Tattoos, prescription drugs, obesity hinder Army Reserves recruitment effort

[lovuian]

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/feb/16/army-reserve-candidates-tattoos-obesity-prescripti/

Physical, moral or cognitive shortcomings eliminate 71 percent of potential military recruits

[TeddyR]

1. The tattoo issue is silly

Unless somehow offensive (racist, sexist, etc.). The obesity issue is a national problem. America needs not to be so fat.

[lovuian]

3. I agree just don't get the tatoo thing

71% ....sounds like a national emergency for our young people

[Lordquinton]

2. Moral shortcomings?

I think they have more to worry about than anything they listed.

[pinboy3niner]

4. Moral shortcomings...

[Lordquinton]

6. ...

[underpants]

7. If you turn it sideways the blue looks like Trumps hair

This guy is a prophet!!!

[underpants]

5. Convictions

I would suspect. Mostly for assaults.

[Lordquinton]

8. Yes. We don't want our trained killers to have a history of violence

And military service has historically an alternative to jail time.

(On edit, I realize this is the reserves, so me title is a bit harsh in context)

[underpants]

11. They have many of the same standards.

See my post below.

They still do basic and that includes them having a loaded rifle at times and throwing 2 live hand grenades - with an instructor in the hole with many of their platoon mates nearby.

[SwankyXomb]

18. Is there still room on the Group W bench?

[underpants]

9. Tattoos in the article make sense. Basic training doesn't have time for meds (school lunches)

Tattoos above the collar or below the shirt sleeve has been verboten for a while. The released that requirement during the W feed to slaughter.

Meds. Basic training (ok I was in 25 years ago) doesn't have time for "I need this after a meal" "I need this with dairy" etc. I don't think anyone in my basic was on any meds. They can't prepare to make sure you are in the middle of nowhere and need that kind of detail. This sort of thing is why about 40% of initial draftees in WWII were rejected. Vision and dental- malnutrition. Gen marshall wrote and lobbied for the school meals program law as part of his Marshall plan for the U.S. AFTER the war. He understood the need for proper food in pediatric development. And you just can't have 40% of the available fighting force being unable to serve.

They also can't hand a live grenade to a whack job with a highly trained pro in the training fox hole with them. That was nerve racking for everyone involved.

I know someone who was a recruiter for the National Guard. He said that it was hard to find anyone in certain towns that could pass the Army Vocational Aptitude Battery. This was in the mid-90's mind you. We took in high school as a way out of class. He was beside himself how slack assed whole towns of people were.

[lovuian]

10. This is what I'm talking about

a national crisis ....

[Lordquinton]

13. The tattoos part makes zero sense

It's banned because it's banned isn't a good reason.

The rest of what you say makes sense, because of such poor public standards we've developed a sick population that seeks care only when absolutely necessary, thus resulting in life long pain when it should often have been a quick visit.

II was wondering if this was also because there are less folks signing up, or if the numbers are still proportional (though with a larger pool, there are more acceptable recruits)

[ohnoyoudidnt]

15. Perhaps people without the mental and psychological conditions that prevent them from being accepted

are just less likely to try to enlist than they used to be. Given the last few adventures our military was sent on, I can't blame them.

[Lordquinton]

17. That's what I'm wondering

I'd like to say that's the issue, but I have no data to back it up, and Trump's popularity kinda points the other way, although they are also the types who distrust the government and can't wait to use their guns to defend themselves against the military, which they love and support.

[underpants]

22. The Marines have had no problem meeting their recruitment goals

Like is said, I was Army so I'm not puffing up The Marines ( one side of my family is 3 generation Marine).

The USMC has higher standards and they are getting more applicants to meet their goals. Have been throughout from the beginning of the War on Iraq. Just saying.

[MADem]

27. Uniformity. The nail that sticks up gets hammered down.

In uniform, you're all the same--you don't display "marks of individuality."

That's the concept, anyway.

We're in a drawdown right now--they can afford to be VERY PICKY, because they're demobbing all the people that Obama brought home.

When you go to a base, you may actually see service personnel manning the gates. They've let the security guards go...

[NobodyHere]

12. I don't get the obesity argument

My brother once tried to join the military. The army wouldn't take him because he was overweight. The navy wouldn't take him because he was overweight. The marine recruiter just said, "Don't worry, he won't be overweight for long".

[ohnoyoudidnt]

14. I don't get that part either.

If the diet and exercise in basic training isn't enough, surely they could come up with an additional program for new recruits to complete that will get them in better shape before they start basic. As others have said, the tattoo rule is dumb. These two issues should be able to solved fairly easily. Not that we need to be sending so many soldiers around the world for the reasons that we are, anyway.

[milestogo]

16. I know someone whose son joined the marines 80 lbs overweight

at age 18. The training helped him lose all that weight and get in great shape during the first year.

[Johnyawl]

20. When I was in Marine boot camp in 1968...

...we had a special platoon for overweight recruits. They were sent there the first week of boot camp and stayed there until they lost the required weight, at which time they started recruit training. It was commonly referred to as the "Fat Farm".

They also had a platoon for those who were too weak and skinny to participate in boot camp, and a platoon for those who were functionally illiterate.

In 1968 the Marines were desperate and would take anybody on the assumption they could make them into Marines. It worked most of the time. Anybody that's seen "Full Metal Jacket" knows it didn't always produce the desired results.

[underpants]

23. I was in one of those platoons

I'm really heavy for my frame. I had to make weight to be able to carry the football from little league up. All of my coaches were shocked because I looked all claws and paws.


We weren't allowed dessert or dairy (the thinking in the early 90's) and there were some fat boys and muscle bound ones too. I'll never forget our assistant Drill yelling out from their office "Jesus Christ! You f****ers are too big to fit in a deuce and a half!" 35 of us? We were literally that big.

Two months (4 month basic) in we got our day off and my folks picked me up. I got a hotel room, a pizza, and a 12 pack. I tried to put on a pair of my jeans and they fell off. I'd only lost 10 pounds but I was ripped.

[TeddyR]

19. Obesity is a real problem in the US

Perhaps the most serious health problem we face, and the military can't solve that problem. It sets weight limits and you should have to be within those limits to qualify for service. If you don't have the self-discipline to get within those limits (which aren't particularly onerous) then you might not have the self-discipline to succeed in the military. Setting that aside, there have to be some standards -- there's a big difference between being 5 pounds over the limit and 100 pounds over the limit. If 5 pounds you could certainly lose that in basic training, but if 100 pounds it would take a lot longer than the 12 weeks or so (depending on the service) of basic.

[underpants]

24. Diabetes is the main cause of adult blindness

Followed by genetic/hereditary and head trauma (cars wrecks, falls, and GSW - gunshot wounds).

[NobodyHere]

25. Throw them in boot camp for an extra few months

For the majority of people it's problem solved.

[stevenleser]

28. Ouch. That's mean. nt

[SheilaT]

31. Overweight and obesity are two different things.

[madville]

21. I imagine bad credit is a disqualifier also

Mainly because so many are required to have a Secret Clearance now. Criminal history and past drug use also come into play.

[dembotoz]

26. during nam my lottery number was 14 i can assure you that a tat was not known to be a way out

lucky for me my eyes really suck--something about looking 1 direction with the gun pointed elsewhere.

anyway i had a room mate in the dorm who went to canada and another close friend who filed for a co.
i am quite positive they would have found getting body art to be easier and cheaper


if this is true, should a republicthug get elected potus, taking my kids in to get done asap

[madinmaryland]

29. The Moonie Times?????

[lovuian]

34. Heres some more links with same news

https://www.military1.com/army/article/462612-wheres-the-talent-why-the-military-cant-find-recruits

Dysfunctional public education disqualifies many from service because of the high school diploma (or GED equivalent) requirement. Right now 1 out of 5 students does not finish high school on time. The military, once an option to gain valuable skills while serving the country, is now denied to them.

Increasing obesity rates also remove many potential candidates from the running. To state the obvious, you can't be fat and join the military; too many physical tasks are required to perform basic duties. We continue to gain weight as a nation and thus, disqualify a growing number of young people every year.

http://www.military.com/daily-news/2014/05/13/military-forced-to-get-picky-in-recruiting.html

On Hoard's desk were slips bearing the names of four local candidates rejected for having tattoos that crept too low on their forearms. All four were turned down the week after the Army's tattoo restrictions took effect April 29.

With the United States drawing down its troop numbers from wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the active duty prospects for a generation that grew up in the age of terror aren't apt to improve, say area recruiters and educators. As it is, about four of every five adults who seek to join don't qualify.

[thelordofhell]

30. They forgot some other reasons...........

The Improved Economy

Knowing About PTSD

Knowing About Multiple Deployments

Realization That The Govt. Uses Troops For Useless Reasons

Seeing How Vets Are Treated By The Govt.

Possibility Of Forced After-Service Deployment

Etc. Etc. Etc.

[Heeeeers Johnny]

32. Well, in all fairness I could see how some tattoos would be frowned upon

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Yeah... I know it's an old 60's thing from 'Steal this Book'.

[pipoman]

33. Only because no fodder is needed....watch that turn 180 degrees if soldiers were needed...