Is Tobacco: A clear and present danger to the military??

Sgt Tom Cunnally — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 18:49:39 -0400

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 9 at 2015 6:57 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 18:57:07 -0400

Compared to bullets, bombs, and politicians, tobacco is the least of our worries.

Response by Sgt Tom Cunnally made Sep 9 at 2015 7:00 PM

Sgt Tom Cunnally — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 19:00:08 -0400

Are today's military who smoke or chew tobacco aware of the dangers to their health? I

Response by Cpl James Waycasie made Sep 9 at 2015 7:28 PM

Cpl James Waycasie — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 19:28:03 -0400

Tobacco has been in my life pretty much since birth. Over the years the chemicals added to it has made it more dangerous and addictive than ever before. So Yes it is a clear danger. using it will cause an affect on your health that may interfere with your duties. Now with that said, I have been a tobacco user since I was a teen. Does it affect me? Yes it does, but some habits are not easily broken.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Sep 9 at 2015 7:31 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 19:31:01 -0400

It's a bad habit, however the long term effects of it are outside the term of service (4-30 years).

The "Clear & Present Danger" would actually be in the Long Term Care provided by the VA,

So in essence, it really doesn't affect the "Military" as an institution, however it will cause secondary effects to the Government. As I said, bad habit that should not only be avoided, but also discouraged because of long term ramifications (especially with the Social Medicine model of the VA).

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 9 at 2015 7:39 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 19:39:10 -0400

Yes, it does diminish a Soldiers combat effectiveness. As a smoker myself, i am aware of the negative effects that is has. Like most addictions it is a tough one to break. I do enjoy stepping away for that few minutes of nicotine. I nick named it my "Anti-choke the Sh*t out of stupid people medicine". I know it is a long title but thats what it is utilized for at times. Just step away and take my medicine before someone gets hurt.

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made Sep 9 at 2015 8:27 PM

Cpl Jeff N. — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 20:27:11 -0400

We managed to kick the Japanese across the Pacific, the Germans across Europe with cigarettes dangling from the lips of most. You might be able to make the argument that less smoking has hurt the military.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 9 at 2015 9:47 PM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 21:47:43 -0400

I mean it is clear but this is something that's always going to be here. Tobacco will always be around and people who useit take that risk.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 9 at 2015 10:33 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 22:33:12 -0400

it is not a danger to the military it may not be the best for your health but solders have used tobacco forever there was a time when it was issued.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Sep 9 at 2015 10:43 PM

Capt Seid Waddell — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 22:43:17 -0400

Compared to bullets?

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 9 at 2015 11:38 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 23:38:18 -0400

Hardly.
Tobacco has been present in the military for hundreds of years.
We used to issue Lucky Strikes in rations.
It isn't good for you. Then again, neither are bullets.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2015 9:49 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 09:49:48 -0400

Tobacco is a danger to society as a whole, but one (in general) we ignore. It doesn't kill people immediately and doesn't inhibit thinking, but the addiction aspect and the emotional imbalance of someone seriously craving nicotine is bad in any high important situation, and even more so in combat.

I would venture a very large number of people on RP use or have used tobacco (I quit smoking 8 years ago). It's not even that we don't know it's bad for us, it just doesn't seem that time-critical to quit and we often don't see how it's impacting us socially and professionally.

Response by SFC Cary Jeffery made Sep 10 at 2015 12:10 PM

SFC Cary Jeffery — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 12:10:51 -0400

Hazardous to second hand and primary smokers!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2015 1:48 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 13:48:55 -0400

If we are going to go on about how bad tobacco is, then you need to make the same argument about alcohol. Both have long term effects, and alcohol has almost immediate effects. So until we decide to do away with alcohol, oh wait, we already tried that, and it didn't work out so well for the U.S. did it? And let's be honest, it helps to calm some of us down. Do you really want that PSG or 1SG who smokes, not smoking anymore?

Response by SGT Bryon Sergent made Sep 10 at 2015 2:02 PM

SGT Bryon Sergent — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 14:02:28 -0400

I think that besides all of the shots, bullets, and all of the other stuff we don't know about is worse than the tobacco. What side effects are going to come out of the vaccines that we get years from now. What does all of the stuff we have that glows by itself in the compasses doing to us. they say to stay away from destroyed tanks because of depleted uranium. Well what about those that loaded that tank or Bradley or the gunner that sat beside it. I think there is more to worry about than someone smoking or dipping!