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75 Percent of Young Americans Are Unfit for Military Duty
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Only Me 
Strawberry Girl
User ID: 725691
11/4/2009 2:46 PM
Report abusive post | 75 Percent of Young Americans Are Unfit for Military Duty
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WASHINGTON (Nov. 3) -- Are America's youth too fat, dumb or dishonest to defend the nation against its enemies?
The latest Army statistics show a stunning 75 percent of military-age youth are ineligible to join the military because they are overweight, can't pass entrance exams, have dropped out of high school or had run-ins with the law.
So many young people between the prime recruiting ages of 17 and 24 cannot meet minimum standards that a group of retired military leaders is calling for more investment in early childhood education to combat the insidious effects of junk food and inadequate education.
"We've never had this problem of young people being obese like we have today," said Gen. John Shalikashvili, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
He calls the rising number of youth unfit for duty a matter of national security. "We should be concerned about how this will impact this overstretched Army and its ability to recruit."
Shalikashvili is among dozens of retired generals, admirals and civilian Pentagon officials who have banded together as Mission Readiness: Military Leaders for Kids. The group, which includes former NATO commander and presidential candidate Wesley Clark, will appear with Secretary of Education Arne Duncan at the National Press Club on Thursday to urge immediate action to reduce dropout rates and improve the physical and moral fitness of the nation's youth.
They will cite research that shows quality early childhood education raises graduation rates by up to 44 percent and reduces the odds of being arrested for a violent crime by age 18.
Douglas Smith of the U.S. Army Recruiting Command said 2008 data shows about three in 10 youths have an initial barrier to enlistment.
Most aren't insurmountable. "If you're overweight, we tell you to come back when you've lost the weight. If you don't score well on the armed forces aptitude test, we suggest you study and take it again," he said.
Between 2004 and 2008, the Army more than doubled the number of "conduct" waivers it granted to would-be soldiers with criminal or misdemeanor records. The loosened standards proved necessary in a time of war and amid a booming economy that forced military recruiters to work overtime to fill the ranks.
The new warnings about a generation of couch potatoes comes just weeks after the Pentagon announced its best recruiting year since the all-volunteer force began in 1974. The economic meltdown and rising unemployment, combined with bigger military bonuses and benefits, enticed hundreds of thousands to enlist despite the inevitability most would be sent to war.
The plethora of would-be recruits allowed the military services to be choosier after years of taking in more high school dropouts and those needing extra physical training to meet weight requirements.
Recruiting may have gotten easier, but "the good times don't stay forever," warned David Segal, a University of Maryland military sociologist. When the economy recovers and young people are able to get jobs or can afford to go to college, the military will be faced with the same out-of-shape, ill-prepared pool of recruits as before.
"Recruiting will get tough again," he said. "The trend line is clear: The youth population is getting less healthy."
[link to www.sphere.com]
So now I know what I have to do. I have to keep breathing. And tomorrow the sun will rise, and who knows what the tide will bring in.
"Yes I will, dammit!" - Drakensang |
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Anonymous Coward
User ID: 413833
11/4/2009 2:49 PM | | Re: 75 Percent of Young Americans Are Unfit for Military Duty | Quote |
More investment in our youth? Bloody hell why not just lower standards? |
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Only Me
Strawberry Girl
User ID: 725691
11/4/2009 2:49 PM
| | Re: 75 Percent of Young Americans Are Unfit for Military Duty | Quote |
More investment in our youth? Bloody hell why not just lower standards? Quoting: Anonymous Coward 413833
So now I know what I have to do. I have to keep breathing. And tomorrow the sun will rise, and who knows what the tide will bring in.
"Yes I will, dammit!" - Drakensang |
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Anonymous Coward
User ID: 413833
11/4/2009 2:51 PM | | Re: 75 Percent of Young Americans Are Unfit for Military Duty | Quote |
More investment in our youth? Bloody hell why not just lower standards?
I guess you missed the sarcasm....hehehehehehe |
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Anonymous Coward
User ID: 810358
11/4/2009 2:52 PM | | Re: 75 Percent of Young Americans Are Unfit for Military Duty | Quote |
I don't think they'll have many John COnnors signing up |
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mystylplx
User ID: 807177
11/4/2009 2:52 PM
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Anonymous Coward
User ID: 810324
11/4/2009 2:54 PM | | Re: 75 Percent of Young Americans Are Unfit for Military Duty | Quote |
but the brain-dead are perfect for Obama's youth brigade |
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Rev. Stargazer
User ID: 798834
11/4/2009 2:57 PM | | Re: 75 Percent of Young Americans Are Unfit for Military Duty | Quote |
Well, that puts my son in the upper 25 percent! He got the highest possible score on his Army entrance exam.
Private and homeschool education all the way.
God must love crazy people, 'cause He made so many of them!
"Imagination is more important than knowledge" - Albert Einstien
revstargazer (at) hotmail.com |
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Only Me
Strawberry Girl
User ID: 725691
11/4/2009 2:58 PM
| | Re: 75 Percent of Young Americans Are Unfit for Military Duty | Quote |
I don't think they'll have many John COnnors signing up Quoting: Anonymous Coward 810358
lol no i caught it...i was just throwing someething at you
So now I know what I have to do. I have to keep breathing. And tomorrow the sun will rise, and who knows what the tide will bring in.
"Yes I will, dammit!" - Drakensang |
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Anonymous Coward
User ID: 793943
11/4/2009 3:01 PM | | Re: 75 Percent of Young Americans Are Unfit for Military Duty | Quote |
the enemy is our own govt, so by joining you become what you should be fighting. |
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Rev. Stargazer
User ID: 798834
11/4/2009 3:03 PM | | Re: 75 Percent of Young Americans Are Unfit for Military Duty | Quote |
the enemy is our own govt, so by joining you become what you should be fighting. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 793943
You are mistaken. The miltary may be our only hope. Ever hear of the Oathkeepers?
God must love crazy people, 'cause He made so many of them!
"Imagination is more important than knowledge" - Albert Einstien
revstargazer (at) hotmail.com |
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Anonymous Coward
User ID: 793943
11/4/2009 3:06 PM | | Re: 75 Percent of Young Americans Are Unfit for Military Duty | Quote |
the enemy is our own govt, so by joining you become what you should be fighting.
You are mistaken. The miltary may be our only hope. Ever hear of the Oathkeepers? Quoting: Rev. Stargazer
if it wasnt for the military the revolution would have already happened!, the military industrial complex IS our controller. they spend billions taking over the world while the citizsens starve at home. They deserve no more respect than the roman troops and preists got when Rome fell. |
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Anonymous Coward
User ID: 611170
11/4/2009 3:07 PM | | Re: 75 Percent of Young Americans Are Unfit for Military Duty | Quote |
I guess this is a good thing for America enemies. |
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Anonymous Coward
User ID: 786278
11/4/2009 3:08 PM | | Re: 75 Percent of Young Americans Are Unfit for Military Duty | Quote |
75% of Young Americans are GAY !!! |
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Anonymous Coward
User ID: 770865
11/4/2009 3:10 PM | | Re: 75 Percent of Young Americans Are Unfit for Military Duty | Quote |
the enemy is our own govt, so by joining you become what you should be fighting.
You are mistaken. The miltary may be our only hope. Ever hear of the Oathkeepers? Quoting: Rev. Stargazer
 |
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Ricfly52
User ID: 272605
11/4/2009 3:12 PM
 | | Re: 75 Percent of Young Americans Are Unfit for Military Duty | Quote |
I was kinda shocked when I read that article online this morning. Thanks for posting it.
At first I thought it could not be right, but then when you think about it. For instance there are three boys about age 11 or so who play around in our neighbor hood after school. One boy has a bad limp so that puts him out, boy #2 is so fat you can barely tell whether he is walking or rolling, and boy #3 is, well, he looks more like a little girl, than a boy.
'Doin what I can, with what I got! |
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Anonymous Coward
User ID: 168100
11/4/2009 3:15 PM | | Re: 75 Percent of Young Americans Are Unfit for Military Duty | Quote |
When I was in school, we had recess after lunch, we also has recess for about 15 - 20 in am and in pm. We had real food for lunch. We rode bikes. We participated in the President's Fitness Program and won patches for being about to run, pull ups, sit ups, etc. Now the kids aren't allowed outside anymore... they eat crap at school and at home. The only protest at some schools where the administration wanted to bring McDonalds in as the food provider was "that's what we give them at night".
We dug our own graves |
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Anonymous Coward
User ID: 809698
11/4/2009 3:18 PM | | Re: 75 Percent of Young Americans Are Unfit for Military Duty | Quote |
Today's youth are pure shit. I despise them. |
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Anonymous Coward
User ID: 786278
11/4/2009 3:21 PM | | Re: 75 Percent of Young Americans Are Unfit for Military Duty | Quote |
They're ALL Liberals. |
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Only Me
Strawberry Girl
User ID: 725691
11/4/2009 3:26 PM
| | Re: 75 Percent of Young Americans Are Unfit for Military Duty | Quote |
I was kinda shocked when I read that article online this morning. Thanks for posting it.
At first I thought it could not be right, but then when you think about it. For instance there are three boys about age 11 or so who play around in our neighbor hood after school. One boy has a bad limp so that puts him out, boy #2 is so fat you can barely tell whether he is walking or rolling, and boy #3 is, well, he looks more like a little girl, than a boy. Quoting: Ricfly52
I know what you mean. I wonder though, if it doesn't lead the way for a more intellectual fighting though. Kids are incredibly clever, especially the ones in my son's generation. They have a sense of entitlement that is ridiculous but put that together with the government wanting to control everything. What would these kids do? Nothing stupid like fight physically for a revolution.
just passing thoughts....and no I don't condone unhealthy children. My son is very active and eats raw veggies/fruit along with a high-fiber diet. he snacks on carrots and celery like most kids snack on chips.
So now I know what I have to do. I have to keep breathing. And tomorrow the sun will rise, and who knows what the tide will bring in.
"Yes I will, dammit!" - Drakensang |
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Aquarius 7
User ID: 736450
11/4/2009 3:29 PM
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//... or had run-ins with the law. //... Quoting: Only Me
. .
First they destroy our youth by throwing God and morals out of the schools.
Then they complain because too many of our youth "have run-ins with the law".
DUH!
. .
“ Put on the whole armor of God … for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the wickedness of the evil spirits in the heavens. …” ~ from Ephesians 6:11-12 |
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Winningjob
User ID: 385114
11/4/2009 3:30 PM | | Re: 75 Percent of Young Americans Are Unfit for Military Duty | Quote |
...the reason they are NOT taking prior service again is? Oh, that's right us U.S. veterans are terrorists.
Revolutionary online garden produces delicious Organic Produce!
[link to peopleseekdirect.com] |
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Anonymous Coward
User ID: 769657
11/4/2009 3:31 PM | | Re: 75 Percent of Young Americans Are Unfit for Military Duty | Quote |
They want all illegals int he army.
Not that they're any better.
Probably can run 20 miles though. |
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Anonymous Coward
User ID: 769657
11/4/2009 3:33 PM | | Re: 75 Percent of Young Americans Are Unfit for Military Duty | Quote |
Well, that puts my son in the upper 25 percent! He got the highest possible score on his Army entrance exam.
Private and homeschool education all the way. Quoting: Rev. Stargazer
Great, so they can kill off all the smart strong men, and keep the stupid knuckle dragging breeders like Clevons alive and on the dole. What the fuck is this about? |
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Fat Draft Dodger
User ID: 620620
11/4/2009 3:40 PM | | Re: 75 Percent of Young Americans Are Unfit for Military Duty | Quote |
Being overweight is my natural defense against a godless draft into a godless war. If there were ever a need for me to defend my country against a legitimate threat on the homeland I'd lose the weight quickly on my own.
As it stands now, our military basic training has become so sissified that I can fully expect them not to recycle me unto the pounds disappear. Instead, they will likely write me off as a lost cause or ask me to leave. |
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Anonymous Coward
User ID: 809763
11/4/2009 3:47 PM | | Re: 75 Percent of Young Americans Are Unfit for Military Duty | Quote |
I hope you are feeling better Only Me! When you go to sleep relax your forehead and get rid of all the worries on your mind. Things will look up!  |
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Anonymous Coward
User ID: 686411
11/4/2009 3:53 PM | | Re: 75 Percent of Young Americans Are Unfit for Military Duty | Quote |
Good. That's 3/4 of them that won't get their lives wasted fighting for oil, money, land, and JEEESUS.
It should be law that any kid that signs up for the military should have to watch a 3 hour video on returning vets, their lack of treatment, their mental issues, etc.
See that you don't come back a hero, you come back homeless more than likely. |
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Only Me
Strawberry Girl
User ID: 725691
11/4/2009 3:55 PM
| | Re: 75 Percent of Young Americans Are Unfit for Military Duty | Quote |
...the reason they are NOT taking prior service again is? Oh, that's right us U.S. veterans are terrorists. Quoting: Winningjob
That's the truth, isn't it?
I hope you are feeling better Only Me! When you go to sleep relax your forehead and get rid of all the worries on your mind. Things will look up!
Thanks :)
So now I know what I have to do. I have to keep breathing. And tomorrow the sun will rise, and who knows what the tide will bring in.
"Yes I will, dammit!" - Drakensang |
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ex-vet
User ID: 809953
11/4/2009 4:06 PM | | Re: 75 Percent of Young Americans Are Unfit for Military Duty | Quote |
There is no justified war from DC.
Supporting the military supports DC, who supports abortion, illegal alien invasion, and crashing the economy, and all other evils from the wicked washington.
Military is not an option to the poverty draft. |
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Anonymous Coward
User ID: 810099
11/4/2009 4:08 PM | | Re: 75 Percent of Young Americans Are Unfit for Military Duty | Quote |
Just how physically fit do you have to be to sit in a room in Virginia and control a drone aircraft to shoot missiles in pakistan via a computer? |
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Anonymous Coward
User ID: 729370
11/4/2009 4:09 PM | | Re: 75 Percent of Young Americans Are Unfit for Military Duty | Quote |
A young, naive 17 year old can be sent out to have his life on the line, yet that same 17 year old can't get alcohol in the US. Can't even get cigarettes at 17.
I think 30 and up is prime age for military service these days. At least make the minimum 21, same as the legal age of drinking. 25-30 is about good beginner ages.
We all know why they go for younger... Because it's easier to warp and brainwash a child's mind. A lot of this kids still live at home before being sent away for military service. It creates a separation anxiety and they have to adapt to the new environment. An older guy is generally smarter and has better common sense to buy into their brainwashing tactics. Although, if an older guy like that wants to join, he's better fit because his mind is focuses and he would be better determined. |
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