Is the military training its troops to be prepared for the economy of the future?

I’ve always held a respect for military members and veterans. My grandfather having fought in WWII taught me early in life to respect the military. I never had the gumption nor reason to join myself, though I had quite honestly held it in my mind as a back up plan were I to get disenchanted with my chosen career path. Why? Because the lessons learned from joining the military are uncountable.

Leadership skills alone make the military a very attractive career path. Of the ex-military CEOs I’ve met, they are all incredible leaders. Their companies will all find success I’m sure, because their leader has truly been instilled with a never back down attitude.

Intense focus on a singular goal while operating as a team is a skill set that all military members are instilled with. Discipline over their routines creates a near mastery of habit. Physical fitness is icing on the cake for an all round healthy, disciplined, and team oriented person.

Of course all of these traits are desirable, and the military has been coupling these trainings with that of warfare, whatever it may entail that decade. Recently in war however, the old tactics of force have not been as successful. No longer are enemies wearing matching uniforms standing on the opposite side of the trenches. Now the enemies dress and act like civilians, making their way into social circles that allow them opportunities for acts of terror.

The military was quick to respond to these new enemies with new training. In order to discover the insurgents, soldiers must not only communicate with locals but befriend them. Soldiers are now trained in social interactions so that they can handle the empathetic requirements of this new type of warfare.

So how is all this preparing military members for the future? Beyond the obviously attractive skill sets of course. One word: empathy. In a world increasingly ran with and by technology, we are more connected than ever. This constant connection, paradoxically, is making us more disconnected than we’ve ever been. This disconnection means many, if not most of us are thirsting for more human interaction.

One of the most valuable skills a person can possess in the rapidly approaching new economy is that of empathy. If ex-military members were great businessmen before, imagine now that they are learning empathy how they will thrive. Their skill set already breeds such confidence and impressive leadership, that the added skills of handling people will create a fantastic recipe for entrepreneurial leaders this generation.

I do not know if this training was intended for such great consequences, but either way I tip my hat to the US Military. Thank you for creating a place for those faithful enough in our country that they would die for it to learn how to thrive. I look forward to the many businesses sure to come from such leaders.