Hope for today's youth

Airman, July-August, 2008 by Matthew Bates

There's no hope for today's youth. Or at least that's what some people would have you believe. They are disrespectful, lazy and no good, some say.

And, in some cases, they're right. Overall, though, I disagree. I think today's youth continue to surprise us.

I saw that during a trip through the small towns on the prairies of Montana. I was there "shadowing" a recruiter, learning the ins and outs of the job as background for an article in this issue of Airman ("Recruiting the force," Page 24).

I was sitting in the recruiting office in Great Fails when a young man came in. He was a "DEPer," a nickname given to recruits who are part of the Delayed Enlistment Program and who are waiting to leave for basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. He was there for one of his regular "check ins" with the recruiter.

At first glance, there was nothing remarkable about him. Shaggy hair, carefree attitude, T-shirt and jeans. In most ways he resembled any other kid from any other part of the country.

But it wasn't his appearance that impressed me. It was his mindset.

He introduced himself as Patrick Preston, a 17-year-old soon-to-be graduate from Great Falls High School. I asked him why he'd decided to join the Air Force.

"It's something I've wanted to do for a long time," he said. He then went on to say he was going to be a combat controller.

"It's not easy, I know," he said. "But it's sure going to be fun."

So, here was a kid--who spent his life growing up in rural Montana working on a wheat farm and going to school--who dreams of joining the Air Force. Not to pay for college, not to see the world, not even to have a steady paycheck. He was joining to be a part of something, a team. And because as a combat controller in the Air Force he knew his job would be important.

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And, when most kids his age are out playing video games, watching television or listening to their iPod, Patrick is running and doing push ups and sit ups to make sure he's ready for the grueling training he's about to undergo.

Amazing.

But, of course, Patrick is the exception to the rule. Kids these days are disrespectful, lazy and no good ... right? They can't all be as hard-charging and determined as Patrick, can they?

Then I met Dan Myles. He was another 17-year-old soon-to-be graduate of Great Falls High. He, too, was a DEPer, and a normal-looking kid.

"You're not going to be a combat controller, too, are you?" I asked.

"Nope, I'm going to be a pararescueman," he said.

Wow. Here are two kids from the same school--the same class, for that matter--who are chomping at the bit to join

the Air Force. And not to get cushy desk jobs or some sought-after technical training they can use to get good civilian jobs later. Nope, they're entering two of the hardest, most specialized career fields the Air Force has to offer.

Neither of these young men is disrespectful, lazy or no good. Rather the opposite. So maybe there are more kids like this out there--kids who understand the big picture, who want to be part of something special, who would rather do than watch.

And maybe it's not that the youth of today are disrespectful, lazy and no good. Maybe it's just that because we tend to give so much attention to the ones who are, we forget about the ones--like Patrick and Dan--who aren't.

One thing's for sure: There is hope for today's youth. One trip to Montana proved that to me.

STORY BY STAFF SGT. MATTHEW BATES Y