Studies already proved that smoking and drinking is a major problem and an increasing liability for the military. I suggest you write the DOD that 18-21 years olds should have a right to chemically altered realities. Then post the response at Free Republic. You remind me of my late aunt. She called the cops on her husband for smoking a cigarette. Despite the evils of tobacco {he quit smoking upon retirement} he managed to go from E-1 to LTCDR in rank and Captained a Gator Freighter as well. I'm certain he managed a drink or two along the way as well. But he joinned up for WW2 and got out in 1969.
Now as for the stress? Look at over deployments. What has congress or Rummy done about that? That kills more men by mistakes due to combat fatugue but you don't hear about a study on it. Let me tell you something about such things. When those ships deploy the line to see the JAG is as long as the pay line when the first mail call hits for divorce papers. should Rummy prohibit marriage as well?
The report you showed is Horse Hillary. One's lungs are not damaged to the point of pnuemonia by recently taking up smoking. They were in a third world nation for Pete sake.
The Department of Defense (DoD) announced today the launch of TRICARE's "Healthy Choices for Life" campaign, a two-year initiative dedicated to building awareness for three key health issues: reducing alcohol abuse, tobacco cessation and weight management.
"Preventing these unhealthy behaviors is critical to the readiness of our forces and the health of our nation as a whole. I am pleased by the successful programs already in place in the Services and the innovative approaches to prevention, education and treatment that TRICARE is pursuing," said Winkenwerder.
Perhaps a General Wormer would say,
"Going through life as a smoking, fat, drunk is no part of the military."
