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PERSONNEL AND
READINESS
UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
4000 DEFENSE PENTAGON
WASHINGTON, DC 20301-4000
MEMORANDUM FOR SECRETARY OF THE ARMY
SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE
CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF
UNDER SECRET ARIES OF DEFENSE
CHIEF OF STAFF, U.S. ARMY
CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS
CHIEF OF STAFF, U.S. AIR FORCE
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS
CHIEF OF THE NATIONAL GUARD BUREAU
ASSISTANT SECRETARIES OF DEFENSE

SUBJECT: Reducing Tobacco Use in the Armed Forces and the Department of Defense
Fifty years ago Surgeon General Luther Terry released the landmark report that
conclusively established the health hazards caused by smoking. Since that time, many public
health laws and Department of Defense (DoD) and Service policies have been enacted to reduce
smoking. It worked. As a Nation, and within the Department, we have made great progress in
reducing tobacco use. Yet, our work is far from over.
Tobacco use undercuts military readiness and harms individual performance. Lung
function is reduced, physical capabilities are diminished, hearing loss is increased, and acute
medical conditions are more likely. Wounded warriors who smoke suffer from increased risk of
surgical complications and delayed wound healing. Additional threats to smokers include higher
risk of stroke, cancer and for males, impotency. Smokeless tobacco brings similarly high risks of
oral cancers and dental disease.

Tobacco use costs DoD an estimated $1 .6 billion annually in
medical costs and lost work time.
Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death; one-half of smokers will die from a
smoking-related complication. For DoD, this equates to an estimated 175,000 current Active
Duty Service members who will die from smoking unless we can help them quit. On average,
smokers shorten their lifespan by ten years. Fortunately, they can regain all or nearly all of these
lost years by quitting.
The Department must take a leadership role in reducing tobacco use even further.
Tobacco use in the military remains higher than in the DoD civilian population and in the Nation
at large. Although we stopped distributing cigarettes to our Service members as part of their
rations, we continue to permit, if not encourage, tobacco use.

The prominence of tobacco
products in retail outlets and permission for smoking breaks while on duty sustain the perception
that we are not serious about reducing the use oftobacco.
The Military Health System is committed to focusing on preserving wellness. Our
military medical leaders have pledged their full support for this effort to reduce tobacco use
across the Department. Our goal is to dramatically reduce the use of all tobacco by 2020.
Individual military communities are taking action to curtail tobacco use, but we must develop
more aggressive, organization wide reforms. Structural reforms in how and where we allow
tobacco purchases to be made; as well as the need to consider tobacco-free installations, are all
matters that require our near-term attention.

We appreciate your active engagement and leadership on this issue and look forward to
hearing about your successes and best practices.
cc:
Surgeon General of the Army
Surgeon General of the Navy
Surgeon General of the Air Force
Surgeon General of the National Guard Bureau
Director, Defense Health Agency
Joint Staff Surgeon
2
~~right ~n{J.wJ

Funny thing about this particular document, it’s dated March 2014.

After reading the whole thing, all I see is another bureaucrat’s attempt at justifying its job. No actual information is contained, just opinion, agenda, and some made-up numbers...