Only 1 in 4 volunteers are maybe accepted now days for military service!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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????
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Having seen a recent picture of a mixed (male/female) Platoon training in Basic, maybe they should go to 1 in 10? đ¤
Yeah, our current state of applicants is pretty sad, (But) Hey - you gotta give em' props for raising their hands. I Respect that. đ
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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 theyâre 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 (âgym ratsâ) or extremely out of shape (âgamersâ). The kind of moderate level of fitness you used to see in everybody as a rule (even just 15-20 years ago), is fading. Itâs 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 Iâm in my mid 40âs and broken in about 100 different ways.
In any case, I think if we donât fix the system, weâre going to miss out on some great recruits. ANDâŚ. If we canât change our culture so that outdoor activities, sports, and general âplayâ are a standard part of growing up, that pool of decent recruits will continue to dwindle.
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We need to bring back the President's physical fitness program in schools as it was in the 1960's.
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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 đł
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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.
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Brookwood: 30116470886427/comments/30116449354139
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!
US Army to Drop Grenade Throwing Requirement - Star Spangled Flags
Beginning summer 2019, U.S. Army recruits will no longer be required to demonstrate grenade-throwing abilities to pass training. Currently, recruits must throw grenades 25 meters in order to enlist. If they are unable to meet this criterion, they are unable to enlist. However, the Army has announced plans to eliminate this requirement, making enlistment just0 -
Schools don't have the time to teach kids shop or athletics. They need to focus on diversity, pride month, gender equality, etc.
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...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...
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I was our Basic Training Co. "Super Jock." (Highest PT score throughout Basic.) [Out of 300 something people.]
I found this hard/difficult to believe. (Sad, but True.)
I wore the Blue "SJ" armband proudly.
*Pictures in my BT Scrapbook/Yearbook, wearing it.
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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 poolđ but still ran mile in combat boots for 90% score.
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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.
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There will be no one qualified to administer blanket parties in a few years.
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This all makes me wonder how the special forces will look in 10 years.
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The all-volunteer force is in jeopardy, but that may be a good thing. Every young person should contribute to this great nationâŚperhaps 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.
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Another fine example of why Americaâs youth are not fit for service. They embrace âbed-rottingâ as a perfectly acceptable way of dealing with the stresses of life. Poor babies. They have it soooo hardâŚ..
âBed rottingâ is self-care, some insist, but mental health expert shares warnings about social media trend
âBed rotting" â spending long periods of time in bed â is gaining popularity on social media. Downtime can be beneficial but experts warn that too much can be harmful.0 -
scooterdriver: 30116470886427/comments/30116464748315
The all-volunteer force is in jeopardy, but that may be a good thing. Every young person should contribute to this great nationâŚperhaps 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.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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"Stripes" a movie I can watch again and again! It never gets old for me!
scooterdriver: 30116470886427/comments/30116474338715
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.
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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.
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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! đŻ
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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...
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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......
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"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!!" đ
Most of our cadence tunes were R & X rated back then! I will never forget them!
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Always did PT, in fatigue pants, combat boots and a white T -shirt.
There was no gym shorts, running shoes, etc. đ¤
The P******cation of American Military recruits, has not worked out well, for the American populace.
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