Gen Z is joining the military in record numbers not just for economic benefits, but because it provides a structured community and a clear sense of purpose. In an era of collapsing institutional trust, the military offers a stable alternative that is increasingly absent elsewhere in society.

Historically, societies sent surplus young men to war or monasteries to manage their disruptive potential. Today, the internet, through video games and online communities, may be serving a similar function by absorbing their time and energy, potentially preventing real-world violence even as it fosters online hostility.

Individuals with psychopathic traits, while disruptive in peacetime society, are compared to a tool to be used in conflict. Their ability to engage in violence without experiencing trauma makes them effective soldiers or "Vikings" who can execute brutal missions and return without PTSD.

Countries with mandatory national service, like Israel and Singapore, exhibit lower rates of youth depression. This is because service instills a sense of purpose, acts as a social equalizer, and builds competence by forcing collaboration on something larger than oneself.

National service offers a structured "gap year" for boys, whose emotional maturity often lags their development. It acts as a "societal take-two," providing a second chance to mature and find direction without immediate academic or career pressures, specifically addressing a cohort in crisis.

A program like Israel's mandatory service provides structure, teaches skills, fosters competence, and reduces discrimination through forced cooperation. It could disproportionately benefit young men who are often not ready for the unstructured environment of college at age 18.

Navy veteran Kai Ryssdal posits that the military doesn't create character from scratch. Instead, it serves as a crucible for individuals who already possess a sense of duty. The service refines, sharpens, and distills these pre-existing qualities, embedding them as a lifelong code of conduct.

Focusing on testosterone screenings is a performative distraction from the real barriers to military recruitment: obesity, mental health crises, and a lack of purpose among young men. Modern warfare demands mastery of AI and asymmetric tactics, not just brute strength.

We should distinguish between destructive violence and productive aggression. Channeling aggressive impulses to defend the vulnerable or challenge unfairness is a healthy and socially useful trait for people of all genders.