Most Americans not Fit to Join

Associated Press ^ | 3/13/06 | Associated Press

[bnelson44]

WASHINGTON - Uncle Sam wants YOU, that famous Army recruiting poster says. But does he really? Not if you're a Ritalin-taking, overweight, Generation Y couch potato - or some combination of the above.

As for that fashionable "body art" that the military still calls a tattoo, having one is grounds for rejection, too.

With U.S. casualties rising in wars overseas and more opportunities in the civilian work force from an improved U.S. economy, many young people are shunning a career in the armed forces. But recruiting is still a two-way street - and the military, too, doesn't want most people in this prime recruiting age group of 17 to 24.

Of some 32 million Americans now in this group, the Army deems the vast majority too obese, too uneducated, too flawed in some way, according to its estimates for the current budget year.

"As you look at overall population and you start factoring out people, many are not eligible in the first place to apply," said Doug Smith, spokesman for the Army Recruiting Command.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

My last blood pressure reading was 106/60, resting heart rate of 55. And I'm old. :)

Ha! Beat ya. My last blood pressure was 111/56, resting heart rate of 54. I don't what old is, but I'm 55. I also know that I cannot "hump the field" like I did in my twenties due to arthritis and fatigue. I burn about 500 calories/day exercising, but I don't think I have anything like the endurance I did thirty years ago.

[Coleus]

they have the ASVAB test to measure intelligence and to determine what job in the military one has the skills, intelligence and desire to do.

And, many could get their GED before entering the military.

[GovernmentShrinker]

Our colleges are insane enough about sports without giving them more excuses to push students to focus on it. And I have no interest in creating more positions for unionized do-nothing teachers in public schools. I don't think there's really much correlation between school PE programs and physical fitness, and it would take a drastic overhaul of the concept to change that -- like if you can't do X number of chin-ups by the end of the semester, you get an F. But there would be a million ADA-based challenges to any achievement-oriented PE programs, and it would just end up be another expensive, ineffective government-run mess.

[Lazamataz]

Ha! Beat ya. My last blood pressure was 111/56, resting heart rate of 54.

Eat, eat.

[GovernmentShrinker]

Yes, many COULD theoretically get the GED before entering the military, but they'd be a lot more likely to get it if they were taken into a military preparation program first and got it there. Chaotic public housing projects aren't exactly conducive to studying.

[Coleus]

Chaotic public housing projects aren't exactly conducive to studying. >>>

I wouldn't say that, I've been in quite a few. I went to school with some very smart students who came from the projects. It all depends on the parents and how the local housing authority runs them.

[GovernmentShrinker]

True, but a lot of public housing authorities let their projects turn into complete jungles, and a lot of parents are cycling in and out of prison and rehab (not to mention that their is usually only on eparent present, who's likely to be overwhelmed if she really is trying to hold down and be as self-sufficient as possible). Neither of these factors are things that teenagers have any control over.

[Jim Pelosi]

You're preaching to the choir. I'm in a recon platoon so I know full well the hardships of being a soldier. I also know that health care costs are a big issue in the military. People are chaptered out all the time for fixable injuries that happen in the line of duty for the simple fact that the DOD does not want to pay to rehab the soldier. They pass it off to the VA and state disability agencies.

[FlipWilson]

Well, given that he was joining the JAG Corps, I seriously doubt he was going on patrol with anyon. He completely disclosed his ailment and still got in.

[gura]

They're not maintenance, THEY JUST HELP ME CHANNEL MY RAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Flavius Josephus]

ANY history of seizures is a non-waiverable ailment. There are a lot of recruiters out there who will do, say or hide anything to make quota.

I've never understood this. I take it that it's winked at up the chain of command too? Because it seems like if a recruiter signs some kid up, and the kid washes out after the Marines have already spent Uncle Sam's money on him, why, if it can be pinned on a recruiter he would get his arse handed to him. Am I naive?

[Flavius Josephus]

I think the problem is the logistics of getting all these happy pills to the troops in the middle of the desert, or whatever. For example, the medication I'm on, if I go off suddenly my head starts buzzing every few seconds, like a brain swoosh. No way would I be able to fight like that.

[GovernmentShrinker]

The point is that most of them don't absolutely need the "happy pills". If there is reason to believe that they can't function without them, that's a legitimate reason not to enlist them. And troops taking meds with significant withdrawal problems should be weaned off them before being sent to areas/assignments where there might be a problem getting them regularly. But stuff like disqualifying anybody who used Ritalin at any time during the past year is just nuts. Ritalin is a very short acting drug, and has no withdrawal effects, and many people who use it don't use it every day. Caffeine, on the other hand, while also short-acting, has a wide range of withdrawal effects, with different people experiencing anything from just mild headaches and drowsiness, to the total incapacitation of severe headaches which induce vomiting (I fall on the extreme end of that spectrum). But if anyone suggested disqualifying any potential recruit who had used caffeine in the past year, they'd be hauled off to the funny farm.

[marine86297]

You are correct. If a recruiter is "caught" committing fraud, they will be in big trouble. I have seen it happen. The problem is that many frauds are never discovered.

Semper Fidelis

[I Drive Too Fast]

When I went into basic training {age 18} in the Air Force in 1976, I GAINED 23 pounds in 4 weeks {went from 123 to 146 pounds}; then got a little sick in the 5th week and lost 8 pounds. Needless to say, my fatigues were a little snug there for a while.

[Gay State Conservative]

When I went into basic training {age 18} in the Air Force in 1976, I GAINED 23 pounds in 4 weeks {went from 123 to 146 pounds}...

Hmmm...curious.I was 165 pounds (6 feet tall) when I finished Army BCT.Does Air Force Basic Training focus on PT (marching,running,push ups,etc,etc) as does the Army?

My late brother-in-law told me that Navy recruit training had some of that (late 1960's) but we decided that his wasn't nearly as bad as mine (PT-wise,at least)

[I Drive Too Fast]

We had PT 3 times a week and had to run 1 1/2 miles in 12 minutes {if I remember correctly} in combat boots for our final test. The day of our final test it was raining and we had to run in place {under the barracks out of the rain} for 30 minutes instead grrrrr. I would have preferred running in the rain. We did 6 count burpies, push ups, sit ups etc along with the running.

I was 5' 10 inches tall and we were told, you get 3 square meals a day and no opportunity for snacks {at least for a while}. I ate good, got 8 hours of sleep a day except when I had dorm guard duty and my shift was 2:30 A.M - 4:30 A.M {Ouch!!!}.

[I Drive Too Fast]

We only marched to get to various areas, get shots, the px, the obstacle course, the firing range, etc. I don't think we had to march in front of any brass for review other than the squadron commander.

Now when I went to tech school at Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls, Texas, our squadron won the "best of the base". Our prize was getting to march in a parade in downtown. It was in the low 20's with snow flurries, brrrrrrrrrr. It was a nice experience, but it was COLD!!!!!!

My next base was Malmstrom in Great Falls, Mt. There were MANY times when I would wish it would be 20 degrees there. Sometimes there would be two weeks where the high was below zero. The coldest temperature that I saw was 38 below zero. It was butt cold in Montana, but great summers and the scenery in the state of places to visit was something I will never forget.

[Gay State Conservative]

Sounds like your Basic Training wasn't quite as strenuous (PT-wise) as was mine.This,to me,is understandable because of the important differences between the Army,or Marine,infantryman vs an Airman.

Unless I'm mistaken,Airmen get training that's more focused on technology (computers,engines,etc,etc) whereas an Army "grunt" marches (or runs) with 40 pounds on his back and an M-16 on his shoulder.Fixing an aircraft engine,for example,is just as important as being a rifleman,IMO.

I *do* wish,however,that we were able to get 8 hours of sleep a night.We were lucky to be in the rack at 23:00... and reveille was at 04:30.

We did get to sleep on Sundays,though!

[I Drive Too Fast]

We didn't have to march with a heavy pack, thankfully. The only time we had something heavy to carry was when we were issued our uniforms and we put them in our duffel bag and carried them back to the barracks. The only shooting we did was over two days. The first day was dry fire and the second day was live fire.

I learned govt accounting and as a warskill I was classified as a medic assistant. I got to give out flu shots once a year and observe the doctors doing various procedures.