The Dubious Benefits of Technology in the Military: Applications and Abuses

Perhaps the most undetermined influence on the latest generation of Canadians is the impact of technology on Millennials’ intellect and interaction. While some scholars advocate for increased integration of technology into personnel training and communication, others warn against the potential for the dissemination of privileged CF information. This tension is not easily allayed by statistical evidence on Millennials’ use of technology either; studies reveal that Millennials are nearly as likely to abuse technology as they are to use it effectively. Like other epochal transformations, the advance of technology is ineluctable. The Canadian Forces must prepare for the integration of a generation who has fully integrated modern technology into their day-to-day operations. Not only has technology reshaped the methods that Millennials use to execute tasks and communicate, but it has profoundly reshaped their cognitive abilities, their expectations of expedience and their access to information. The trouble arises when the ambitions of the programs exceed the awareness of the users; prompting crises in privacy and security. This review examines available literature on Millennials to disaggregate the implications of integrating the so-called digital natives into the Canadian Forces. It looks to highlight promising areas where technology can alleviate challenges in organization and communication, and suggests areas where technology poses a threat to privacy and security.