There is some disturbing news about a health issue the past few weeks. It has been repeated now and then for the last decade but it seems that the problem is getting worse. The first news from the media was that 71 percent of people from 17 years to 24 years were unfit for military duty. Having been through basic training a long time ago it is hard to imagine that seven out of every 10 youth could not make it through some basic fitness challenges. Five years ago I had talked with a couple of army officers I knew and asked them about the status of new recruits coming into the army. Five years ago the answer was, “It is becoming a problem since many have a hard time completing basic training. The program now requires us to spend more time trying to get them in physical shape so they can follow the training necessary to learn squad techniques for a battle.” It looks like since five years ago the end result has finally become a real problem.
The primary problem seems to be the number of overweight and obese individuals that can’t pass a physical to enroll in the military. I am not sure what the category is now but at one time if you could not pass a physical you were classified 4-F. Some individuals were classified with a 4 –F but most of them had severe vision problems, were physically disabled, or had loss of hearing, or were considered intellectually disabled. The overweight and obese classifications were very few. It seems that the individuals that did enter the army basic training and were considered overweight were put on a special diet and exercise program that got them in shape in a few weeks.
While there is a problem with overweight and obese individuals getting into the military the problem is also in many civilian jobs. Think of a person wanting to get into a fire department as a career. The job requirements for a fireman (woman) includes hauling up hoses, carrying an air tank on your back, and breathing through an air hose, while going up a flight of stairs with heavy gear on. Add to the problem the conditions of the fire and heat makes strength and aerobic fitness a life-saving necessity.
