But we have to become part of that relevant conversation.' … However, Generation Z, these young Americans, still want to have a purpose, they want to be able to make a difference, they want to do something that they feel is really important and meaningful. 'Generation Z is not patriotic, in the traditional sense they're also less trusting of government. 'This is a very unique generation,' Thomas told. Appealing to this group is both a challenge and a necessity, Thomas said. Many of those statistics are defining the Air Force's recruiting strategy for Generation Z, Americans born between the mid-1990s and the early 2010s. The Air Force Recruiting Service said, overall, that less than 10% of the young population is interested in serving in the first place, and 50% can't name all the military service branches. The Pentagon has released studies showing that only 23% of American youth are eligible to serve right now. But when pressed on how the service will solve a lot of these issues, Thomas told reporters during a media roundtable that there isn't one 'silver bullet or game-changing strategy' that could reverse a wave of trends dissuading America's youth from serving.Īmericans are seeing some of the lowest unemployment rates in more than 50 years.

Fight And Be Right by Ed Thomas