Recruitment Considerations |
Author: Lieutenant Colonel Lanny Snodgrass, MD, PhD
| Reviewed by: Commander Richard M. Yates, faculty instructor, Department of Command, Leadership, and Management, US Army War College
©2026 Richard M. Yates
At age 63, psychiatrist Lanny Snodgrass defied convention by joining the Army, challenging long-held beliefs about age and military readiness. Drawing on decades of clinical experience with veterans and young soldiers, he exposes the psychological toll of sending teenagers to war while advocating for the wisdom and resilience older recruits can bring. This provocative and inspiring book reimagines military service for a modern world, urging a shift from age-based limits to capability-based inclusion.
Keywords: post-traumatic stress, civil-military relations, veteran mental health, military service reform, service eligibility, military accessions