To whom It May concern.

As an educator and mother I and am concerned with the sense of entitlement plaguing young adults, teens and some elders in our nation.

With this context in mind I submit the following:

A National Mandatory Youth Military Service with a Condition.

Problem: Sense of entitlement and lack of discipline

Solution: School leavers are automatically registered with the military services of the nation; where they learn discipline, goal setting, service, respect for self and other, loyalty, hard work, teamwork,   choosing a career, the art of not quitting, to be a person who recognizes that the sense of entitlement is selfish!

Condition: Those leaving school and pursuing further studies at any recognized institutions of learning are exempted from this National (military) Service.

Exclusions: Those who are terminally ill, medically and or mentally unable to participate in such activities as would be required, are be exempted following a medical and or mental status examination as well as an examination of their history.

Funding:

1. A stipend to cover transportation basic needs  OR
2. Similar to school they aren’t paid, instead they repay a debt to society who sent them to school for free (this is in light of the fact that the country has a HUGE debt and is in need of help, with limited cost) . They would therefore engage in community service – cleaning, debushing, building, feeding the underprivileged, giving seminars for other young persons, advertising, coaching, mentoring…

Duration:  Same as any military unit time ??? Two or three years.  (With a provisional exit strategy: if transferring to an alternative educational path or obtaining a Job.)

Graduation: A more skilled, competent, nation minded individual who’s in a position to decide what they what to do next in life; delays in the initial entrance of persons who are undisciplined, untrained, semi/unproductive, unskilled, unsure, lawless. Therefore resulting in the economy receiving a better rounded graduated citizen (worker, entrepreneur, life coach…) who is aware, of how society can improve, and willing to be a part of the growth.

Benefits:

• Fewer unproductive citizens,
• more human resources to tap into,
• a more disciplined nation minded people,
• gives school leavers,  an opportunity to gain valuable work experience
• Meeting different people and training in different countries will expand their minds and understanding about life

Program Structure: Traditional military training in addition to remediation for those who need help with reading and writing, training in managing emergencies and natural disasters, first aid....

Personnel: Retired Military Personnel, policemen, firemen, coast guard, teachers, persons who’ve completed their military service, who don't want to necessarily sign-up again but would be comfortable with the initiative.

Promotion / Pitch:

To student:  The nation has given to you and it’s your turn to give back

Parents: A response to many parental worries

Facilitators: It is sharing what you love with others.

Business community: An improved human resource pool

Teachers and Other Stakeholders: There is hope for the “unapologetic”, “unruly” “gruesome” “snobby” (pseudonyms to describe student and other ‘entitled’ personalities)

Arinella Jones