According to an article in the Boston Herald, "An alarming 75 percent of Americans ages 17 to 24 would not qualify for military service today because they are physically unfit, failed to finish high school or have criminal records. While some experts voiced doubt that obesity and other societal ills would keep three out of four young adults out of the ranks, the report titled "Ready, Willing and Unable to Serve" was endorsed by U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, former NATO commander Gen. Wesley Clark and top retired admirals and generals.
Retired Rear Adm. James Barnett said "Our national security in the year 2030 is absolutely dependent on what’s going on in kindergarten today."
Increasingly, applicants are disqualified for having asthma or for taking pills for depression or attention disorders. Nearly one-third of all young adults have health issues other than weight that could keep them from serving, according to the report of the group Mission: Readiness.
Mission: Readiness organizers, including Education Secretary Duncan, are pressing Congress to approve the Early Learning Challenge Fund, which would provide $1 billion annually in grants to states for 10 years to improve childhood development programs.
Even after signing up, 7 to 15 percent of enlistees return home for not meeting all that basic training demands."
15 comments:
Ah, I do not know about this as we teachers educate students the way they should grow up into - all rounders. But of course not every child is the same.
Some end up having brilliant futures, some might fail miserably. But most of them are only average.
I never taught my students so they might be scientists, laborers etc. They choose what they want to be.
I finished the 1st half of how I was kicked out of uni entry.
You can read it now. :)
i can believe that. here too. i saw a march thingy the other day, and the first thing i noticed is how overweight all the soldiers and policemen were... i mean, how are they supposed to be 'the protectors' if they're not fit?!?!?
That is discouraging and does not bode well for the future of our great land...
I guess if we all got fat and lazy, then there would be no wars! :)
the line about what goes on in kindergater will shape our future...so true...maybe we can teach them love instead of firemans...
intriguing thought otin...
Yes, sad to say the rest of the world calling us Fat Americans has the plangent ring of truth to it. Maybe this article and many others can serve as wake-up calls to us. Knowledge is at least a good starting point.
Well that may be a creative way to end war! Fatten everyone up!
yes! otin, janeywan, i agree!
Hmmm but there should be another way to end wars, even if we are all fit.
Thanks for posting technobabe, very interesting.
They forgot to add, "...or they're gay."
Those stats are alarming but sadly not surprising when I thought about. Times sure have changed.
I'll be spending a lot of time cooking this week and won't be around much but I wanted to wish you a wonderful holiday and to say thanks for your loyal support and great comments on my blog. I really appreciate it!
I'll be back soon! jj
That is very frightening. Will be hoping for world peace by then. And will be hoping for better nutrition education and food in our fast food restaurants.
Maybe Otin has hit on a cure for war.
Very interesting and thought provoking.
Visiting your blog after reading your comment....I too love Ravens. They are huge and beautiful birds revered by the Tlingits of Southeastern Alaska, symbolizing ancestral spirits. I am blessed to live in a wonderfully rich culture up here. You should see their costumes and dances related to the glorious Raven. I thought the news article in today's Anchorage Daily News about the Raven gathering in Fairbanks was just amazing..... xoxo
Oh.. send the fat ones and the ones with ADD..it will thin them up and help them work with their disorders. Seems to me that the walking wounded are good enough to stay in the service..why not everyone else..if everyone had to put in two years after high school we would have lots to draw from. :)
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