"Any current crop going through augmentation has zero reason to respect me," Maine counters, "unless I have rank, which I don't, or I can put them on their ass, which I may or may not be able to do."

Simple as that. He gets he is going to be in inclosed spaces with them and he will have to deal with curious looks and young people not ready to deal with their own bodies. He remembers how it was. How people could have been injured. What was said about What happened with John and some Marines.

As for grit and drive...

"My grit was extensive, I have to win so my team leader would quiet down."