"Unfit for battle: America's military is growing tired, ..." Topic

…injured and overweight.

"In 2010 the national security organization Mission: Readiness grabbed headlines with a report stating that obesity and other weight-related health conditions were the reason why nearly one-third of American youth were ineligible for military service. Titled "Too Fat to Fight," the report concluded that if American schools did not reform diet and exercise programs, the diminished pool of recruits might constitute a national security crisis. Though Mission: Readiness released a follow-up report in 2012, changes in American schools have been slow and sporadic, and the growth of obesity in Americans continues apace. During that time, the American military has had to recruit from the available population while facing other extraordinary challenges: continued operations in Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa even as new conflicts develop in Europe and the Middle East, fiscal austerity and emerging threats in west Africa and Asia.

In the meantime, the American national security establishment hasn't offered much in response to the warnings of Mission: Readiness. Depending on which top Defense Department official you ask, the greatest threats to America's safety range from the national debt to global warming. Despite the variety of their fears, the majority of these leaders appear to have a common language when they discuss how to keep the military prepared. They speak in terms of maintaining an edge in technological capabilities and a force large enough to respond to multiple simultaneous events around the globe while faced with the crushing effects of tightened budgets. But while the Army, Navy and Air Force have fought tooth and nail to preserve the Ground Combat Vehicle, Littoral Combat Ship, and the F-35, recent events and reports strongly indicate they have neglected what they all proclaim is their greatest weapon: The individual service member…"
Full article here
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Amicalement
Armand

A two front war for almost 12-13 years, can be a bit tiring and it appears to be continuing with no end in sight. That is one of the reasons why it is so important for the local forces to do their parts … if that is even possible … I think an old Roman said, Pray for peace, but prepare for war … [If it was not a Roman I'm sure as usual, some of the learned TMP denizens will correct me …]

Wasn't Napoleon? (smile)

The "weight" problem is same here (in my country).

The problem became worst when you only count with voluntaires.

Amicalement
Armand

It's a reflection of the culture/society our military is drawn from. When growing up back in the 50's & early 60's, obesity was rarely seen in children and young adults (at least where I hailed from). We simply didn't have a lot of excess money to buy snacks, soda and candy. Besides that, most of us had intact homes where mothers made sure we ate balanced meals. What few "fat" draftees/volunteers who did arrive at basic training soon shed those excess pounds. The only real over weight guys were a few senior NCO's and career types.

Multicultural problems, its in every country the culprit? MegaCorps and the sugar/carb/fat in everything diet that's been made cheap,selling it for whopper profits and a lazy attitude to food prep (helped by selfsame corps) and hey presto A world full of Tubby McFFs, guess why more drone tech and combat jobs for females (even if this goes against the core of human endeavor, add in wars run and planned by incompetents who think dropping limited payloads will get results and look good in the press. I could go on but y'all get my drift.
No wonder the Fundamentalist with an AK is winning.
Cheers and food for thought :) as an aside 2 lt coke has 60 spoons of sugar in it. I'm sure we could convert it into A. Some sort of hooch (that's drinkable I must add) or B. Gas for automobiles, just need to do it cheaper than what they cost now :) see em squrm then and law changes the next day. :( I'm with the moonshine boys here..

I know its pedantic, but a 2 lt coke has NO sugar in it.

It has high fructose corn syrup – which I think is ALSO part of the problem, in the 1950-60-70's we had sugar in everything, and did not have the obesity problem.

Then high fructose corn syrup became more economical and *BOOM* it replaces sugar in everything. Couple that with other cultural/technology/social factors, and I believe (no data I know specifically, "I believe") that is the issue with obesity at least in the USA.

Other nations still have sugar in everything with "some" high fructose corn syrup and do not have the same issues we have.

Butter, sugar, bread and salt.

Pretty soon they'll have 'pre-bootcamp', at least until gene therapy eradicates obesity and/or society and culture changes.

Mardaddy yes its pedantic to us simpletons, come over to my neck of the wood and you'll see what I mean about pure uncontrolled obesity,
What I'm saying is that our consumption of the wrong foods in large amounts has and continues to create and exasperate the problem, the conversion of any sugars into fructose and complex whatevers is not really the point.
Its the consumption of all the junk produced by the big food producers of the world. Without going into a science lesson of what is and what is not, we're eating cheaply made junk for others grand profits.
When did you see healthy plain foods being cheaper? nuts, berries and quality meats and vegetables, not grown in high yield conditions, harmful chemicals and enzymes etc. are definitely not cheaper. Time for a dynamic change yes? But how and if we're apply it to wargaming maybe plain corn chips and celery sticks with healthy yogurt and cream cheese dips and pure 100% fruit juices (and see elsewhere on TMP about ebola, no Kim Kardashian jokes to curdle it all :)instead of Salty chips/crisps and sweet carbonated drinks.
Each to their own though and a true beer or two does not go amiss. We can hope the enemy is doing the same or we are going to be overrun (pun intended) before we can get of the couch to answer the door bell.
Cheers happy gaming and snacking

Don't see a problem at all. When was the last time we drafted millions of young men to fight a war? Also remember how bad the health was of most of the men recruited in WWII after the depression. Most were underweight, under nourished, missing a lot of teeth and under educated. The military turned away a lot of draftees due to health reasons.

The chance of the US having a draft is very, very, very, unlikely … Besides the fact many of draft age would be rejected. Being fat, is just one of the reasons … And if you think the anti-draft movement during Vietnam was bad … today's Tech/media savvy entitled "youth" would make that look like street fairs. The average youth, is no more motivated to be a "soldier", then they are to join the priesthood. Again, based on my past decade + as an Infantry Commander, I'd much rather have volunteers …

Very few volunteers today Legion precisely due to today's Tech/media savvy entitled "youth" they know its all a 'game' and most recruiters are normally from a less entitled part of the populous. I would definitely have a lottery for the armed forces keeps the population "honest" if you ask me. No more entitlement through have more $s than the next guy. As for quality its going push button for the most part and those that are volunteered will get to rise to the top anyway because of motivation, the rest are the fill ins you need to run the whole thing and the motivated get to achieve while the others grind it out.
Not fair but fairer than its been + I have a feeling there would be a better political reaction to war too.
And I think the ones that can't hump can help the ones that do buy making it easier in the logistical rear etc.
Just am idea.
Cheers

Entitled, born with a silver spoon types generally don't make good soldiers … Those that didn't have things handed to them, had to work for what they got, etc. … seem to be a better choice, usually.

The sad part was once upon a time those born with a silver spoon were the ones that often volunteered in time of war and ended up leading our troops, due to it being the right and patriotic thing to do. When the leaders wont lead what is left of a country.

At one time … however, things have changed … Albeit today, most officers are probably from the "middle" class. Not that it matters on a patrol or in a fighting position, etc. … All that really matters is you do your job …

A problem can become an asset: if the Pentagon actively recruited the morbidly hyper-obese it could save billions by retiring and selling off all its MBTs.