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Only 1 in 4 volunteers are maybe accepted now days for military service!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Okie743
Member Posts: 2,700 ✭✭✭✭
Seen on news recently that only one in four that volunteer for military duty is accepted for consideration. (no surprise to me now days but)
Because applicants (volunteers) are usually rejected due to mental status and/or are overweight.
News says: They are considering having to relax the qualifications so as more are accepted or start drafting again. I'm wondering who is THEY that is doing the considering reducing the qualifications???
Would that be Brandon and Camela????
Comments
Here is what I can tell you about it. This is a two part problem:
Part 1 - The System: As I understand it, the system has become more restrictive over time. As such, kids that WANT to serve (a rarity these days) are getting red-flagged for minor issues in their medical history. Then they have to try to prove they’re okay and get a waiver, but the process is such a long and cumbersome bureaucratic mess that many just give up.
Part 2 - The Kids: The fitness is just not there in the new generations. Junior members tend to be either extremely fit (“gym rats”) or extremely out of shape (“gamers”). The kind of moderate level of fitness you used to see in everybody as a rule (even just 15-20 years ago), is fading. It’s getting harder to keep everyone qualified in their fitness tests, and difficult to motivate them. At my last few units, I have been both one of the oldest AND most fit members. To me, that is a real problem, considering I’m in my mid 40’s and broken in about 100 different ways.
In any case, I think if we don’t fix the system, we’re going to miss out on some great recruits. AND…. If we can’t change our culture so that outdoor activities, sports, and general “play” are a standard part of growing up, that pool of decent recruits will continue to dwindle.
We need to bring back the President's physical fitness program in schools as it was in the 1960's.
When they tore down the house across the street not ONE kid came and watched or came to play in all that dirt or play on the excavator 😳
"Independence Now, Independence Forever."
John Adams
Not sure if this has happened nation wide but when my youngest kids were in high school back in the mid 90's, the local school system took Physical Education off the mandatory requisite list. Before that happened, all students had to take an hour Gym class each semester in order to graduate. They also did away with many of the shop classes around the same time.
I think that may have played some role, at least in reducing opportunities to introduce kids to sports and fitness. However, I really think the bigger factor is the "play" issue. Kids just don't get outside and play anymore, and parents don't force it. Rather, kids just stay inside and rot on their electronics devices.
My girls are outside practically all day, especially in the summer, running, playing, climbing trees, throwing rocks, and all that good stuff we all did growing up. They are strong and fast, have great endurance, and can do just about anything they want, for as long as they want. Conversely, neighborhood kids mostly stay inside almost all the time...and when they do come out to the playground, they are almost always toting a big bag of potato chips, candy, or some other junk. It's really sad, and the worst part is....it's not the kids' fault. It's the parents. If parents would just kick kids outside more (without their devices), the boys and girls would figure out the playing part, and the basic fitness would come with it. My mom used to kick us out in the morning, and we wouldn't be allowed back in the house until dinner. If we wanted water, we could get it from the hose. If we needed lunch, she handed us a sandwich at the door.
Note: Another tell-tale sign of the times below. This story is five years old, but I remember it well.....when the army cut grenade throwing from Basic because it took too long to tech recruits the basic skill of throwing something. How sad to get through childhood without learning how to throw a rock, ball, crab-apple....something!
Schools don't have the time to teach kids shop or athletics. They need to focus on diversity, pride month, gender equality, etc.
...these young guys today have no idea the fun they are missing out on...the joy of registering for the draft...the thrill of getting your draft card and seeing you are classified 1A during the war, ahhh, the good ol' days...we as a nation are in trouble guys...we need an abrupt 180...
Saw something on Youtube about an "exercise camp" to get recruits in shape to take basic.
Platoon of folks who flunked "tape test".
I fought the tape test for 20 years because of High School football and weight lifting. Sank like a stone in a swimming pool🙄 but still ran mile in combat boots for 90% score.
If we go to war with the present administration, I expect them to surrender within 30 days. When the leaders are incompetent it doesn't matter how good the troops are.
Some are exempt from PT.
https://hotair.com/david-strom/2023/07/06/army-exempts-trans-service-members-from-physical-fitness-standards-n562821
There will be no one qualified to administer blanket parties in a few years.
This all makes me wonder how the special forces will look in 10 years.
🇺🇲 "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." - Thomas Jefferson 🇺🇲
The all-volunteer force is in jeopardy, but that may be a good thing. Every young person should contribute to this great nation…perhaps compulsory service of some form - not just DOD - would help heal our divisions, clean up our cities, and give our youth a fresh start as they transition into adulthood.
Another fine example of why America’s youth are not fit for service. They embrace “bed-rotting” as a perfectly acceptable way of dealing with the stresses of life. Poor babies. They have it soooo hard…..
Read Heinlein's book Starship Troopers. (Do NOT watch the movie first!) He puts forth the idea of mandatory service in order to gain 'full' citizenship, which then gives one the right to vote. Even though it would disqualify me from voting, as I have never served, I don't think it would be a terrible idea.
I saw a video where a drill instructor was asking a recruit if he was refusing to train.I don't think that question was an option when I was there,but they did have motivational days for recruits that were not pulling there weight.I never had to go through it but they trained with 03 Springfields with the barrels filled with lead and came back at night ground down pretty good and smelling terrible.
I enlisted in he Air Force back in July 1968. I was a fat guy that they normally wouldn't take. They had what was called a MedRep program at Amarillo Air Force Base for fat guys and skinny guys. I did eight weeks of PT all day until I met the weight requirements...then I started Basic training. The skinny guys had it worse then the fat guys. The fat guys were on a 1500 calories a day diet. The skinny guys were stuffed with food, and they just burned it off.
We were checked by medical staff and weighed once a week. Before the skinny guys got on the scale, the DI's would make them drink a canteen of water...if the could.
When I got to basic training, I was in pretty good shape...better the guys who just arrived.
Good program @ltcdoty ...it helped get Dewey Oxburger on the yellow footsteps in Stripes.
I thought to myself, "Join the army"! It's free. So I figured while I'm here I'll lose a few pounds. And you got what, a 6 to 8 week training program here? A real tough one. Which is perfect for me.
"Stripes" a movie I can watch again and again! It never gets old for me!
All this change crap started back when Jimmy Carter was President when recruits in basic were allowed to run in track shoes, tee shirts and gym shorts. My time 68 thru 70 was full gear, dark clothing, boots full of sweat & was definitely not for the weak bodied. I suppose it's better to weed out the physically unfit & mentally lacking now before they get hurt and receive a monetary stipend for life for a twisted knee or such.
"Never do wrong to make a friend----or to keep one".....Robert E. Lee
Talking about wearing full gear doing PC in USAF bootcamp during June & July down in San Antone TX, my brand new combat boots turned WHITE from all the salt in my sweat! 😯
Fatigue pants, white tee-shirts and combat boots was our attire for PT 76-80 under Carter running on cobblestone roads through the vineyards in Germany, remembering hearing about shorts and tennis shoes but never saw that in my units...
what worries me it the fat ones CAN lose weight if they want, the mental issues are there regardless, and end up living the crazy life on our streets......
"Down in the jungle where the green grass grows.....
Sat a little gal without any clothes....
Sound off....One, two" Sound off....Three, Four" Sound off... One, Two! THREE, FOUR!!" 😁
Most of our cadence tunes were R & X rated back then! I will never forget them!