Regulated Choices at the DFAC

2014-08-28T22:56:36-04:00

If a Junior Enlisted Soldier can be an MP and write a citation or even arrest someone, who has violated the UCMJ; why can't the Junior Enlisted Soldiers at the DFAC tell the obviously overweight Soldiers (regardless of rank) that they can only eat Green Foods or the Salad Bar? We always hear at the "Safety Briefs" that we should "police each other up". This would be a good start. Oh wait, this would be an EO complaint because someone got their feelings hurt or that Soldier would be reprimanded for trying to help someone in their progress to uphold the standard. It's all about perception, right?

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 29 at 2014 12:44 PM

2014-08-29T12:44:36-04:00

Forcing junior enlisted to eat only eat green foods or salad bar (besides the fact that there BAS is taken away to eat in DEFAC) wouldn't work. There are 2 reasons people are overweight, eating more than they are burning off or medical issues. Most likely they would just stop eating at the DFAC and continue eating what they want.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Aug 31 at 2014 12:26 PM

2014-08-31T12:26:07-04:00

SSG Private RallyPoint Member - I think I see the point you are trying to make. My concern with this is that if we had NCOICs/OICs at DFACs telling people what they can and can't eat -- then this could create a lot of issues. My first question would be -- what are the criteria that would be used to flag a service member as needing to be regulated (just height/weight or more?) -- and then also who decides what the healthiest alternatives are for that specific individual, keeping in mind there may be some medical issues?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 1 at 2014 12:45 PM

2014-09-01T12:45:23-04:00

More control and regulation of individuals is always a good thing. Am I right North Koreans, Chinese, Cubans....?

Response by CW5 Russell D Campbell made Sep 1 at 2014 1:33 PM

2014-09-01T13:33:44-04:00

Dining facility participation is already low at many Installations (for a variety of reasons that merit it's own discussion). I agree with the NCO above, if you make the DFAC a control point/restriction on what the SM could eat, they will just choose to eat somewhere else. Probably at the shoppette or fast food off post.

Response by CW3 Richard Lawrence made Sep 2 at 2014 3:56 PM

2014-09-02T15:56:29-04:00

Just like the school lunch programs, if you only offer foods that are healthy, but are not popular with your targeted population (military service members), then your targeted population will eat where they can get what they want (off base).

We need to balance healthy choices with consideration of for acceptably of the targeted population if DFAC's are to keep their head counts at acceptable participation levels.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 2 at 2014 7:15 PM

2014-09-02T19:15:07-04:00

On a side note. What is that yellow aiguillette you are wearing?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 2 at 2014 10:55 PM

2014-09-02T22:55:43-04:00

I've seen bacon listed as "green" and hard boiled eggs listed as "red".

Anyone who doesn't see the problem with this, is a part of the problem.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 2 at 2014 11:21 PM

2014-09-02T23:21:03-04:00

Food choices are already regulated at the dfac as it's not a restaurant do you get what they have. Perhaps if they could simply cook better tasting healthier food and having a better varity of it would encourage better food choices at the dfac. When I went to SLC last year I ate maybe 5 times and couldn't take it anymore and just went to subway

Response by CW5 Sam R. Baker made Sep 4 at 2014 8:53 AM

2014-09-04T08:53:51-04:00

I do remember my drill sergeant supervising what I ate and the stuff he generously advised that was bad for me, I avoided obviously until I got to a permanent party DFAC! I happen to enjoy a well rounded $5 meal at the DFAC versus a $8 fat pill at BK or Mickey "D"s.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 4 at 2014 1:17 PM

2014-09-04T13:17:00-04:00

Theoretically nothing stops you from policing up any soldier on any issue even one such as this, However that being said it boils down to perception, tact, and general respect to you fellow soldier. My stance on it is we should not be able to regulate what soldiers eat in the DFAC for a multitude of reasons. I.E would you be able to regulate what a soldier intakes if he did not eat at the DFAC (NON Mealcard holder), Soldiers that are overweight and that are enrolled in ABCP have more than likely consulted with a nutritionist so they know the risk, It is the individual soldiers responsibility to ensure the stay within the parameters set out in AR 600-9, And finally we all fight for our freedoms over weight people, skinny people, and average people it should not be our place to decide for them what they can and cannot eat its their career they know the risk they are taking when they grab that icecream.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Sep 5 at 2014 1:57 PM

2014-09-05T13:57:12-04:00

An MP is enforcing laws and there are no laws against poor dietary choices. If a soldier isn't meeting weight standards, that's between them and their CofC. I don't think anyone would want to nor should be called out the way you describe, as that will only aggravate the SMs issue. It's not a matter of an EO complaint but of common courtesy and respect.

Response by MSgt Lancia Stewart made Sep 5 at 2014 7:37 PM

2014-09-05T19:37:34-04:00

It's about making choices. Adult choices (salad instead of chili mac) and adult consequences (getting kicked out for weight). Give them the information and support, but if they decide to bicep curl the curly fries, that's their choices. And therefore their consequences.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2014 9:36 AM

2014-09-08T09:36:28-04:00

This scenario would make a good Duffle Blog story.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2014 4:31 PM

2014-09-08T16:31:19-04:00

It should be a no brainer that chow halls only serve healthy food. Especially since the military has an obesity problem.

Overweight soldiers should also be on the Army Weight Control Program.

Response by SGT Richard H. made Sep 8 at 2014 5:08 PM

2014-09-08T17:08:25-04:00

Skewing this to a slightly different angle, the Army (and other branches) already have weight control programs, and they have nutritionists.

When someone enters the weight control program, they are given a minimum weight loss to achieve in 90 days, and sent to a nutritionist, right?

How about when the nutritionist writes up a diet, give it the same form and function as a medical profile? You violate your profile, you got problems. You follow the profile, but don't achieve the weight loss (say at the 30 or 60 day benchmarks) they adjust the profile until they find what works.

It's the Army, right? If you're fit, have your french fries & pizza or whatever. If you you aren't fit, you get there.

Response by SFC(P) Tobias M. made Sep 8 at 2014 5:09 PM

2014-09-08T17:09:31-04:00

EO in my eyes has its place but this (again in my eyes) is not the place for EO. I agree that we should be able to tell your SM to stop eating.

Response by LTC Barry Hull made Sep 8 at 2014 7:56 PM

2014-09-08T19:56:06-04:00

I don't think it is a matter of could. It is a matter of effectiveness. At best, the Soldier would eat what he could at the DFAC, leave go back to the barracks and order a extra-large 3 meat pizza with extra cheese and bread sticks. What? I can get a 2 liter Coke with that for only a dollar more. Sure, sounds good.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2015 9:42 PM

2015-03-03T21:42:31-05:00

There is an AR 600-9 ABCP, that Commanders and leaders most follow. There are Soldiers that are overweight but meet AR600-9. Soldier's who failed the ABCP are counseled, send to the Doctor to see if he have any medical condition/s. There are also send to Nutritionist. Is the Soldiers desicion what he want to eat. Unless your are a nutritionist then you can advice the Soldier what or not to eat. If he failed to meet the his authorized Army body composition or failed to progress the Army will chapter him out. Let him eat whatever he want.

Response by SPC Daniel Edwards made Mar 3 at 2015 10:01 PM

2015-03-03T22:01:21-05:00

You kind of have a good point. It is a little embarrassing to see a person so out of shape that the uniform looks like it is about to bust. The lazy soldiers that are looking for easy paychecks and benefits should definitely be on strict enforceable diets.

At the same though, one has to consider if it is a medical condition. At my last post, there was a soldier that was that huge. Apparently he was a well known pt stud. This guy was diagnosed with a form of cancer and just had it removed. He was apparently on a medicine that made it impossible to exercise (I think it was heart related but don't quote me on it). My last NCO had 2 surgeries right before I arrived. She could not physically exercise because of the pace maker. She got med boarded but she did put some weight on before she got out because of the lack of exercise.

My point is this, yes we should be able to make sure that someone out of shape and over weight eats properly but at the same time we need to first make sure that the person isn't suffering from a condition. If the person is lazy, definitely police that up.