muscogeemike
Active member
Haha 42 thats not the first time you have started a post to me with that.
There are also many other job roles, so say for instance a third of the population is overweight- while it is not traditionally an armys style I am sure they could cater to different physiques.
The rooms where soldiers look at computer screens all day would really suit some people, and there are plenty of jobs for truck drivers.
I think compulsory service would be good for some people.
You are right up to a point. I was drafted in the US in the 60’s and standards were low, but when the war and the draft ended the Army’s need for “bodies” shrank and the standards went up.
There are military jobs where physical fitness is not, necessarily, a requirement. The problem is that an overweight Officer or NCO loses credibility with a very fit soldier. The Army has experimented with the “Technical” and “Specialist” ranks to try to address this problem and has never totally succeeded.
I was on active duty during the first Gulf War. That Gen Norman Schwarzkoph and at least one other Gen on his staff (who was on TV regularly) did not probably meet the current height to weight standards did not go un noticed. But who is going to tell a 4 star General (or any General) he is fat?
As the needs of the service change so will the physical (and mental) standards. If the military can be choosy they will be; if they need more people they will lower standards.