[VRWC_minion]

I don't know but i assume you don't believe me

Here is another source

Link

Another BMT-instituted lifestyle change is a smoking ban. Since World War II, more airmen have been lost to smoking than combat. Now, recruits aren't so much weaned from the weed as they are forced to go cold turkey. The mere possession of a cigarette is grounds for recycling.

The old boot camp almost fostered tobacco use by granting smokers extra breaks. Studies also have shown that 28 percent of trainees are smokers when they enlist. A year after enlistment, that figure jumps to 41 percent. Just under way at Lackland is a smoking cessation and education study sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, University of Memphis and University of Minnesota. Researchers hope the three-year project, which began in mid-August, tells them how well education and a healthy lifestyle work in stopping smoking.

Recruits will be given a questionnaire at the beginning and end of basic training. Another 75 percent of trainees will also receive a 60-minute "psycho-educational" class telling them the how's and why's of quitting. A year later, the scientists will send out follow-up questionnaires to track progress.

"We hope to point those who have thought about quitting or haven't started yet in the right direction," said Dr. Risa Stein, project coordinator. "Our goal is to lower the percentage of smokers by three to five percent." After BMT enlightened airmen on becoming physically fit, motivated and smokeless, many trainees countered these gains by going to the dining facility for deep-fat fried burritos, three-egg omelets or double hamburgers with cheese.

[metesky]

Since World War II, more airmen have been lost to smoking than combat.

Since smoking takes years to kill anybody, IMO your link starts with a lie or there are an awful lot of 50/75 year old airmen out there.

Oh wait! It's a government source so calling it a lie would be redundant.

[kevao]

Since World War II, more airmen have been lost to smoking than combat.

Exactly how many airmen have been lost to smoking since WWII? And how many airmen have been in combat since WWII?

[Just another Joe]

Show me a link to the regulation that says there is no smoking in boot camp.
Tell me the time frame when this was instituted.
When I went through basic we were allowed to smoke during normal breaks. We didn't get any "extra breaks". We were expected to adhere to the same physical standards everyone else was expected to adhere to.
I just have not heard from anyone that I know, except you, that smoking was no longer allowed in basic training. I know several younger men that smoke that have recently gone through basic that never mentioned it. I didn't specifically ask them about it but they didn't mention it either.

[Madame Dufarge]

Since World War II, more airmen have been lost to smoking than combat.

Any links to the study that tracked every single airman after WWII and categorized their cause of death?

[Just another Joe]

Since World War II, more airmen have been lost to smoking than combat.

Think about that statement and the insincerity behind it.
The statement itself may be correct. Not all airmen, in fact relatively few, are pilots that would see combat.
SO....The statement itself may be true but the facts behind it are being twisted for the anti-smoker's use.