This week, I noticed a news report that came out and discussed the condition of American 18-year old 'kids' and if they were capable or qualified for the US military. According to the survey....77-percent are not able to qualify.
The hinderances? Fat, overweight, out-of-shape, drug-use, mentally unbalanced, and inability to handle stress.
I thought about this statistic....basically, only one out of four high graduates could handle it. Same number in 1977 (when I entered the Air Force)? No. Probably 90-percent of the people in my group could have gone in.
I noticed some discussion about a teacher commenting this week.....they had kids in the class who prioritized home-work, and rarely accomplished it. The only tool that the teacher had.....was to limit grade points. The kids didn't care. If they did zero homework, and were limited to a 'C' average....that didn't matter.
From the landscape? It looks crappy, I admit. The trend will continue and eventually reach a point where only 10-percent of Americans have the mindset or health aspects.....to joint the military. At that point, it'll be a crisis, and how we correct the 'problem' will be a crisis itself.
I enlisted in 1978 in the Navy's Advanced Electronic Program. back then there was on average a 6 month wait. The Navy had 3 Bootcamps running as well.
ReplyDeleteJust yesterday, I read that the Army missed it's quarterly recruitment goal by 15,000. Some suggest that that Army recruiters are running in circles now...willing to accept just about anyone who is within 20 pounds of their Army max weight.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it'll matter. By January, they probably will miss the goal by 15,000 again. At that point...units will be in dismal woes for filling empty slots.