Most Potential U.S. Military Recruits Couldn´t Serve: They´re Too Fat, Stupid, Sickly ...
More than 75 percent of U.S. 17- to 24-year-olds wouldn't strike much fear into enemy forces -- they're so obese, or so dumb, or have so many kids, or so many diseases, or have used so many illegal drugs, that the armed forces wouldn't take them.
The two main problems, though, are that so many potential soldiers are fat and weak, said Curt Gilroy of the Pentagon. "Kids are just not able to do push-ups ... and they can't do pull-ups. And they can't run," he said.
In 1987, just six percent of Americans age 18-34 were obese. That number has expanded to nearly a quarter of that demographic today. Though the military just had a good year recruiting, the future of America's all-volunteer army is in question.
statistcically less than 1% of all Americans serve in the armed forces, whether its active duty status or guard or reserve components of any branch. If a person is serious about joining the military, they will train and work the issues they have so that they can join the military.
Before I joined, I was an offensive Lineman/competative power lifter and weighed in at about 230. I was told to get down to 191, I dieted and ran my ass off, and switched from lifting for gains to lifting to smaller weights with more reps to lose weight. I entered basic training at 191lbs.
Those who are serious about serving will need to work at it, those who arent willing to work shouldnt bother.
SoulSerenity- Before I joined, I was a rugby scrum-half and lifting 2 times a day (and running 4 miles a day) and then joined the USAF. I was in the USAF (chair-force) back in the 90´s and even then there were all sorts of fat bodies that were trying to enlist. As the years went by, I saw more and more people kicked out of the AF on the "fat-boy" program. A few of my friends that didn´t want to be sent to the desert, started overeating on purpose to try to get out of the AF on the fat-boy program because it is considered a medical discharge and you still get your benefits AND you don´t have to fight an idiotic war in the desert.
As for the new recruits being too dump...that´s nothing new either. I never encountered so many stupid people as I did in the military. Unfortunately a lot of the big dumb-sh!ts were the ones giving orders and in management positions.
Just wanted to clarify, when I said "that´s crazy", it wasn´t a put-down... I meant that it´s a "coincidence" that I hear this up here. I overheard a convo similar to this when I was in the gym on Lakenheath.
I was exactly the opposite though. When I first joined (in 04), I weighed in at a WHOPPING 131 pounds at 6´1". lol. After leaving basic, I weighed about 145. I hit the gym in Iraq in 06 and came back after 4 months at 165-170. Stuck with it and carried my lifting habits over here to Lakenheath. Now I´m at 200 lbs, solid. I don´t too much do heavy lifting anymore (I stay under 225 on the bench and do circuits now) since I found my ideal weight.
I say all this to say that there are no excuses when it comes to fitness, even through injuries. A broken ankle and a jacked up knee, and a shoulder injury couldn´t hold me back. Basically people need to stop being lazy and make it happen.
I guessed as much, and I completly agree with what you are saying, if my fat ass can pass the PT with no problems, there is no reason why others should have an issue with it.
"I never encountered so many stupid people as I did in the military. Unfortunately a lot of the big dumb-sh!ts were the ones giving orders and in management positions."
I wish i could brother, the last guy who got one was actually brought to his room by other SFS guys, and had his keys taken away, they thought he went to sleep, and didnt know he had a spare key, and he went for a drive....what a dumbshit...lol
Educated guess based on, among other things, a comment our new First Sergeant gave at this mornings Commander´s Call. He previously worked as a Shirt for the flightline, so he made this remark today that went something like, "I have never worked with so many educated people in my life."
Still, line guys are much more relaxed than those in my squadron. I´d rather hang out with them than some med-tech who thinks they´re super medic because they know how to do an IV.
I want you to go to the VA hospitals and tell all the quad and paraplegics this. Also the people with Gulf War Syndrome would also be another set of good candidates.
Quote from C.O.G.: "I say all this to say that there are no excuses when it comes to fitness, even through injuries. A broken ankle and a jacked up knee, and a shoulder injury couldn´t hold me back. Basically people need to stop being lazy and make it happen."
yeah, ok toughguy. I´m sure even a 5 yr old would have been able to understand YOU NEED ARMS AND LEGS TO DO CARDIO. I felt as if C.O.G. implied that in his statement. Did he say he lost an arm/leg/finger/toe/nut/eyeball/kneecap/etc?
Who are you anyways? Go back to the bridge you crawled out from under.
First of all, we don´t need to be fit, we have nukes, fighter pilots, Navy ships and an assortment of other long range weapons that can destroy planets with the click of a mouse or a push of a button.
I suppose we could fight with bows and arrows too, but why stoop to the level of two idiots who posted above?
