The Milliennial Veteran: Ready To Serve
Dear Democratic Party,
I write this out of love: Don’t forget our millennial veterans.
I have served many years with what may be our country’s next Greatest Generation: The Millennials. They are 1.7 million strong and make up the majority of the vets who have fought since 9/11. Like the Greatest Generation before, they have fought in 2 wars and successfully returned. At the same time, for many of them, the American Dream has been hard to find upon their return. They returned not to a manufacturing boom, but to a crashing housing and financial markets and a system that doesn’t seem to work for 99% of us. They are a microcosm of America. They are the best of us, they are our future, and we need to listen to them and include them. They are ready to serve.
I guide my Marines with voting, career retention, and the challenge of transitioning back into a world that is in danger of leaving them behind. Faced with substance abuse, divorce, foreclosure, unemployment, and suicide rates well over the national average, it is easy for them to feel hopeless and left out. In spite of these hardships, they persevere. They understand that when they raised their hands to take the oath, their service didn’t end. They still have a passion to serve. It’s a huge, brave population, and young.
How huge? According to the 2014 U.S. Census Bureau, there are
27 million veterans in the United States. Of those that served in multiple wars, the vast majority served in the Gulf War era. How young? Of those that served in Iraq and Afghanistan, the average age is 22. Let that sink in. 22 year old men and women bravely took the fight in wars against an enemy as lethal as any we have ever faced. They answered the call and rose to the challenge.
Because of these challenges that they face, there is something very special about this group of veterans. Tulsi Gabbard, Democratic Representive of Hawaii, has become a leading progressive voice of the millennial toughened by war and driven by service.
And what a 75 million other millennials who by estimates will make up over 50% of the workforce by 2020. Millennials are ready, willing, and able. And they are showing up. With record breaking rallies and turnout, the millennials are not only serving, but voting. They are a big reason that a Senator from a small state polling at 4% last year, is winning state after state. Their desire to affect change is real. So, when the DNC came out with the names on the Democratic Party’s platform committee, I was disappointed. Sure, they are accomplished in their respective fields. Included are prior state department officials, government representatives, scholars, and environmentalist. But there was a glaring omission; there is no one under the age of 45 and there is is no one who has served. My heart sank.
The disappointment didn’t stop there. I saw the other members on the platform committee. It was a who’s who of donors, lobbyist, and those with big business connections. One website for the lobbying shop boasts of it’s ability to “win favors and influence with government officials throughout the world on behalf of corporate clients” and promoted its “ability to engage with the highest levels of the Saudi government.” Another has former clients and connections to Coca-Cola, Wal-Mart, Dow Chemical, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
I understand that these people are important. They serve a purpose in our economy, and in our national conversation, but they are taking a place at the table for interests that have been over-represented for too long. It ignores our future. It shows where party priorities lie, and that is a mistake. What is more dangerous, is that it can not easily be corrected. When people become disaffected and disconnected from a process that they worked so hard to defend and preserve, they seek other avenues. We would be squandering that millennial engagement that President Obama worked so hard to inspire and mobilize if we don’t include them. When you don’t get a place at the table, you won’t want to stay at the party. By keeping the leadership over 45, and over-representative of a diminishing population, you run the risk of falling behind. You run the risk of losing your generation. Don’t forget about the Millennials. They have proven their loyalty, courage, commitment, and love to do what is necessary to improve our country. Take the next step. Include the the next Greatest Generation.
