Didn’t it used to be called “boot camp”?
posted at 4:38 pm on January 12, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Critics have accused the Defense Department of having fat in their budget, but at the moment, they’re more concerned about the adipose in their recruits. The Army’s top recruiter wants to launch a new fat farm to deal with the rising number of rejects barred from enlistment because of their weight:
The Army has been dismissing so many overweight applicants that its top recruiter, trying to keep troop numbers up in wartime, is considering starting a fat farm to transform chubby trainees into svelte soldiers.
Maj. Gen. Thomas Bostick, head of the Army Recruiting Command, said he wants to see a formal diet and fitness regimen running alongside a new school at Fort Jackson that helps aspiring troops earn their GEDs.
Bostick told The Associated Press that obesity looms as “a bigger challenge for us in the years ahead” than any other problem that keeps young people from entering the military, including lack of a GED or high school diploma, misconduct or criminal behavior and other health issues such as eye or ear problems.
This really isn’t a laughing matter. The British (and the US, to a lesser extent) learned a hard lesson between the two world wars about the health of its youth and the ability to effectively defend one’s nation. The Germans spent the two decades between the wars doing everything possible to turn out healthy young men who could bring stamina to warfare. Now, the national obesity problem has come home to roost in the all-volunteer military, and a lack of physical regimen in school has complicated our ability to fill our ranks.
Physical conditioning isn’t the only problem, either. The decline in high-school graduation rates also makes recruitment more difficult, as the story notes. This belies the idea, offered by John Kerry and others over the last couple of years, that the unintelligent and ignorant wind up in uniform. In fact, the military has consistently held to its standard of high-school diplomas or GEDs as a prerequisite to service, but now they have to provide more assistance to get young men and women over that mental hurdle than ever before.
Regardless of what philosophy one holds for education, clearly we are failing a larger number of younger Americans both mentally and physically in their education — and we will clearly pay a price for that neglect. On the other hand, we used to believe that boot camp itself effectively addressed this, especially during the years of the national draft. Have we dumbed down boot camp, or does it just not have enough time to tone up rejected recruits?
In the clip below from the 1981 classic Army comedy Stripes, the late great John Candy talks about his desire to become a “lean, mean fighting machine”:
Blowback
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ARMY:
Ain’t
Ready to be
Marines
Yet
:D
quikstrike98 on January 12, 2009 at 10:14 PM
USMC:
Uncle
Sam’s
Misguided
Children
:P
I didn’t want to go there, but you forced my hand.
chairborne on January 12, 2009 at 10:21 PM
“C’man. We’re not goin’ to Moscow. It’s Czechoslovakia!
mojo on January 12, 2009 at 10:22 PM
I enlisted 6 years ago with a GED. I might not be the smartest kid on the block….but at least I can pass the PT test. I don’t think that a pre-BCT fat farm is going to do the trick. In the words of my Drill Sergeeant from Basic Combat Training, “63 days won’t fix what the first 18 years of your life done f&$*#d up.”
Spc Steve on January 12, 2009 at 10:47 PM
Hurt me. *rolling eyes*. ;)
U
Signed the
Mother#$@!%@#
Contract
U
Suckers
Missed
Christmas
My
A$$
Really
Is
Navy
Equipment
I could go on and on…. :P
quikstrike98 on January 12, 2009 at 11:16 PM
As a former WAF, I read this article with great interest. The comments were even funnier.
As time passed and I performed my “desk job”, I realized that I freed up a position formerly held by a man to let a man actually be a warrior. As the only woman in a building of 150 men…I was treated like a lady by some of the most dear men I have ever known. They were incredibly protective to this (I hope) gracious feminist.
As the wife of a retired officer (what a surprise to have met such a dear man…32 years worth), I have often thought with fondness of the best men I have ever known. My sons think it’s wonderful that they could send me vids of the latest triumph by our troops, which I would whoop over. NoDonkey, I’m not certain that all women should be precluded from combat, but I know that I was not able to meet the requirements, but thrilled that I could do my part.
Proud Mother of a former Marine and current AF security Police…not bad for a family of 4.
God bless our troops and hopefully the young “fat” kids who cannot play tag, dodge ball,or other formerly accepted playground games who might realize their dream in the army. I think this is a wonderful way to give many of these kids the “father” they needed.
YankeeinCA on January 13, 2009 at 12:02 AM
bust out the range quals and compare the Army to Marines. nuff said I’d put a Marine cook up against an Army grunt anyday. you forced my hand brotha!
whiskeytango on January 13, 2009 at 12:34 AM
Errrrr….I am a former Marine. Ever hear of irony? Self-deprecating humor? When I was serving we practiced it on a daily basis……..
Semper Gumby! (Always Flexible!)
quikstrike98 on January 13, 2009 at 12:35 AM
Marines use the Navy as private sea-going taxicabs.
Tom
marinetbryant on January 13, 2009 at 12:43 AM
SAEPE EXPERTUS, SEMPER FIDELIS, FRATRES AETERNI
Often Tested, Always Faithful, Brothers Forever
kanda on January 13, 2009 at 8:16 AM
If a recruit gets hurt in boot camp, he is covered as far as the VA is concerned – but only for that injury.
So said recruit blows out his knee, he can go to the VA for life (if necessary, probably not), for that knee injury.
But he doesn’t get VA care for life. Still need 180 days on active duty for that, even Congress isn’t stupid enough to cover all of the washouts.
NoDonkey on January 13, 2009 at 8:42 AM
Not to disparage women in the military, maam, just the jackasses who put them there.
The desk job you performed could be performed, probably at half the cost, by a civilian or a contractor.
Not by “military” personnel who can retire at 20 years (38 years old?) at 50% pay for the rest of the lifespan.
Women should not be in combat ever, never, yet some of our enlightened morons in Congress, who have more servants to wipe their ass than most people can count as casual acquaintances, think it’s a great idea to send women into combat – just of course not anyone in their family.
Caroline Kennedy Schollsburg or whatever the hell her stupid name is, didn’t serve and neither will the Obama girls.
But their daddies and mommies think it’s a great idea for your daughters to serve in combat.
NoDonkey on January 13, 2009 at 8:47 AM
How would it work if civilians did that job and in combat and were killed or injured. Do you mean then the governemnt doesn’t pay?
I like women in the service. It frees a man to fight. Blame womens lib for putting them in harms way. They got equal rights now you know. Heck they can even vote if you believe that Thanks to those pesky constitutional amendments.
I’m not happy about women in combat but I have learned that the WM’s can take care of themselves in a pinch. They can handle a rifle as well as any male Marine and they are not afraid to use it. Everyone is a rifleman in the Corps even the women. More power to them.
kanda on January 13, 2009 at 8:56 AM
Women Marines live by this.
THE CREED OF THE UNITED STATES MARINES
THIS IS MY RIFLE. There are many like it, but this one is mine. My rifle is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life.
My rifle, without me is useless. Without my rifle, I am useless. I must fire my rifle true. I must shoot straighter than my enemy who is trying to kill me. I must shoot him before he shoots me. I will….
My rifle and myself know that what counts in war is not the rounds we fire, the noise of our burst, nor the smoke we make. We know that it is the hits that count. We will hit….
My rifle is human, even as I, because it is my life. Thus, I will learn it as a brother. I will learn its weaknesses, its strength, its parts, its accessories, its sights and its barrel. I will ever guard it against the ravages of weather and damage. I will keep my rifle clean and ready, even as I am clean and ready. We will become part of each other. We will….
Before God I swear this creed. My rifle and myself are the defenders of my country. We are the masters of our enemy. We are the saviors of my life.
So be it, until there is no enemy, but Peace
kanda on January 13, 2009 at 9:02 AM
To set the record straight. Women are not allowed to serve in these areas:
Army: Infantry, armor, special forces, combat engineer companies, ground surveillance radar platoons, and air defense artillery batteries.
Air Force: Pararescue, combat controllers and those units and positions that routinely collocate with direct ground combat units.
Navy: Submarines, coastal patrol boats, mine warfare ships, SEAL (special forces) units, joint communications units that collocate with SEALs, and support positions (such as medical, chaplain, etc.) collocated with Marine Corps units that are closed to women.
Marine Corps: Infantry regiments and below, artillery battalions and below, all armored units, combat engineer battalions, reconnaissance units, riverine assault craft units, low altitude air defense units, and fleet anti-terrorism security teams.
Coast Guard: None.
kanda on January 13, 2009 at 9:12 AM
Thank you for your service to our nation. Thank you for raising a family who loves America. You are one brave lady.
kanda on January 13, 2009 at 9:15 AM
The most brilliant and concise thing Pat Buchanan ever said was, “The nation that sends its women to fight its wars does not deserve to win”.
Israel sends its women to fight its wars because it has so few people.
We don’t have that excuse. We have able bodied men collecting checks for sitting on their asses, drinking/drugging in this country, at the same time we have single mothers near combat zones in Iraq. It’s insane.
I’m not denigrating the women. I honor their service. I’m denigrating the piece of garbage politicians who think this is a good idea.
Women have no business in the Marine Corps. Nor in the Army, Navy or Air Force. The cost-benefit is not there and it’s a horrible precedent.
I’ve served 20+ years for many reasons, but one of them is so my daughters will never have to.
NoDonkey on January 13, 2009 at 9:23 AM
Actually, we wear that moniker with pride :p
Semper Fi!
Cowboy is a compliment on January 13, 2009 at 9:52 AM
That’s a shame. My family has served this country since they immigrated here last century – my grandfather in WW2, Korea, and Vietnam, my mother worked the DMZ and dropped into Grenada (interesting story), and I was in during 9/11 and helped support both Iraq and Afghanistan missions until medically discharged (knee). My husband is currently active duty, in his 8th year of service. We have a daughter and two sons, and would be honored if any and all of them went into the military after us, especially our daughter.
You think it would be cheaper to hire civilians to say, be a translator? Well, it’s well-known that women are more capable of learning languages later in life than men, it’s one of the reasons DLI is chock full of women. You’d have to pay the same amount of money for language school, and training, but the civilian certainly earns more on the flip side. Many of the people I went to language school with got out of the military and worked for the DoD to get better pay/benefits. Seems to me it would not be cheaper to replace these desk jobs with civilians. If I had more experience with the other support jobs, I’m sure I could do the cost analysis there too.
I was a single mother in the service for about a year (when I married my husband). I did not recieve nor ask for special treatment, and I worked rotating shifts up to a few hours before giving birth. Even after getting married, I was never stationed with my husband (he was sent to San Diego, I was at Ft. Meade). I worked just as hard and long as my childless officemates, and thankfully I worked with people who appreciated my sacrifices and the quality of my work. NoDonkey, you say you honor our service, but it is clearly evident that you do not, if you say we have no business in the services. If that is the case, than any man that has a family has no business in the service either.
Or you could realize that both women and men, family or no, might want to serve their country. I agree that some women should not be put in combat (and some women are capable of that, my mom was one, built like a man), but we have a role to play too. I am ever grateful for my 4.5 years of service, and I wish it had been more. It’s a shame you wish to deny that pride to so many others like me.
/rant off
Anna on January 13, 2009 at 9:53 AM
Good news your daughters don’t have to serve. They may choose to though. You know how children rebel against their parents sometime.
For 60 years women have been part of our active military and have served even as far back as 1913 in the Marines.
Ah but you are. Every woman who has served in the US Armed services is a volunteer and wants to serve our nation.
They do it honorably and with conviction. Yes some of them serve in combat zones. I don’t want them to be in combat either but it is the law of the land so I support them. They are very brave these American women.
There are many reasons why those we elect allow women in combat zones. Unlike Israel our women are not in direct combat arms. They can fight if needed, let there be no doubt American women are tough adversaries for any enemy. I have old fashioned ideas like you but I support the women just the same. To say they don’t belong is a slap in their face. If Pat said that he does not deserve to win either. Maybe that’s why he never does.
I never considered my daughter any different than my sons as far as the service. I have one Marine son and one army son both joined during the original gulf war. My daughter married and is raising her family. If she joined the military I would be just as proud of her as I am of my sons.
Military service is a calling as you yourself know. Women deserve to be a part of it.
kanda on January 13, 2009 at 9:57 AM
Yep along with several others we can’t post here.
Semper Fi!
kanda on January 13, 2009 at 10:01 AM
What a nice patriotic family you have. Gosh I am so proud to have folks like you keeping America safe.
Thank You.
kanda on January 13, 2009 at 10:04 AM
If women are in combat zones, they are in direct combat arms.
If the front gets overrun, eventually so does the rear. Every supply company, every hospital has a contingency plan for if/when that happens.
Fortunately, we are by far the strongest ground force in the world, so our front lines have not been overrun. But terrorist strikes on the supply lines or on hospitals are not unfathomable.
Let these animals take 100+ women and just think of the propaganda coup. Teary women paraded across the TV screen, just like the Iranians did to the British Marines and Sailors?
And the Democrats will push for women in combat. Democrats have said many times that because women are not in combat, their promotion chances aren’t as good as are those of men so therefore we need women in combat to ensure equal outcomes. And Democrats are all about equal outcomes.
It’s also appalling that women are not held to the same physical standards as men. They are permitted to have 10% more body fat and they only have to do 1/2 the number of pushups and situps.
The enemy doesn’t care whether or not you’re a woman. War doesn’t care whether or not you are a woman.
I’d compromise and say, if the women can meet the same physical standards as men, keep ‘em in, but I know that will never fly and it would mean 90% of them would be discharged anyway.
NoDonkey on January 13, 2009 at 10:31 AM
Wanna see big tough Male Marines cry? Watch how they react to these young women as they sing A Marines Prayer.
It is respect for women that bring these men to tears. It is a mutual respect as you can see. In a few years some of these young women may be welcomed by these same men into Our Corp. Hear the men join in and sing with these kids. See them stand up in front the kids out of respect.
Sorry you have so little faith in the women of our great nation. They are more brave than you give them credit for. Yes they face high risks in many ways. Trust me they are up to the task. Our nation is better for it.
kanda on January 13, 2009 at 10:59 AM
Has nothing to do with faith.
Women should not be sent into or near battle. Period.
Would you ask your wife or daughter to defend your house from a burgler, while you sat in bed, watching TV?
Of course not.
How would you like to be the officer who has to write a letter to the family of a dead 20 year old mother?
At least you’ll be spared writing it to her infant children, because they won’t ever know her.
The wars this country is going to have to fight are not the clean, easy wars like the Gulf War. Even Iraq/Afghanistan might be a picnic compared to what we’re going to have to do in Pakistan and Iran.
Dead/captured/wounded men make units fight harder. Dead/captured/wounded women sap the morale of combat units and distract them from their missions. It’s been proven every time it’s been tried.
NoDonkey on January 13, 2009 at 11:06 AM
Here is one example of How the Marines feel about Women in the Service?
Turn your speakers down before you go there. You been warned ;)
kanda on January 13, 2009 at 11:11 AM
Well My wife is a better shot than I. She wakes up easier than I. My guess would be the discharge of her weapon would wake me up but the fun would be all over
I would not like to be the one to write a letter to the family of a dead 19 year old father either but I have.
And the proof you offer for your last statement is?
kanda on January 13, 2009 at 11:19 AM
This is a list of the 99 women killed, well, in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan:
http://cmrlink.org/WomenInCombat.asp?docID=335
If you think women in the military is a good idea, we can agree to disagree on that.
But don’t pretend that they aren’t already in combat, because if you look at this list – they are.
NoDonkey on January 13, 2009 at 11:32 AM
What I said was they are not in combat arms. I never said they were not in combat. Remember the Women Marine’s who returned fire and captured the Iraqi Soldiers who shot at them? They did it because they get virtually the same physical training as Male Marines and exactly the same training with a weapon. They are fierce warriors and above all they are Marines. They have made much progress and many sacrifices but they earned their title Marine. They are the equal of any other Marine. They are some of the best of the best. The bravest, hardest working, loyal, Marines of all time. If you can’t respect them it is your problem. We Marines sure do.
I am well aware that women service members die in combat. So do male service members. I can’t quite put my finger on it but I remember something about war causing death and destruction. It is sad but necessary that some will die defending you and I.
Women are serving in this war. They are there and we owe them our gratitude and support. It’s a little late now after the battle has been joined to reconsider. Maybe how I was treated during Vietnam as a Marine taints my view a bit. I know how those who believe as you do make those patriotic women feel. It is very painful to be told you are not up to the task after you already know you are. It’s disrespectful at the very least. I think your motivation to protect them is honorable. I’m not sure they will agree.
kanda on January 13, 2009 at 11:48 AM
I don’t care how they feel.
I want them to be alive for their families and especially their young children.
I’m a father of very young children and you know what?
They love me, but my daughter is nine months old and her mommy is everything to her.
Young children and babies should not be deprived of their mothers for some misguided, counterproductive, social engineering scheme or to assuage hurt feelings.
NoDonkey on January 13, 2009 at 11:57 AM
I said….
You said…
It’s obvious to the most casual observer how you feel about women. I am sorry you hate women so.
kanda on January 13, 2009 at 12:01 PM
Have you ever seen Shreck? Every time I see your handle I think of Shreck. It makes me laugh.
ha ha
Sorry….it was a funny show. shreck yelling NO DONKEY!!!
ha ha
kanda on January 13, 2009 at 12:12 PM
No, it’s not, and it’s unfair of you to say so.
Personally, I’m OK with women who can meet the physical demands of the job doing it if they want, but I completely understand why people who genuinely love women want them kept out of danger.
The desire to protect our women and children is fundamental to being a man. Having women in combat cuts against that, and calling it “hate” when someone reacts as NoDonkey has is outrageous.
The Monster on January 13, 2009 at 1:51 PM
You’re right, I hate women because I don’t think they should be in combat, especially when there are scads of able bodied men who could and should take their place.
If I truly loved, say, my daughter or wife, I’d want them toting a rifle in some craphole like Iraq while I sit at home, drinking beer and watching football.
You provided some interesting comebacks before, telling me “I hate women” is really beneath you, I didn’t take you for some dopey feminist.
NoDonkey on January 13, 2009 at 2:31 PM
I love Shreck too, no offense taken.
Or do you think I hate Schreck now too?
NoDonkey on January 13, 2009 at 2:33 PM
Yes you seem to make a point that some women can meet the demands of military life. That is fair. Nodonkey on the otherhand does not make that reasonable assessment.
kanda on January 13, 2009 at 3:59 PM
No, what I’m saying is that overall, the cost-benefit to the military of them being there, falls short.
While some of them are very good, overall, they cost more money and time than they are worth. Having them around because it makes them feel good about themselves, has no real value to us.
I also don’t like that they are increasingly used in combat, which is why 99 of them have died in OIF and in Afghanistan. Do you think they should be in combat?
Because if you support women in the military, you also support women in combat.
I also think that there are plenty of able-bodied men out there, who should be in the military long before we send our mothers, wives and daughters out to fight what is arguably the most ruthlessly demented enemy that this country has yet to face.
But I know, all of this is completely unreasonable in the face of feelings being hurt.
NoDonkey on January 13, 2009 at 4:04 PM
If you loved them as much as you profess you would leave the decision up to them rather than atttempt to dictate what they should do.
You know there are those in the democrat party who talk about freedom for the minority yet do everything in thier power to keep the minority in line. Never allowing them to excell on their own. Maybe I misjudge your motives but I see a parallel their with your view on women in the military. It’s an opportunity for the women who want it yet you want to deny them the opportunity. Am I wrong?
kanda on January 13, 2009 at 4:05 PM
How many women died in the combat of 911? Should they not be working? Is working why they were exposed to the death and destruction on that day? Am I following your logic correctly?
kanda on January 13, 2009 at 4:07 PM
There may be an over abundance of so called men as you point out but they are not as patriotic as some women who volunteer to serve.
Our nation does not choose which enemy will attack us. Usually it is a ruthless enemy. Our valient men and women in the armed forces today will battle that enemy until either we win or they defeat us. In this war the victor has not yet been determined.
I am as concerned as you are why more men don’t volunteer for military service. Perhaps they are too fat from drinking beer. Maybe they are chicken, afraid they might get hurt. They are mostly wimps I suppose. At least we have brave women who volunteer to take their place and do a darn good job of it.
kanda on January 13, 2009 at 4:17 PM
I didn’t either but come to think of it women have earned my support as far as serving in the military goes. They serve with honor and distinction. I’m proud of them.
kanda on January 13, 2009 at 4:23 PM
An excerpt from General George S Patton to his troops before D Day….Sorry he uses language that I don’t approve of but in contect it is okay.
These are for the most part the jobs our Brave Women perform.
kanda on January 13, 2009 at 4:31 PM
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