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"We are deeply concerned by alarming data from the Department of Defense indicating that 75 percent of all young Americans between the ages of 17 and 24 are unable to join the military because they are physically unfit, lack proper education, or have criminal records. A shrinking pool of eligible recruits is a threat to our national security, and we are troubled by the impact that this will have on our future military preparedness." Retired Generals and Admirals Tell Congress: Just Say No To Pizza as a Vegetable in School Lunches « Mission: Readiness
Lumping lack of education and criminal records in there obscures the problem. Many considered uneducated or with criminal records respond well to a structured environment. Being from an Army where you didn't have to want to join, I recall millions who didn't join.
I wonder what is the percentage of young people who usually join the military? Meaning, if 25% are still eligible then that probably still gives the Services plenty of warm bodies.
Not that obesity isn't a problem, mind you. Just saying that most of those 75% would never have joined the military to begin with.
I actually read the report, and found the education problem more of an issue. Most of the children cannot pass basic reading or math skills test. The entire report was quite an eye opener. And like Ashville noted, this affects more than just military readiness.
"We are deeply concerned by alarming data from the Department of Defense indicating that 75 percent of all young Americans between the ages of 17 and 24 are unable to join the military because they are physically unfit, lack proper education, or have criminal records. A shrinking pool of eligible recruits is a threat to our national security, and we are troubled by the impact that this will have on our future military preparedness." Retired Generals and Admirals Tell Congress: Just Say No To Pizza as a Vegetable in School Lunches « Mission: Readiness
Interesting information....
Those retired Generals should know that if 75% of American young people are not able to meet the military's standards, the solution is to do what DOD has always done in the face of such a "crisis:" Lower the standards.
It worked fine during WWII. Guys who couldn't have bought their way into the service before Pearl Harbor were suddenly more than acceptable. And, those "misfits" fought, and won, the greatest war in history.
Complaining that the average young Joe or Jane isn't good enough for their military smacks of an elitism our armed forces don't need. Neither does a nation built upon the worthiness of each individual. But, I suppose it's a natural result of an all-volunteer military, as opposed to a citizens army.
I'd say send the fattys. It will get them all fit and healthy. J/K.
This is most certainly scary data. Hopefully its somehow wrong and/or exaggerated like a lot of things. Pizza as a vegetable is ludacris. Something about this just doesn't look right...
Seems strange to me that we should have forced reductions in troops that we have spent so much money training so that we can get new ones that can't even read or write. Maybe the military will be in charge of educating our youth since our school systems are unable to?
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J/K.
