Posted on Jul 13, 2015
How do you think obesity in youth is impacting our recruiting?
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This article identifies the fastest growing obese metro areas in the US. I'v heard that the military has been having greater trouble finding recruits because of the US being out of shape. What do you all think?
Posted in these groups: 
Health
Recruiting
Health Recruiting
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 9
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SSG Izzy Abbass I barely made in, I know how it feels. It was hard to get in, it took a lot of work but it paid off.
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CPT Aaron Kletzing
Good on you for committing yourself to the task and getting in, brother. Keep in tip top shape.
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MSG Brad Sand
SGT(P) (Join to see)
Good for you and I am sure it was good for you. Anything worth while in life is hard work, so use this struggle to help you overcome the next hurdle.
Good for you and I am sure it was good for you. Anything worth while in life is hard work, so use this struggle to help you overcome the next hurdle.
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
CPT Aaron Kletzing MSG Brad Sand whenever I see a discussion about 300 APFT, Overweight flags, etc. I hold myself from responding. You see all kind of leaders talking about everybody can achieve a 300, that those that max out are better Soldiers, etc. But they don't know how hard is the struggle, I had to do 2, 3 more times what a regular guy have to do in order to just get in. Is not easy but, as I say, is worth the hard work.
P.S. I just upload my transformation.
P.S. I just upload my transformation.
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MSG Brad Sand
SGT(P) (Join to see)
No, we do know how hard it is to achieve a 300, that is why we hold it up. It might be harder for you, but it is not easy for anyone and making it is not the same as maintaining it. With this said, I know you can do it and when you are a CSM, discussing APFT and flags you will know where those young soldiers are coming from.
No, we do know how hard it is to achieve a 300, that is why we hold it up. It might be harder for you, but it is not easy for anyone and making it is not the same as maintaining it. With this said, I know you can do it and when you are a CSM, discussing APFT and flags you will know where those young soldiers are coming from.
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My Great Niece is in basic training. She worked for 6 months to make the weight so she could join....
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I'd rather pay the rent than the food bill! If they can't pass the initial health assessment screening, let them be!
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It is absolutely imperative that the DoD maintain SOME semblance of physical fitness requirements, even as these things are getting loosened in some ways across the force. If we let people join who are in horrible physical shape, then WTF kind of combat force are we even expecting to be anymore? If we are playing nice with potential recruits so that they enlist, and in turn are risking force readiness, then that's a huge no-no.
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Trouble finding recruits? If the recruiter finds someone that is interested in joining/serving and have the drive (or even if you have to give them the drive), weight should not be a factor. Yes, it will take time for them to ship because they have to shed, but that shouldn't be the point. I personally was 27 when I enlisted and had to shed 30 lbs to ship. I did that within a few months healthily. So it should not be hard to find someone that is in shape, just finding the person who has that drive to succeed.
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SGM Erik Marquez
Rarely do those that dump weight as a single goal (entrance in to the service ) take on the healthy life style needed to maintain that level of weight and fitness. Those that do, my hats off to them.. Well earned.
But we are cutting hard the overall numbers, why would anyone want to bring INTO the service a person who is predisposed to fail. Sorry, but those folks are just not needed.... If a person works BEFORE entrance to make life changing goals and meets them, heck ya, that's a persons we should take a chance on... and make no mistake it is a chance, and facts show, they are likely to fall back to old ways and no longer meet standards.
But if they are not interested or able to meet the standards BEFORE entrance why would you assume they will work and maintain standards after entrance.
But we are cutting hard the overall numbers, why would anyone want to bring INTO the service a person who is predisposed to fail. Sorry, but those folks are just not needed.... If a person works BEFORE entrance to make life changing goals and meets them, heck ya, that's a persons we should take a chance on... and make no mistake it is a chance, and facts show, they are likely to fall back to old ways and no longer meet standards.
But if they are not interested or able to meet the standards BEFORE entrance why would you assume they will work and maintain standards after entrance.
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SSgt Scott Schwerman
I personally take offense to that. That is just saying you have no faith in people and are saying you guarantee them to fail.
I have kept my weight off now for 4 years and am far healthier than I was back then. So by keeping an open mind to those people could also bring outstanding leaders and service members into our branches.
I have kept my weight off now for 4 years and am far healthier than I was back then. So by keeping an open mind to those people could also bring outstanding leaders and service members into our branches.
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SGM Erik Marquez
SSgt Scott Schwerman You are then an exception , something to which I alluded to. Good for you, congrats.. Your rare exception does not make for a good overall policy. Your prejudiced by your personal individual experiences.
You may down vote all you wish, I stand by my long term personal observations.
You may down vote all you wish, I stand by my long term personal observations.
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Try the food in those areas yourself. I was astounded to be served S O S topped with a sunny side up egg. Great flavors and great residual waistlines! Young adults lack of interest in regular life while being mesmerized with television and electronic entertainment are major contributors to the lack of activity which creates the terrible lack of physical conditioning! As long as young people can hangout without much exertion on their part, recruiters will have a problem. SSG Izzy Abbass, are you/can you imagine a recruiter trying to find a new recruit in today's world?
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Food for thought - actually that might be the wrong reference http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/2015/07/15/report-nearly-1-in-3-young-adults-too-fat-for-military/30178023/
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