Royal Marines officer rubbishes talks of a ‘snowflake’ generation saying youngsters are ‘fitter’ than before

A HIGHLY-decorated Royal ­Marines officer has rubbished talk of a “snowflake” generation — saying youngsters are tougher, fitter and smarter than when he joined 43 years ago.

Lieutenant Colonel Gary Green, who fought in four conflicts, including in the Falklands and Afghanistan and was made an OBE, dismissed the notion of woke millennials.

He said: “I don’t recognise the term snowflake, from what I’ve seen.

"The quality of the young person wanting to join the Royal Marines today is better than it was back in 1979, when I joined.

“They are fitter. They are more determined.

"They are slightly older. They are significantly better educated.

“When we bring them into training, the determination that they show is actually quite amazing.”

Lt Col Green, 59, spoke out as he retired at the end of a career which began as a teenager when he saw an ad in The Sun.

He was 19 when called to fight in the Falklands in 1982 and was one of the last serving veterans of the conflict.

But as he stood down as head of recruiting, the married dad of seven, from Horsham, West Sussex, had nothing but praise for those joining the Marines today.

He said: “They are unselfish.

"They are all about looking after their oppo first, then the team and then they look after themselves last. That’s a real good quality.”