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Sailors face more lenient body fat rules
Associated Press ^ | Mar 5, 2016 1:20 PM EST | Julie Watson

Posted on 03/05/2016 11:56:46 AM PST by Olog-hai

The Navy is giving another chance to thousands of sailors who otherwise would be kicked out for repeatedly failing their physical fitness tests because they exceeded body fat limits.

The service branch loosened its body fat restrictions in January and is allowing those who failed their exams three or more times to get one more opportunity to be tested this spring under the more lenient guidelines. The Navy said it has been losing too many talented sailors. Some were resorting to liposuction, diet pills and other measures to save their careers.

The Navy allowed about 2,400 sailors who passed a preliminary test under the new rules to stay in, reducing the number of failures on their records from three to one, said Navy spokesman, Lt. Cmdr. Nate Christensen. In the past, three failures were grounds for being kicked out. The sailors will be measured again this spring and allowed only two failures now instead of three. ...

(Excerpt) Read more at hosted.ap.org ...


TOPICS: Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: bmi; bodyfat; militaryreadiness; obama; obesity; usnavy
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To: grayhog
Kind of hard to run when your stuck in maneuvering for a six hour watch, get six hours to get all your work done, eat what ever fattening food (with rice/potatoes) they put in front of you, work on nuke quals, find time for sub quals, sleep and do a drill set during your sleep time, and start the 18 hour day all over again.

Not complaining here, just demonstrating how difficult, if not impossible, it is to get any meaningful exercise underway. I actually think the Navy is doing the right thing in this instance.

21 posted on 03/05/2016 1:06:41 PM PST by flair2000
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To: blueunicorn6
This has left us an Army of cross country runners who can’t win wars.

When they sound retreat it makes it less likely there will be no man left behind. Or, if they tell them to stay the course they know to run the other way.

Seems "fit" for today's typical military runaround BS.

22 posted on 03/05/2016 1:09:38 PM PST by disndat
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To: Olog-hai

That’s so more fat kids can be sailors. We can’t discriminate.


23 posted on 03/05/2016 1:12:35 PM PST by txrefugee
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To: Tax-chick
I agree, to a certain extent.

I read somewhere that Michael Jordan-at the apex of his career-was technically overweight, according to BMI measurements.

24 posted on 03/05/2016 1:14:20 PM PST by OddLane
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To: OddLane

Maybe they need to make the actual “fitness test” part of the test harder.


25 posted on 03/05/2016 1:16:16 PM PST by Tax-chick (Support Ted Cruz! He might not be as bad as the other available choices!)
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To: Talisker

I suspect it has something to do with the gals.


26 posted on 03/05/2016 1:20:19 PM PST by MSF BU (Support the troops: Join Them.)
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To: ameribbean expat
Jimmy Carter let them have beards. Come to think of it...so does Obama.

So did Richard Nixon, speaking from personal experience.

27 posted on 03/05/2016 1:24:50 PM PST by Kenton
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To: Olog-hai

I’m so tired of all this fat obsession & just wish I could
go somewhere and hide out away from it. My BP meds make
me retain lots of water; so now my weight is 20 lbs. over
what it used to be. Really, it’s actually 60 lbs. over what
it was back when I could eat anything I wanted and never
gain an ounce! I actually snacked on 6 or 7 slices of white
Wonder bread at a time, then ate a full supper! Never gained. - Poof! I live in the boonies; but wish I lived
further back in the boonies! Phooey!


28 posted on 03/05/2016 1:25:52 PM PST by Twinkie (John 3:16)
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To: Olog-hai

As long as they can fit through a circular hatch when the General Quarters alarm goes off, they’re fine. Fleet sailors (the majority of the Navy) are operating complicated machinery, not trying out for the Seals. Even a plus size sailor can operate a fire control system.


29 posted on 03/05/2016 1:29:04 PM PST by Kenton
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To: MSF BU
I suspect it has something to do with the gals.

Sigh.

Of course.

You're absolutely right, beyond doubt. Good call.

30 posted on 03/05/2016 1:33:24 PM PST by Talisker (One who commands, must obey.)
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To: Donglalinger; All

That isn’t Sailor Moon, that’s Solar Mass!


31 posted on 03/05/2016 1:53:42 PM PST by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: Talisker

That was my first thought as well. I remember watching the “Carrier” documentary series and noticed a lot of out of shape folks, mostly women, a few guys.


32 posted on 03/05/2016 1:56:04 PM PST by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: Olog-hai

Cause the women are fat

Stooopid

We are damn lucky no one can really challenge us anymore


33 posted on 03/05/2016 2:01:26 PM PST by wardaddy (Ted Cruz endorser of Rubio is off my Christmas list......)
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To: VerySadAmerican

“... Admiral Zumwalt “let them have beards”.”

And doubled my paycheck.


34 posted on 03/05/2016 2:13:32 PM PST by moovova
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To: flair2000

I agree. As a SSN Ping Jockey, didn’t have Nuke Quals, but plenty of other stuff. Made quite a few runs in “Port and Starboard” (sucked). We did have to run a PFT once in a while (in port, imagine that).

While I would hate to pull a 300 pound casualty out of a compartment, I wouldn’t mind that same 300 pounder pulling me out.


35 posted on 03/05/2016 2:14:34 PM PST by HippyLoggerBiker (Always carry a flagon of whiskey in case of snakebite and furthermore always carry a small snake.)
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To: Twinkie

Eat less dear

It’s all about self discipline and eating less

I have to do it too

Thyroid disease and beta blockers etc don’t make it as easy as if I was a Recon Ranger

I’m male and six five and have run as adult from 180-270

There’s a buttload more fatties

I mean real apron fat morbidly obese 2-4 times squinty eyed sumo looking fat

It’s crazy

It’s discipline

Why is morbidly obese more common at the lower end?

It’s all part of the same curve about motivation and cultural peer pressure

Where I live super fat women tend to be lower income and have a slew of mixed race illegitimate kids by various Chicken Georges

Coincidence?


36 posted on 03/05/2016 2:14:56 PM PST by wardaddy (Ted Cruz endorser of Rubio is off my Christmas list......)
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To: moovova

Yep. The “lifers” hated him. Us young guns loved the guy.


37 posted on 03/05/2016 2:26:33 PM PST by VerySadAmerican
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To: flair2000

Typically even the army delayed APFT’s for a month or two while soldiers got back in shape.


38 posted on 03/05/2016 2:37:35 PM PST by MSF BU (Support the troops: Join Them.)
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To: Tax-chick

When I was in the army I often failed the weight test. I’d go to the doc and pass the body fat test because of muscle. Anytime hefty lifting was needed I was called on.


39 posted on 03/05/2016 2:49:28 PM PST by R. Scott (Humanity i love you because when you're hard up you pawn your Intelligence to buy a drink)
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To: Drew68

Volunteer hours? Are you joking?


40 posted on 03/05/2016 2:49:45 PM PST by MSF BU (Support the troops: Join Them.)
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