Pandemic pounds push 10,000 U.S. Army soldiers into obesity

"pushed 10,000 U.S. Army Soldiers into obesity"? Seriously? It's called 'push-aways' and 'other forms of exercise'. Additionally, I look at this as a failure of leadership.

I acknowledge that the force absolutely put on extra weight during the lockdowns and such, but if you were to tell me that we had 10,000 Soldiers in the lower enlisted ranks who's motivation came from external, as opposed to internal (i.e., avoiding punishment)* instead of meeting a standard I might be somewhat inclined to be more accepting as putting the onus squarely on leadership not figuring out how to maintain that motivation in this situation ... but NCOs and Officers?

During the 'work-at-home' period, DoD recommended that leaders give more time to Servicemembers to do physical training each day. Heck, the guidance I gave down to my division was to maximize physical fitness and training/schooling, ESPECIALLY if you did it from home. Glad to say that at the 'semi-return to normalcy' that I didn't have a single Soldier break tape and across the board PT scores went up.

Why? I checked on them and and ensured them knew they were still being held to a standard (i.e., the 'external motivation') and many took the opportunity their selves to better their physical fitness.

*sigh* .... "The pandemic did me in and and made me obese".

No ... YOU did yourself in and made yourself obese.
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* I'm not saying they are all like that, but there are a lot more "PFC Snuffys" than "SGT Snuffys" and/or "LT Snuffys"

Thanks for the share.