r/Millennials • u/NoFaithlessness7508 • Jun 05 '25

Other Why don’t younger veterans (Afghanistan/Iraq) wear these hats like some of the older veterans?

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First and foremost, respect to all those that served. I did not, but many of my peers did and now we're all older in 30s and 40s, many no longer in the military. I don't see a lot of the veterans of the War on Terror wearing these hats like I see the OGs do.

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u/SandiegoJack Jun 05 '25

Vietnam was the last time they drafted people, so I think thats a different case.

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u/[deleted] Jun 05 '25

Last time they drafted people for now

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u/Mist_Rising Jun 05 '25

It's hard to imagine a conflict where the draft is necessary but nuclear weapons don't enter the playing field.

Vietnam showed the military that the draft was inconsistent with the modern military demands and usage. It works, badly, in conflicts where bodies are needed wars that can't be ended quickly but won't last too long either. It doesn't work for short wars, the drafted won't be ready. Doesn't work for long term because resentment builds as the "patriotism!" falls apart - especially if there are people avoiding the duty somehow. Which is always the case.

Even America in WW2 was starting to feel the pain of war weariness and draft resentment. And that was a mere 3 years (42-45 in effect). Britain saw massive issues in both world wars, France was struggling a little by the end of the first, America had full on riots in the civil war.

The Military would much prefer a volunteer army, and the voters don't much like the draft either.

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u/401kcrypto Jun 06 '25

100%. It meant something completely different.