Pentagon Vows Not To Ban Tobacco, Yet

(AP)  Smoke 'em if you got 'em. The Pentagon reassured troops Wednesday that it won't ban tobacco products in war zones.

Defense officials hadn't actually planned to eliminate smoking - at least for now. But fear of a ban arose among some troops after the Defense Department received a study recommending the military move toward becoming tobacco-free - perhaps in about 20 years.

Press secretary Geoff Morrell pointedly told a Pentagon news conference that Defense Secretary Robert Gates is not planning to prohibit the use of cigarettes, chewing tobacco or other tobacco products by troops in combat.

"He knows that the situation they are confronting is stressful enough as it is," Morrell said, noting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. "I don't think he is interested in adding to the stress levels by taking away one of the few outlets they may have to relieve stress."

Gates will review the new study to see if there are some things that can be done to work toward the goal of having a smoke-free force some day, Morrell said.

"Obviously, it's not our preference to have a force that is using tobacco products," he said, noting health concerns and the high cost of caring for health-related problems.

The study, commissioned by the Pentagon and the Veterans Affairs Department, recommended that the military start making incremental moves toward becoming smoke-free. The report by the Institute of Medicine suggested the services could start by banning smoking at military academies, then among recruits. It said the VA and Pentagon should eliminate use of tobacco on its facilities and the military should stop selling tobacco products at its commissaries.

The military and VA have been working for years to reduce smoking among soldiers and vets through a number of programs. The Pentagon laid out a plan in 1999 to reduce smoking rates by 5 percent a year and reduce chewing tobacco use to 15 percent by 2001 - and still wasn't able to achieve the goals.

"Tobacco use declined overall from 1980 to 2005, but there has recently been an increase in consumption, possibly because of increased tobacco use by deployed troops," the study said.

The military hasn't placed a high enough priority on reducing tobacco use, according to the study, and that while smoking has declined in the U.S., it remains higher in the military than in the civilian world.

In 2005, a third of members of the active-duty military smoked compared to a fifth of the adult U.S. population, the study said, adding that it "has been implicated in" higher dropout rates during and after basic training, higher absenteeism in the military and other problems.

Criticism of the proposals spread across the Internet and among troops.

"Our troops make enough sacrifices to serve our nation," said Brian Wise, executive director of the advocacy group Military Families United. "They give up many of the freedoms civilians enjoy already without being told they cannot partake in yet another otherwise legal activity."

Spc. Charles Rodriguez, 23, said he started smoking long before he joined the Army and that his pack-a-day habit doesn't affect his physical fitness. His Army instructors during basic training made him quit, but he quickly started up again, Rodriguez said in an interview outside of Fort Campbell, Ky.

During his last deployment to Iraq, Rodriguez found a lot of time to smoke while troops were patrolling or just hanging around the base. He said one of his friends who doesn't normally smoke would join him for a cigarette during the deployment, just out of boredom

Said Rodriguez, "There's nothing else to do and they're cheap over there."

[stillwaters6]

HOLD UP...IF they ban tobacco then ban alcohol too...

This is insane...the least thing we can do is allow them the pleasure to smoke em if they got em AND chug a lug...


If a soldier wants to smoke they will smoke cigarettes or weed!

Leave our soldiers alone!

[John_Merritt]

Take your prostitution ring somewhere else please!

[afmcalax]

Smoking is just plain stupid and anyone defending it lives a neanderthal lifestyle. Tobacco companies are worse than drug pushers because they try to rationalize their killer sticks. The goal of society should be the total elimination of tobacco products. There is no true argument for their continued existence, except to addict more people, raise health care costs, and continue to provide tobacco executives large salaries.

There are many better ways to reduce stress than to smoke. That the government would openly support a known killer is hypocritcal. I applaud the military on their stance to eliminate this unhealthy, addictive habit and to promote better health. The day when tobacco products are eliminated will be a good day for society. Hopefully the military will not back down to the industry supported attacks.

[wulfen1]

Of course there are better ways to reduce stress, but how many are feasible for a soldier in a hostile environment?

[ianlou]

Tobacco has some good aspects:
It relaxes you and improves focus and cognitive ability.
The irony of the military worrying about the dangers of tobacco usage posed to solders while the bullets are flying and the bombs are exploding is pure PC stupidity.

[AOCGUY]

First of all, the statement that a third of military members use tobacco products seems to be a gross exaggeration. I have been associated with the US military continuously since 1972 as both an active duty member and a defense contractor and I have not seen any evidence of that high a use.

Also missing from this story is that smoking has been banned from federal government buildings (including all military buildings) since the late 80's. And the services have a long history of discouraging tobacco use and conducting tobacco cessation clinics as well.

Banning service members from the use of legal tobacco products while off duty, aside from being impossible to police, would be outside the legal authority of the DOD and the services and, having been there, I suspect commanders in combat have much more important concerns that whether their troops light up.

As an ex-smoker I do believe that the services should continue to encourage military members to not smoke, legislating is a REAL BAD idea.

[Widget101]

"Smoking became popular during WWII because smoking helped soldiers reduce stress."

Smoking became popular during WWII because the tobacco industry saw an opportunity. They gave away cigarettes to the military knowing millions would get hooked. The military has perpetuated it by allowing dirt-cheap prices for cigarettes in PX's on military bases.

Get the tobacco industry out off the military bases - and let soldiers pay retail for smokes. They'll wean themselves.

[johninpennsyl]

Herea a rifle and some hand grenades-go kill some people.
But please don't smoke,it could be harmful....also the enemy might sue us for second-hand smoke damage.

Right from the theatre of the absurd...only its reality in America.

[endurorob]

I quit smoking in 2002 after close to 27 years of the habit. I am happy I did. That being said someone please point me to a valid study that indicates that smoking is the cause of such high helath care costs.

[dagrandma]

I doubt there is such a valid study. You can make numbers say whatever you want. For instance, now when a non-smoker dies of lung cancer, they're allowed to blame it on second-hand smoke. It's all a bunch of bull.

[sleepyric]

when I was in the AF some 38 years ago, Marlboros were 27cents a pack at the BX. Smoking in the office was allowed. How times have changed. In high stress situations, if a combat soldier wants to have a smoke, let him have it. My God, what these kids have endured, and the establishment just keeps on picking at them. Lay off Pentagon. Our freedoms are being nitpicked away day after day by the do gooders.

[grabandgo]

Smoking became popular during WWII because smoking helped soldiers reduce stress.
Why is our government sticking their nose into this?

Seems government now wants to control everything.
Seems like Land of the Free is gone.