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Most millennials want ground troops to fight ISIS — but wouldn’t enlist if needed, poll finds

Sixty percent of millennials recently surveyed by the Harvard Institute of Politics support sending ground troops to fight ISIS, yet nearly the same amount are not willing to enlist to help the military take on radical Islamic terrorists, the institute announced Thursday.

The institute’s director of polling, John Della Volpe, said the survey results show it’s clear young Americans are concerned about the rise of ISIS, but also indicated “it’s unclear what they are willing to do about it.”

The poll, taken in November, found 60 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds either “strongly support” or “somewhat support” sending ground troops “to participate in a military campaign against the Islamic State.”

But don’t expect most millennials to line up at military recruiting centers any time soon.

Despite the overwhelming support to wage war against ISIS, relatively few are willing to be a part of the ground troops they wish to see. In fact, 62 percent of respondents “would definitely not join” the military if the U.S. needed additional troops. Only 14 percent said they would definitely join or would strongly consider joining if needed.

HarvardPoll-ISIS

The recent massacre in Paris by Islamic terrorists last month significantly increased support for U.S. ground troops, the poll also found. Prior to the attacks, only 47 percent supported ground troops, but that swung up 13 percent following the attacks. Nevertheless, the poll indicates that the Paris terrorist attacks did not significantly alter the willingness of young Americans to enlist in the military.

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The poll results highlight a similar outcome found in the institute’s spring survey, in which 57 percent of respondents favored ground troops.

Ellen Robo, student chair of the institute, said young Americans have traditionally “been very resistant” to military intervention, but believes there is a shift toward a more outward foreign policy among young Americans.

“This group of people grew up after the war in Iraq made an impression,” she said.

The full poll results can be found here.

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About the Author
Nathan Rubbelke -- Saint Louis University