Fit To Serve? Most Young Adults Aren't

Just Three Of 10 People Between 17 And 24 Even Qualify For The Army

(CBS)  Summer, when school is over, is the military’s prime recruiting time. But when the Army goes looking for young people to enlist, says Gen. William Wallace, it runs into an astounding fact.

“About 28 percent of them, based on our analysis, are fully qualified for military service,” he said.

Put it another way: Only three out of 10 young people between the ages of 17 and 24 even qualify to serve in the Army, CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reports.

The rest are ineligible either because they didn’t graduate from high school, have a police record or are not physically fit.

“It doesn’t surprise me, because I really think we don’t see as much physical activity either in schools or outside of schools as we used to,” said Maria Tukeva, the principal of Bell Multicultural High School in Washington, D.C., where, until recently, gym class was impossible.

“We had no gymnasium, no sports equipment or field of any kind,” Tukeva said.

Now she has a new building, complete with a weight room. But Coach Iwan Balcet says the kids who use it are the exception.

“It’s getting worse and worse. I mean, I think that the video-game era, especially now, the video games are getting cheaper and cheaper and cheaper,” Balcet said.

Call them the softest generation, but you really can’t blame them. In four years at Bell, a student is only required to take nine weeks of gym class.

That’s it?

“And that’s it pretty much,” Balcet said.

Nationwide, an increasing number of students don’t stay in school for four years.

“Every 26 seconds in our country a young person drops out of high school,” Wallace said.

At Bell, Michael Connors, a former Air Force pilot who flew in and out of Iraq and Afghanistan, teaches English as a second language.

How hard is it for him to keep kids on the right track?

“It’s tough,” Connors said. “This job, teaching, makes going to war look easy."

A nation, it’s been said, is only as strong as its children. And that’s never more true than in a time of war. The evidence says our children are getting weaker, both mentally and physically.

[flyingcpa]

It''s too bad the Military doesn''t think "Out-of-the-Box" I am a fifty-year old who has been a fitness and health nut my entire adult life. They say that I am too old to be accepted in the Military.

The reality is I am more physically fit than most 20-year olds. Given the fact that I was not able to have children and have no family ties, I would be the perfect candidate to serve in the United States Military.

If you can convince our Government to contact me, please feel free to share my contact information:

Home Phone: [phone]
Cell: 239-297-1437
Email: [e-mail]

Respectfully,
Lorri Miller,
Ft. Myers, Florida

[donbl1]

Only 3 in 10 qualify for the military.........

Fortunately, the military is making their recruiting goals and they really are getting the better portion of the young adults.

Amazing statistic.

[flreason]

With shrinking tax revenues, schools are cutting back where they can. One of those areas is in electives: music, art, phys ed, shop, foreign languages, etc. Americans no longer seem to value public education. They want tax cuts so they can have their expensive toys, but schools and other public infrastructure needs like roads, bridges, water mains, etc. are neglected. Our kids will only value what we''re willing to put our treasure into. It''s also hard to convince them of the value of education when they see our economy collapsing and people with college degrees having to work at manual labor jobs. If we want our economy and our jobs to rebound, we need to start buying American. It may cost more, but the cost to our economy of off-shoring all our industries is finally being felt throughout the country. Add to that the loss of revenue due to floods and fires, and we''d better hunker down for a long, lean period.

[floydzepp2]

America is doomed.

[u243379]

They should do away with the Asvab and all that and make every abled bodied & minded male, serve in the armed forces. They can learn all they need to know in basic training

[cdfoxtrot]

Bring back conscription. That would be the answer to a nation of unfit young people. And it would encourage people to actually give a s_h_it when their president begins saber rattling, and sending the army off to war. If little Johnny and little Mary were at risk of getting shipped off to war and getting their heads blown off, I bet all the "moms" and dads would take an interest in US foreign policy. We''d avoid a lot of problems and expense, overall, and the rest of the world mightn''t hate us quite so much.

[magoo2u1]

"Bring back conscription. That would be the answer to a nation of unfit young people".

Drafting them wouldn''t make them fit for service (?).
The issue is they aren''t fit for service voluntary or not. What good would it do to draft the unfit?

[smurfcrusher]

C''mon, guys!

How can we kill, kill, kill them all, unless you get into shape??

[smurfcrusher]

You know, fat slows bullets.... Bio armor!!

Flab of Iron!! (pounds belly)

[smurfcrusher]

You know, we can always sit on the enemy...

[demwatcher]

"America is doomed.

Posted by FloydZepp2 at 07:49 PM : Jul 03, 2008"

A TRUE Republican would not believe that.

[smurfcrusher]

"A nation, it%u2019s been said, is only as strong as its children. And that%u2019s never more true than in a time of war. The evidence says our children are getting weaker, both mentally and physically. "

What a load of bull. Tests demonstrate this generation is more intelligent than any previous one.

Researchers have long been surprised by this uptick in intelligence. I guess such a comment takes the wind out of the writer''s sails but too bad.

Unlike the writer''s bold, and baseless, comments on intelligence, I''ll provide a specific counter-point:

http://www.psychologymatters.org/iqtesting.html

"researchers have shown that IQs have been steadily rising, year by year, all over the industrialized world. This historical tendency for average IQ to increase is called the Flynn effect, named after James R. Flynn. The Flynn effect has profound implications for how one thinks about IQ."

[ponco seno]

Every 26 seconds in our country a young person drops out of high school,%u201D Wallace said.



HOLY SMOKES!!! BAD BAD BAD!

[smurfcrusher]

Indeed, this generation has demonstrated its intelligence by not signing up for this unnecessary war, and refuse to be commanded by the buffoon-in-chief who started it.

[heero2020]

Isn''t the Asthma Corps a branch of the armed services?

[smurfcrusher]

no, that would be the Asthma Corpse. ;)

[ioweign]

Only 3 in 10 qualify for the military.........

Fortunately, the military is making their recruiting goals and they really are getting the better portion of the young adults.

Amazing statistic.

Posted by donbl1 at 07:29 PM : Jul 03, 2008

Then what is with the using the "Stop-Loss Program".

Making their recruiting goals - do you have links for these amazing stats...

[smurfcrusher]

Recruiting goals are helped by offering $40,000 to new recruits... all oil money, naturally

[matter77]

Actually smurfcrusher, YOUR source is bogus. Tests are being skewed all the time now, because some are trying to hide the problem. How many school districts have been caught helping students cheat so they don''t lose funding??? What''s considered intelligent these days would earn straight F''s a couple decades ago. Youth just do not have the ability to concentrate like they did decades ago. Colleges and universities are screaming for help, too. This article includes comments from the Army!! They used to be the lowest option for American youth. Now, even the Army is rejecting the majority of applicants. Why would they want to do this just to make some twisted point??? Wouldn''t it be in their best interest to pass as many as possible? Even they are having to push back it''s so bad. In fact, it may even be worse than this writer is portraying. American youth are considered a joke, a bunch of idiots, by other industrialized Western countries. Mall rats demanding higher pay for nothing, out of breath just pushing the mower for ten minutes. They don''t know how to use common hand tools, and don''t even read books anymore. What a joke. It''s constant music, games, ***, and TV. Too many can''t even hold a steady job before the age of twenty-five, basically because they have no ambition. Other writers go out of their way to portray American youth as the future, the whiz kids. Gag me with a spoon.

[cantshutup]

don''t worry about those kids....if they''re skills are targeting and killing, they''ll be perfect for continued warmongering...

[hypnotoad72]

Given the prevalence of xboxes and wiis, it''s not entirely surprising.

I''ve seen 20 year olds with guts almost as big as mine.

I''d once seen a 7 year old whose gut was on par with mine.

I''m 36, and while I was never an athlete, I always kept a semi-mobile job and my diet has not been comprised of ice cream, potato chips, and goo. (Ingredients are half the problem too - high fructose corn syrup is murder on the metabolism, and aspartame - a diet substance I''ve ingested all my life - may be a factor too.)

I''m exercising far more now, for the sake of it, and can hopefully reverse the course I''ve been on despite a fairly mobile life.

In short, there are a number of factors here and from parents to the community at large, we all need to take a step back and fix what''s going on. For, if 7 year olds have giant bellies from eatin'' too many happy meals, just think about 29 years into the future and wince.

Assuming oil isn''t $1000/barrel by then. :rollseyes:

On the other hand, maybe the kids have inferred there''s no future thanks to all the current events and are smoking, s#xing, eating, drinking, and barfing it up for fun? (a rotten thought, yeah, but possible? :( )

[sgtrds-e4]

Fat? Flabby? Out of shape? Don''t worry there''ll still be a place for you in the Army''s new unit, 1st Cannon Fodder Battalion! Of course the current president and Veep think ALL troops are nothing more then cannon fodder, but now you can be part of the first military unit that admits it! See your local recruiter today!

[mcv57]

Now, what brought this subject up .... the DRAFT is back on the table maybe. I really feel back for the young people who may have to serve for the RAT Cheney and his master scoundrel Bushwacker.

[mcv57]

Now, what brought this subject up .... the DRAFT is back on the table maybe. I really feel bad for the young people who may have to serve for the RAT Cheney and his master scoundrel Bushwacker.

[ybotheratall]

Did you ever see the video of many Asian companies and their efforts towards fitness? Morning exercise, breaks at the desk to exercise, healthy cuisine served in clean, affordable cafeterias. Here it''s drink expensive 1000 calorie lattes, eat a huge danish and go out to Mcdonalds for lunch, then eat monster portions of more food at the chain restaurants. Kids are left to their own devices while both parents work nonstop to afford just the basics. America is a really messed up country. Superpower? I just don''t even know the answer to that anymore. Supersized power maybe.

[cdfoxtrot]

"Bring back conscription. That would be the answer to a nation of unfit young people".

Drafting them wouldn''''t make them fit for service (?).
The issue is they aren''''t fit for service voluntary or not. What good would it do to draft the unfit?

Posted by magoo2u1

Ever heard of bootcamp?

[hypnotoad72]

Some of these people aren''''t fit to serve mentally or physically. Besides selling drugs pays better and it''''s alot less work.

Posted by SkyFive
------------------------

Speaking like a true CEO. :evilgrin:

(Sorry, couldn''t resist.)

[hypnotoad72]

Why can''t we talk about these aspects:

"The rest are ineligible either because they didn%u2019t graduate from high school, have a police record..."

[geneonlbk]

We have an army of poor people and those incredibly unfortunate reservists who are screwed above all others.

Perhaps a little more blubber protects the innocent and poor from the shrapnal from an IED.

At the NYU science graduate schools there is not a single American born student. I believe that fifty years from now we will view TV as having been the worst influence on our society - a total mind-drain existing for the sole purpose of selling junk to increasing lazy and dumbed-down debtors.

[trglazier]

As a former USAF recruiter, this is pitiful. The Army has the lowest standards for entry than any other armed service in the country. If only one in three qualify for the Army ~ much less must qualify for the other services.

Thank God for Nintendo, MS WE, and all of the other game systems for keeping America Strong!

[ufdaa1]

Don''t forget about the mental requirements,how many students in Arizona schools who are being taught Raza Studies would serve the United States?

[hissteps4u]

Just for the record trglazier It''s {{{Wll}}} not (WE)

Come now even an Retired Air force Officer can remember that one and it is not even fly by wire! LOL

[hissteps4u]

I use to stay up all hours in boot Camp beating the snot out of my DI in Spades. got me an E-3 Promotion out of boot and E-4 out of AIT when I landed in nam Made Seargent first week there. when I left a year later I was an E7-- I also watched a E-8 get a battlefield commision to Capt only to be rifted when he left. Nice thing was they had to retire him at his highiest rank by Law so he had a nice retirement at Capt with 25 years. Cant do that any more though.

[neonink]

At the NYU science graduate schools there is not a single American born student. I believe that fifty years from now we will view TV as having been the worst influence on our society - a total mind-drain existing for the sole purpose of selling junk to increasing lazy and dumbed-down debtors.
Posted by geneonlbk at 10:40 PM : Jul 03, 2008


Most Americans cannot afford it. That''s not being lazy, it''s being poor and stuck.

[gce65]

Let''s keep in mind the standard these young adults are held up to is that of an all-volunteer professional soldier.

In terms of physical fitness, though obesity may be on the rise overall in society, translating that supposed fitness level to the military is a mistake.

Take for example a very computer savvy young person who could operate a video-type interface but not be able to do the number of sit-up or pull-ups to get in the military.

If our military is so adaptable to any situation, shouldn''t it be able to accommodate the individual who excels in other areas? everyone has something to offer.

[harrydoghiny]

The other 7 fatties can join the 101st Fighting Keyboarders. Always room for more wingnut trolls.

[Scooter68]

gce65 - Get real bud - This is still the Army - Armies fight wars requiring potentially one-on-one physical combat from ANY soldier. Just because someone is a cook, clerk, computer operator in the military does not mean they are not expected to be able to physically battle an opponent. Your comment is a prime example of why so many young people cannot quailify for military service.

[harpoot]

On the bright side that means less cannon fodder for Bushits illegal wars. Get that super size now.

[co11bang]

Enough with the bs comments. All this story is saying is that most of you are fat, lazy and dumb.

[yankeerebel7]

This is pathetic. Too many video games, which are becoming so awesomely realistic that kids (and even adults) are becoming addicted to them. To much myspace and youtube as well. Get these little fatties outside and make them play real sports for godsake.

When I have kids, there''s no way I''m gonna let them become little fatties. I would be ashamed if my kids were fat.

[swwils]

Well what do you expect,the computer world took over in the past 20 yrs.I mean come on when I was growing up we did not have Nintendo.Playstation,or even cell phones.Most kids are lazy,and junk food junkies!We had outside,and B-Ball,bicycles,and friends.We didn''t create this big business did!

[fee1free4u]

Time to reinstitute the draft. And I vote that the first year we have the draft we take only liberals. Perhaps putting enough them in war we can thin the population a bit.

[barbaram99]

Story saids the young are not fit to serve. Who is fit to serve.

[dsr57]

Wow, the further pussification of our country. This goes beyond the Army. This is because we have it SO good in our country that people can just sit around eat, play video games and become Liberal hippy Vaginas. Because men and women who used ot have to play outside and grew up with a sense that you should get up and do something with your life once and a while. These are the same people who got our country to where it is. Last time I was back in the states I tried and tried to get my nephew outside to ride 4 wheelers or or climb a tree anything. He kept refusing right up until I unplugged his xbox and told him he could play it in a couple hours when we came back inside

[soshljustic]

matter77 is correct, but unfortunately it did not happen overnight and occurred principally across only 3-4 generations of consumerism. Wrong choices celebrating the laziness of being a world power and insurmountable after WWII. Production thru robotics weht up, while more people became more sedentary, and the hard life of activity and motion ceased to exist, getting in cars, to get everywhere, less energy expended overall,expanded waistlines. It is a human condition to seek short cuts and expend less energy to our mammalian detriment as the human animal. It is a distinct health disadvantage, and pits us at the bottom of the heap in survival of the fittest terms. Both a defense issue and a national healthcare issue.

[co11bang]

Wow...I served two tours as an Infantry team leader in Iraq and the last time I check...I''m a liberal. Instead of you neocons whining online about libs and the Army...study to pass the ASVAB...get you''re fat as**** in shape and go fight the wars you''re *** selfs!

[babooph]

Wow -too many have criminal records & are not fit to learn the Bush torture system& murder war prisoners-lucky we have enough Christians to quqlify.

[plasmatron-2009]

Heck, the U.S. military is becoming one big video game anyway, so let''s all get fat and just run the controls. Smart bombs? You bet. Remote controlled gliders? Hell yeah. The military has even perfected a device that, when beamed at advancing troops, invisibly repels them by microwaving the outside layer of their skin. All run by some fat dude sitting at the controls of the mobile machine. Soon, the most sought after recruits will be those with the highest Xbox scores.

[nssherlock1]

That''s a complete CROCK! The Army will take anything with a pulse. They assign waivers for anything, that''s why they are so good at giving military training to Bloods and Crips.

[co11bang]

Why so much animosity towards the military? Instead of complaining about it maybe you pretend patriots should attempt to get in and change it. Oh I forgot, the military is for the poor. Please, that%u2019s why 8 out of 10 Americans are in debt, but let me guess%u2026those of you pretend patriots are in the other two.
NsSherlock you say the Army will take anything with a pulse? I bet they wouldn%u2019t take you%u2019re fat ***! Then again%u2026you might be able to get a waiver for being both dumb and obese.