DoD: 75% of Americans aged 17 - 24 are unfit for service

I hate when things have retarded names like "Coalition Plaza." It reminds me of Foglesong's "Combat" initiatives. Combat Plaza.

It is dawn to dawn.

 

I'm quite certain it's dusk to dawn.

 

To what extent is asthma considered? I have a very mild case of asthma that I manage easily. Does that really mean I couldn't join the military?

 

Asthma is only disqualifying if it occurs after the applicant’s 13th birthday.
You'll still need to take a pulmonary function test, more than likely.

 

I have had since I was born. I have taken lung capacity test before and been about average.

 

I'm quite certain this is the 69th joke that went over your head. Jesus Christ.

 

If you have been treated for asthma, they will not take you. It even goes back before 13 now apparently too. I know in ROTC, they ask cadets if they have ever been treated for asthma. Now that they need to cut numbers, if you can answer yes to that question, you are toast.

 

69th, so to speak.

 

I have had a prescribed inhaler...so there goes that idea?

I am super smart and handsome, that won't win me any points?

 

That's how I got in.

 

I am face-palming right now...

Pretty much. My nephew had asthma up until he was 6 and he was asked if he was ever diagnosed with asthma. I did not tell him one way or the other, but if you have not had asthma after age 13 (like the old standards) and have never been treated for it, then...

Your case is bleak right now, but like all things, qualifications for the military are cyclical. In a few years, they may start relaxing on standards again. What are you interested in doing?

As far as being super smart and good looking, that does not help getting into the military, but it helps if you are at UPT and want an F-15 assignment.

 

I really don't know what I would want to do, it is just an idea I have entertained lately. I graduated from college in may near the top of the class and the job market still hasn't treated me kindly. My grandfather and one uncle was in the Navy and then I had another couple of uncles that were in the army, I was going to ask them about what to expect if some sort of job didn't come along soon. One was a medic, one was a mechanic, and one was MI. I am a numbers person, and not to sound arrogant, but I am a really really good numbers person.

I hadn't looked into it much, but I was going to if nothing happened soon. I guess I shouldn't bother now.

 

Do not worry, you are talking to the most arrogant really really good numbers person in existence. I am not saying do not try if you really want to. The problem is they have to medically qualify you for everything instead of what you want to do. At least that is how they did it for the Air Force and the FC I physical. If you want to be a numbers guy and sit in a room all day, there is no reason why you should not be able to do that. Check into it, I really only know things from the military aviation side. Even then I am not 100% sure because I know the square root of (*)(*)(*)(*) about medical things.

 

No...really?

You're too hard on yourself.

*sarcasm*

 

You just have a preconception of what Eagle drivers are like. Dork.

 

Well thanks for the advise, we'll see what happens.

 

Start your own business doing something you really like to do. Life is too short to be wasting it on a "job" building somebody else's dream and doing work that you really don't enjoy doing. If you can't find a job then start a business and start lining up some customers/clients and get paid doing something you have a passion and love of doing. It's not easy to start and build a business, but it can be rewarding and a lot of fun. For me, every day is like it's own little adventure where there is always something a little different going on and sometimes it's pretty amusing. Money is important, but it's not everything.

 

Consider the Guard. States have some say-so in the the requirements; it's not a lot, but they may offer opportunities not open to you with AD or Reserves. And look at the whole endevour like the lottery--the odds are pretty long, but you have no chance at all if you don't play.

 

A more cynical person might think you were implying women earn favors in the military because of their looks.

 

Cynical? Sexist, perhaps, but not cynical. A cynical outlook would compalin about the fact "good looks" is an issue at all. I know, 'cuase I am an enlisted guy who ain't pretty who happens to be something of a cynical individual and that was the first thought which came to mind.

 

It's very true. I, myself, am currently in the military, and I remember my recruiter mentioning this fact. If the news were to, highly unlikely, run a story about this, they'd find that the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) is really not that hard to the average high school, or college student.

Quite frankly, I know from experience, it all consisted of (seemingly) basic high school-level mathematics, reading comprehension, etc., which most of the high school students who take the test, should already be learning anyway!

So, reasons why the statistics are what they are (btw, my personal opinion) is either the teachers' faults for not EFFICIENTLY teaching their students, or it's (more than likely) flat-out LAZINESS on the individual taking the test.

I personally think that laziness is the primary issue, because they offer a ridiculous amount of study resources for the ASVAB, which I doubt people of that age group will take advantage of (see "primary reason" above) , to ensure get at least a minimum qualifying score.

Most times, however, people of that age group will only take the ASVAB during a school day for the sole purpose of skipping classes. Therefore, they just don't care, and the test means nothing to them.

So, again, I implement, and conclude, that the PRIMARY cause for such statistics is none other than LAZINESS.

P.S. - (personal opinion) And believe me, this is NOT the only case where laziness is the root cause. If you look at a lot of the world's problems, or even just America's own problems, you'd be surprised how many can be solved by eliminating the LAZINESS from the equation. Just saying.

 

Yup..

I remember after desert storm 35 year olds with criminal records were getting waivers.

Just depends if we need bodies or not.


Having said that, its no secret kids are getting fatter and stupider than in the past. Thank the last 50 years of liberal puke for that.

 

I tend to thank the previous generations of Americans for working hard to make our lives easier, more prosperous and much safer.

Casting blame is easy. Fixing stuff, not so much. I've no love for Obama or his attempts at leadership, but simply blaming each other isn't going to make things get any better.

 

It also depends on what the waiver is needed for in the first place.

I knew one guy that got a waiver back in the 1980's to enter the Marines. He had a conviction on his record for Involuntary Manslaughter.

However, he was given a waiver because his crime involved the death of a man who was raping his mother at knifepoint. And his sentence for the crime was all spent in community service (I do not know how many hours, but it took him 2 years to do it all). I have also seen waivers for other crimes (like illegal immigration), but it is highly dependent on the circumstances. They do not just give them out to anybody that shows up.

And 2 crimes you never seen waivered are sex and drug offenses.

 

Retired generals: Recruits "too fat to fight"...

Retired military leaders say this generation is "too fat to fight"
September 25, 2012 - Is obesity America's greatest threat to national security?

See also:

Military leaders point to schools in U.S. fat fight
Tue Sep 25, 2012 : Obesity a top reason young adults can't join military -experts * Report: U.S. school kids eat 400 billion excess calories a year * Retired military leaders push stronger school food rules