Posted on May 10, 2015
Childhood Obesity: Should we be worrying about it from a military recruiting point of view?
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Obviously childhood obesity is a problem that is unfortunately here to stay. In the past 30 years childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents. Furthermore, In 2012, more than one third of children and adolescents were overweight or obese.
More than 71% of America's youth would fail to qualify for military service because of their physical, moral or cognitive shortcomings, according to recruiting command statistics, with weight being the primary cause of failure.
So while this is a major concern for many reasons the question I am posing is: in regards to future military recruiting is this a major concern? How do you combat it? Who is to blame for this epidemic?
More than 71% of America's youth would fail to qualify for military service because of their physical, moral or cognitive shortcomings, according to recruiting command statistics, with weight being the primary cause of failure.
So while this is a major concern for many reasons the question I am posing is: in regards to future military recruiting is this a major concern? How do you combat it? Who is to blame for this epidemic?
Fitness
Recruiting
Mentorship
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 4
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Just make boot camp twice as long, more running and cut down the calorie content of the dfac food.
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SSgt Michael Orcutt
DFAC food is crazy calorie rich. Our sister flight forced all the girls to eat healthy and not take anything fries off the line because they sucked at PT. Freaking hilarious watching all of the girls get pissed. Not sure if it really made any difference or if it was just to get in their head.
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Obesity...medication...lack of math and English skills. I've been recruiting for almost 10 years and those are the things that have become more prevalent since I started and usually what stops kids from joining. There are many kids that want to join but simply can't.
My hands are tied in how I deal with it as I need to follow regulation and I'm not a doctor or a teacher.
Obesity...tell them to go talk to their doctor to set up a nutrition and exercise plan. I cannot legally give advice.
Medication...go talk to their doctor and then bring me a note when they are completely off for 1 year saying they are ok and we will submit a med read.
Math and English...March2Sucess.com and ask their teacher for help.
Then move on and look for a fully qualified applicant.
My hands are tied in how I deal with it as I need to follow regulation and I'm not a doctor or a teacher.
Obesity...tell them to go talk to their doctor to set up a nutrition and exercise plan. I cannot legally give advice.
Medication...go talk to their doctor and then bring me a note when they are completely off for 1 year saying they are ok and we will submit a med read.
Math and English...March2Sucess.com and ask their teacher for help.
Then move on and look for a fully qualified applicant.
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SSgt Michael Orcutt
I used to do Recruiters Assistance once a year when I was still in the military. The AF recruiter required potential recruits to make an appointment first. Se didn't do walk ins because so few people would qualify based on weight, police record, drugs, etc. Its sad what our youth have come to!
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A1C Melissa Jackson
LOL! It is so good to hear that there are recruiters now that have ethics in regard to medical advice and weight management! When I was recruited in 1988, I was less than 10 pounds over the requirement to get in. The recruiter taught me how to abuse laxatives to reach the necessary weight. I did hard physical work, so I was plenty fit- I was ignorant of nutrition. He could have at LEAST suggested that look into getting advice on nutritional goals!
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If there a fatty and they want to join I say make em run it off to prove just how bad they want it. No room for weaklings anyway. Especially fat weaklings. Odds are that if their a porker they prob ain't gunna be goin that direction anyways.
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SSgt Michael Orcutt
While I do agree that you do not need grammar skills to shoot a gun, run for miles, or carry your wounded brother/ sister .to safety, I would attest that when you are posting a response in a professional setting it should be grammatically sound. Furthermore, SPC (Join to see) might have been a little blunt in his observation of your grammar skills but, nothing that he said was incorrect. Just take a deep breath Marine and go on with what you are trained to do: Killing, Carrying, and running from crazy shit!
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A1C Melissa Jackson
Good grammar usage is a high indication of educational achievement and being able to think clearly. Please try to tell me that critical thinking skills are not required in life and death situations. You cannot.
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A1C Melissa Jackson
And I forgot attention to detail. Good writing is little more than a strict attention to detail. Tell me THAT is not a combat skill.
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