COLUMN • I was born in 1997. When I came of age, there was no conscription, no summons, no obligation. Military service was never a duty – it was a choice for those who had the energy. And most people chose to opt out.

I grew up never having to leave the comfort zone. Without the weight of a weapon, without muddy trenches or learning to endure when it hurt. Everything revolved around myself – my dreams, my future. Never about the possibility that one day I might have to defend the country I live in.

To those of you who did your duty in the 70s, 80s, or 90s, I want to say: thank you. You answered the call when you were summoned. You left girlfriends, jobs, and security behind. You froze and sweated together, came home changed with the feeling of having carried your share. You did what was required, even if you never had to use it in reality. That deserves respect.

I have started to miss not getting the same chance. Military service provides a tough but honest schooling in discipline: waking up early, following orders even when they feel pointless, putting the group before oneself, and continuing despite your body screaming for you to stop. It builds character. A fresh breeze in a society where many young people drown in distractions and instant gratification.

Now we can see the price of comfort. An entire generation of men has never been trained, never been tested, never been forced into such discipline. We are shaped by a society that said duty was outdated and that peace came for free.

At the same time, I see those who come after me. They seem more motivated and interested in defense and preparedness. They talk about being ready. But most still lack both the training and the deep discipline that only comes from actually having done it.

It hurts. It feels like a betrayal to both them and to us.

Why did we do this? Why did we remove the shared experience that bound generations together? Why did we let an entire cohort skip the formative school that you older generations went through? Why did we prioritize comfort over loyalty and preparedness?

But those questions aren’t enough. Now we have to ask: What do we do now? How do we fill the gap after two generations were left out? How will it work when the shit hits the fan – when we need thousands of men who can handle chaos, take orders, keep discipline, and endure the worst? Who will defend us then?

I have never done military service. And honestly, I’m ashamed of that. Even if it was voluntary, I should have done it. That choice weighs heavier and heavier.

I feel a growing sense of responsibility. A responsibility, knowing the will to defend is there, while the experience and discipline are lacking in so many of us in between.

Maybe it’s time to admit that we made a mistake. That a generation who was never forced to grow up never truly had the chance to become adults in the real sense.

And that now it’s up to all of us – those of you who bore your duty and those of us who didn’t have to – to do something about it before it’s too late.

Emil N.