German Heavy Infantry Sent Out On Exercise

The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 9-6-2004 | Kate Connolly

[blam]

German heavy infantry sent out on exercise

By Kate Connolly in Berlin
(Filed: 06/09/2004)

German soldiers are too fat and increasingly unfit for duty and should undergo a rigorous exercise programme, according to the head of the army's medical corps.

Adml Karsten Ocker said rising numbers of rank-and-file soldiers were reflecting the "XXL-nation" that Germany as a whole was becoming.

"We're facing an epidemic-style increase of the overweight and under-trained," he told today's edition of Spiegel magazine. "The army is being swamped with under-average adolescents unable to perform."

Incidents of joint and back injuries among soldiers are rising due to their obesity, obliging the army to take on more physiotherapists.

Gen Wolfgang Schiederhan has ordered a rethink of the army's training programme, saying sport should form an obligatory part of the soldiers' activities. It has not been a requirement until now.

Adml Ocker backed the call. "Fitness programmes should be part of the entire time a soldier spends in the army," he said. The army's slogan, "A strong troop", should not "start to sound odd".

In Germany one in three young people are overweight and more than half of 16- to 18-year-olds play no sport.

The government recently announced cuts of £18 billion to the military budget. But it has resisted calls to scrap conscription, which many critics say has done little to help the army raise standards.

[familyop]

"To "get in shape", and have limited training they should march on Paris. Think of the exercise they'd get. Hiking and bending over to pick up the french rifles."

...not to mention bending over to do what they like to do the most.

[longjack]

DER SPIEGEL 37/2004 - 04. September 2004
URL: http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/vorab/0,1518,316663,00.html

Fat Soldiers
 
Conditional Defenders

With growing concern, army doctors are watching the eating and lifestyle habits of military recruits. The head of the Bundeswehr [Federal Armed Forces] Medical Corps, Admiral-Major Karsten Ocker, warns that Germany is on the way to an XXL nation.

DPA

Bundeswehr soup kitchen: Fitness programs compulsory for young recruits

Due to the epidemic-like increase of untrained over-weights, an avalanche of under-performing adolescents is rolling upon the army: Every third teenager is overweight, more than half of the 16 to 18-year-old don't play sports, a quarter of the 15-year- spend more than four hours a day in front of the television set.

Incidences of those with joint and spine injuries are already increasing in the Bundeswehr. Inspector General Wolfgang Schneiderhan has ordered that sports be a major focal point in basic training. Ocker would like, additionally, to order physical fitness programs for the 'entire service period' - so that the recruiting slogan, "a strong [heavy] troop", doesn't unintentionally sound comical.
 

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© DER SPIEGEL 37/2004
Alle Rechte vorbehalten
Vervielfältigung nur mit Genehmigung der SPIEGELnet GmbH

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"Spiegel-Online"....Bedingt abwehrbereit

Translated by longjack

[SnuffaBolshevik]

To "get in shape", and have limited training they should march on Paris. Think of the exercise they'd get. Hiking and bending over to pick up the french rifles.

Don't forget serious back injuries after having their way with collaboritive Ladies of the Evening.

[KellyAdmirer]

German Admirals sure don't have a good track record, but they always have a lot to say....

[MikefromOhio]

any chance I get, you better believe I am going to get a shot in on France surrendering :)

USF? As in Tampa? If so, I hope you are doing well. The hurricane (ok Tropical Storm) just passed right over you!!!

[USF]

LOL. No, not that "USF", but I was around for Charley, in Daytona a few weeks back, but I'm overseas again right now, wondering how Daytonas doing as all the local webcams have gone down one by one...

[MikefromOhio]

oh....

well I am out of CENTCOM, which is, of course Tampa. Everything seems to be ok there....just wet....


most of Daytona is without power right now so far as I know...

[Katya]

Oh please stop...no more Sitzpinkler Witze....developing a serious case of Magenkraempfe....

[Renfield]

Richard Simmons Ping!!!

[USF]

Yeah.. most of Daytona was without power for days after Hurricane Charley too so much of it sayed closed. They have not even had a chance to fix all the lights and roofs or clear all the debris yet.

Hopefully, this one is not as destructive, and just very wet. I should be back next week when things start to return to normal.

Take care over there in Tampa, and I hope things stay relatively good for you.

[Michael81Dus]

Do you think any of us male Germans are sitting while doing the necessary? Stand up if you can!

[rrrod]

"Next time we goto war with Germany it will
make it easier for us to make them surrender! ;)"

This may be sooner rather than later, IMHO