for change and highlighting issues.
Military culture shift towards transparency and advocacy reflects societal changes and challenges.
Deep dives
Understanding the Halo and Horn Effect in Human Perception
When forming first impressions, individuals are susceptible to cognitive biases like the halo effect and the horn effect. The halo effect involves viewing someone positively based on a favorable first impression, leading to potential trust issues if reality deviates. On the other hand, the horn effect attributes negative perceptions to a negative first impression. These biases impact various situations, from dates to career choices, urging awareness to avoid their influence.
Challenges Faced by Gen X and Older Millennials in the Military Culture Shift
The military culture shift in the late 2000s, amidst technological advancements and financial constraints, left Gen X and older Millennials grappling with conflicting expectations and realities within the military. The disparity between positive expectations and actual experiences led to confusion and a need to reconcile idealistic perceptions with the truths of military service. The evolving landscape provided platforms for voices like Amy, a millennial journalist and military spouse, to express feelings of betrayal and advocate for change.
Millennials' Impact on Transparency and Advocacy Within the Military
Millennials brought a shift towards transparent communication and advocacy within the military culture, as seen through examples like Amy's journalism highlighting issues faced by military families. The generation's willingness to voice concerns openly marked a departure from previous norms of silencing criticism or dissent. This cultural evolution reflected broader societal shifts towards individualized values and a willingness to challenge traditional hierarchies.
Trends in Military Morale and Recruitment Challenges Over Two Decades
Over the past two decades, observed shifts in military morale and recruitment trends indicate complex challenges affecting service members and families. From evolving perspectives on deployments to changing expectations around benefits and support systems, morale fluctuations reflect a blend of generational experiences and organizational responses. Addressing issues of broken promises and restoring trust among cohorts remains critical for sustaining recruitment and retention efforts.
Building Trust and Addressing Betrayal for Sustainable Military Culture
Rebuilding trust and addressing feelings of betrayal are pivotal for fostering a sustainable military culture. Recognizing the profound impact of broken promises, the military must prioritize actions aligned with genuine remorse and long-term commitment to regain trust. Efforts to enhance transparency, prioritize family well-being, and uphold promises can contribute to restoring faith in the institution and nurturing a resilient, loyal military community.
Starting in 2008, cell phones and social media quickly escalated into our daily lives. Millennials filled the lower ranks of the force while op-tempos reached exhausting levels and sequestration tainted the beginning of a second decade of war as it forced us to dangerously downsize. The “halo effect” left many Gen X and older Millennials, confused- trying to reconcile their positive expectations of the military with reality. Technology provided a megaphone to an eager and fearless generation that had a lot to say, and access to influential leaders who, they felt, needed to hear it.
In Chapter 6, I shared the story of Amy, a millennial, a journalist for Military.com, and a military spouse who gave voice to the betrayal she and other families felt as service members were handed pink slips instead of promotions. Amy was just one of many examples of how Millennials aimed to bring about change. Amy later became an editor for Military.com and is known as one of the most competent voices on a lot of military issues, including understanding the Tricare system. I asked Amy to come on the podcast to share what she remembers from that decade, but also the shifts she saw in the culture as she covered it over the years.
This podcast is based on the book Military Culture Shift by clinical consultant and SME on military family culture, Corie Weathers. This podcast offers leaders an opportunity to understand the growing shifts happening within the military culture as an immersive supplement to the book. Based on 15 years of research, counseling, and teaching the military culture across all branches. Gain insights on changing perspectives within the culture, generational shifts in authority, the impact of Department of Defense budget decisions, emerging social trends within the military community, and the cumulative effect of two decades of the War on Terror on military family wellness.
