These kids nowadays

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Al Bello
  • 386th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron commander
SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFNS) --  "These kids nowadays." If I had a dime for every time I heard that cliche from my parents while growing up in the '60s and '70s, well, I'd have a bunch of dimes. 

Of course, my parents weren't the first to use the phrase. It's been going on for centuries as a "catch all" when each generation finds it difficult to understand the motivations and unconventional behaviors of the next. Now that I'm no longer "cool," and the father of three children ranging in age from 14 to 24, I too have been guilty of using this phrase a time or two. 

My children, and the majority of our young Airmen, are what the mainstream media calls Generation Y. Normally, researchers include those born between 1982 and 2001 in this group. Of course, we should never label a whole generation, but those from Generation Y are described in very general terms as being impatient, skeptical and expressive.

They're impatient because, after all, they've been raised in a world dominated by technology where instant gratification is just a text message or mouse click away. They tend to be a little skeptical of everything because while watching their televisions and surfing the net they've watched chief executive officers and other media stars cheat and scam their way to the top. Additionally, reality TV has taught them if you're loud and obnoxious enough, your 15 minutes of fame could last a lifetime. No wonder a parent might mutter "these kids nowadays" every now and then.

Surprisingly, even though I'm far away from my children right now and have no obvious reason to use it, I've said the cliche numerous times in my head almost every day since I arrived in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. Interestingly, it hasn't been aimed at my children; it's been aimed at the many young Airmen I've met during my deployment. And the reason is simple; from what I've seen, these kids nowadays are really something special.

When I pull up to an entry control point and see an Airman standing in 120 degree heat wearing full body armor and projecting a professional attitude and image, I say to myself ... these kids nowadays.

When I see an Airman working 12-hour shifts, six days a week, with uniforms covered in grease and hydraulic fluid, maintaining and producing mission capable aircraft at twice the rate of home station, I think ... these kids nowadays.

When I watch Airmen load and unload thousands of tons of cargo, moving millions of passengers, providing first-class logistical support to all personnel in the AOR, I again think ... these kids nowadays.

When I see an aircrew landing an aircraft 16 hours after they took off, completing their fifth or sixth sortie of the day, I mutter to myself ... these kids nowadays.

When I see a team of Airmen leading and defending a three-mile long resupply convoy from one end of Iraq to the other, on the road for 15 straight days, I can't help but think ... these kids nowadays.

And when I have the pleasure of re-enlisting an Airman who is performing his third deployment in two years, knowing full well his fourth and fifth are right around the corner, I again say to myself ... these kids nowadays.

Are you starting to get the picture? 

The fact is the young Airmen I encounter every day in the AOR are the best I've ever seen! Now, before all you other not-so-young Airmen start telling me I'm full of it, just stand fast for a moment.

I'm well aware that we, and Airmen like us, have been doing great things for a very long time. I enlisted in the Air Force in 1986, and have been inspired numerous times by the sacrifice and devotion to duty of countless officers and enlisted personnel during my 22 years. As our Airman's Creed says, we are faithful to a proud heritage, and we should be. However, I just can't help but feel there's something extraordinary about our young Airmen today. To me, what makes them extraordinary is when they decided to commit their lives to their country.

The fact is, most of our young Airmen decided to raise their right hand and defend the Constitution of the United States during a time of war. Not many of us older Airmen can say that. These young people knew up front what serving in the Air Force meant. It meant difficult and frequent deployments away from family and friends, yet they still raised their right hand and continue to do so today. I think it speaks volumes about their character and commitment to this country and our Air Force.

Is Generation Y impatient? Skeptical? Expressive? Maybe. But let me say this without hesitation: I'm extremely proud to serve with these kids nowadays! 

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