Politics

[PARA45]

 

[Hogpatrol]

Forget us going to war with anyone. 75% of youths can't pass the muster for the military, any service.

Up to 75 Percent of US Youth Ineligible for Military Service

About 75 percent of US 17- to 24-year-olds are ineligible for the military due to lack of education, obesity, physical problems or criminal history.

www.thoughtco.com

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

Forget us going to war with anyone. 75% of youths can't pass the muster for the military, any service.

Too much McDonald's, bicycle helmets, computer games and not letting kids go out and get into minor trouble. Add to that no more spanking and kids have little respect for authority.

My 17th summer was an all expense paid 11 week vacation at Parris Island. Bring a farm boy with a strict mother, boot camp while not easy, I was a thousand times more prepared for it than most kids today. Still, I read today that my Marine Corps and the Navy both will meet their recruiting goals. I think there are some kids who are prepared for the challenge!

Postscript:. As an adult I mountain biked all over the west and east coast of the USA. I even raced them in Arizona. I always wore a helmet and that was a good thing. I cracked two helmets bouncing my head off rocks. As a kid however I never wore a bicycle helmet and lived. I did always wear a helmet riding dirt motorcycles.

 

[PARA45]

I read that the Air Force is thinking of lowering some standards for recruiting purposes. The IT world is full of chunky kids, and they can't pass any physical requirements and the AF is in desperate need of them. The waist measurement was removed from the PT requirement, and the AF is thinking of allowing beards while in uniform as an incentive. WTF???

 

[bowjijohn]

London Bridge is Down

the coded phrase for the process of managing the loss of the Queen

News reports are circulating that the Queen is unwell and all family members are heading to Balmoral

Our thoughts and prayers are with her

 

[Jörg Krüger]

I read that the Air Force is thinking of lowering some standards for recruiting purposes. The IT world is full of chunky kids, and they can't pass any physical requirements and the AF is in desperate need of them. The waist measurement was removed from the PT requirement, and the AF is thinking of allowing beards while in uniform as an incentive. WTF???

Soon enough Man-Buns will be allowed as well and the standard caliber will be 6.5 creedmore

 

[PARA45]

Soon enough Man-Buns will be allowed as well and the standard caliber will be 6.5 creedmore

No sh*t brother. It's this woke world we live in now, and the military is getting contaminated. Don't get me wrong, we still have some fine military members serving now, but I don't like the path we are heading.

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

I read that the Air Force is thinking of lowering some standards for recruiting purposes. The IT world is full of chunky kids, and they can't pass any physical requirements and the AF is in desperate need of them. The waist measurement was removed from the PT requirement, and the AF is thinking of allowing beards while in uniform as an incentive. WTF???

Recruiting smart, physically fit, law-abiding young men and women has to be challenging!
Before my time, the Selective Service "Draft" was a great equalizer for young men of all walks of life. I remember an older guy with a low draft number sweating the thought of being sent to Viet Nam. The draft was cancelled that year and he didn't get called up. I don't think the draft will ever happen again.

 

[PARA45]

Recruiting smart, physically fit, law-abiding young men and women has to be challenging!
Before my time, the Selective Service "Draft" was a great equalizer for young men of all walks of life. I remember an older guy with a low draft number sweating the though of being sent to Viet Nam. The draft was cancelled that year and he didn't get called up. I don't think the draft will ever happen again.

You are correct that we may never see the draft again. IMHO, I believe we should have the draft. Serve for 2-4 years, and if you want to make a career out of the military the choices are there. If you don't want to stay, then after the 2-4 years you get out with a trade you could use in the civilian world, or maybe go to college with the GI Bill. This will hopefully help our young generation to appreciate what they have and to love their country.

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

I believe we should have the draft. Serve for 2-4 years, and if you want to make a career out of the military the choices are there. If you don't want to stay, then after the 2-4 years you get out with a trade you could use in the civilian world, or maybe go to college with the GI Bill.

I agree! I would make it a 1 year, or 6 months plus monthly drills for a total of 2 years.
Add to that, technical training and more college money for more years of service.
Let those who do not want to train for war be in non-combatant specialties.

The above is a simple fix to a complex problem but national service for young people would be good for them. Hopefully the military would also benefit...

 

[JOHN GRENZ]

 

[mdwest]

 

[mdwest]

Meanwhile.. In Europe....

 

[PARA45]

So true @mdwest!

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Forget us going to war with anyone. 75% of youths can't pass the muster for the military, any service.

Up to 75 Percent of US Youth Ineligible for Military Service

About 75 percent of US 17- to 24-year-olds are ineligible for the military due to lack of education, obesity, physical problems or criminal history.

www.thoughtco.com

This is a 10 year old video, citing obesity as a national security issue. The situation has not improved any.

 

[WAB]

London Bridge is Down

the coded phrase for the process of managing the loss of the Queen

News reports are circulating that the Queen is unwell and all family members are heading to Balmoral

Our thoughts and prayers are with her

She has been a great queen. I think the monarchy will struggle under Charles.

 

[steve white]

You are correct that we may never see the draft again. IMHO, I believe we should have the draft. Serve for 2-4 years, and if you want to make a career out of the military the choices are there. If you don't want to stay, then after the 2-4 years you get out with a trade you could use in the civilian world, or maybe go to college with the GI Bill. This will hopefully help our young generation to appreciate what they have and to love their country.

And little student debt, AND grow them the heck up so they make better choices than women's studies degrees...

 

[VertigoBE]

London Bridge is Down

the coded phrase for the process of managing the loss of the Queen

News reports are circulating that the Queen is unwell and all family members are heading to Balmoral

Our thoughts and prayers are with her

I hope she can keep the reigns tight for another few years.

 

[mdwest]

You are correct that we may never see the draft again. IMHO, I believe we should have the draft. Serve for 2-4 years, and if you want to make a career out of the military the choices are there. If you don't want to stay, then after the 2-4 years you get out with a trade you could use in the civilian world, or maybe go to college with the GI Bill. This will hopefully help our young generation to appreciate what they have and to love their country.

I dunno... I used to think compulsory service (whether in the military, or some other govt entity similar to how the Israelis do it) was a good idea.. at least we'd put young adults (who these days don't bother to start acting like adults or taking responsibility for anything until they are in their mid to late 20's it seems) in a position to mature, grow, learn a skill/trade, etc.. and better position themselves for their futures once their service is complete..

But the more I have thought about it.. I have come to the conclusion that despite its warts (and it had plenty), and some of the incredibly disappointing leadership that has emerged in the US military over the last decade or so.. that one of the primary things that makes our military the worlds most capable fighting force is the fact that it is a 100% volunteer organization..

Even with it being a 100% volunteer organization, there are TONS and TONS of problems with people trying to get out of deployments (anything from female soldiers intentionally trying to get pregnant right before they roll out, to guys just going awol, or simply refusing to go, etc).. and many of the societal problems we are seeing with millennials and Gen Z are just as present in the military as outside of it.. Can you imagine what it would be like conducting high risk training with a significant % of the people around you not actually wanting to be there or giving a damn about whats going on? And if that's bad.. how about being stuck on a FOB in a garden spot like Somalia or Syria where half of the people around you (or more) never wanted to be there, knowing you are about to leave the wire and run a combat patrol?

Even worse.. being on that combat patrol when shit goes down.. knowing the guys in the rear manning the artillery.. and the radios... and the QRF.. or maintaining the attack helicopters and other ground attack aircraft arent motivated to be there..

It would be easy enough to keep the non motivated folks out of the elite units where they would have to volunteer and pass additional training to enter..

But at the end of the day.. whether we're talking a conventional airborne unit, or a SOF unit, or a Marine infantry unit, etc (the guys outside the wire putting their nuts into the breeze routinely that you could refuse to admit draftees into and only accept volunteers).. They all rely on support elements to be able to execute their missions to one degree or another as well as rely on them to keep them safe (as safe as you can be in a combat situation)..

 

[WebleyGreene455]

I hope she can keep the reigns tight for another few years.

She needs to triumph over Louis XIV for longest-reigning monarch. If only by a day. Can't let the French beat the English!

I doubt it'll happen, though. I heard they cancelled the Changing of the Guard. That's probably indicative of there being Charles III in the near future.