Thread: Fat, unhealthy Americans threaten Trump’s defense surge

Originally Posted by bsnub

That contrast rarely happens as almost no well educated Yankees enlist in the military. The overwhelming majority of enlisted personnel are from economically depressed regions of the country. Overwhelmingly from the south.

Lots of economically depressed areas outside of the South - think Detroit, Baltimore, etc. My Platoon, at Ft. Knox, Kentucky, generally filled with a mix of white, rural rednecks from the 'hollers' of Kentucky and black gang bangers from the inner cities such as Detroit - fun for all!

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

^^I might add that the draft was going strong - thus the occasional college drop-out and most of the High School graduates who didn't have the money to hide out in college. Without the draft, it would really have been a horror show.

Can you give more detail in the part in bold?

Thanks.

Originally Posted by Grampa

Can you give more detail in the part in bold?

Thanks.

No. Fuck you.

Originally Posted by misskit

One possible solution to ease the recruiting challenge would be for the military to lower its standards for entry.

Please don't.

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

When I was a Drill Sergeant in a Basic Training platoon, we had three classrooms for the final proficiency test. One for trainees who could read English, one for trainees who could only read Spanish, and one for those who had to have the examination read to them.

Seriously!!!!??? Illiterate? And then given a deadly weapon?
No wonder there has been so much death by friendly fire from the US army.

Originally Posted by Maanaam

Please don't.



Seriously!!!!??? Illiterate? And then given a deadly weapon?
No wonder there has been so much death by friendly fire from the US army.

Not totally unable to read, but read so poorly as to be unable to read the questions. BTW, most 'friendly fire' in Vietnam was a result of misdirected artillery or air strikes.

Originally Posted by Maanaam

lliterate?

Fortunately when the time came to read them the questions on the final proficiency test, there were a few warm and nurturing Drill Sergeants such as myself to guide them. "Now hear this! All you really stupid fuckers report to Classroom 6".

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

No. Fuck you.

Having a bad day, huh?

Originally Posted by Norton

where guys like Davis make your life miserable for a few weeks.

I was the same warm and caring soul then....

The company I worked for were hiring in the USA about two years ago, obesity wasn't a problem in the hiring process, getting people that could pass the drugs test was near impossible! slimming tablets maybe?

Originally Posted by misskit

^ It is indeed.

Perhaps they have raised the bar too high. If a young person is overweight, they won't be for long after going through boot camp. How clever does a person need to be to be a soldier or mechanic?

I would imagine you will find out how smart a mechanic is Misskit when you break down one day and you need one of these "not so smart mechanics" to fix one of the 25,000 odd parts that make up your automobile. I am not an automobile mechanic myself although I can repair many things on a car. It does however make me appreciate the amount of knowledge a good car mechanic needs and has.

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

BTW, most 'friendly fire' in Vietnam was a result of misdirected artillery or air strikes.

Plus a few fraggings.

Originally Posted by VocalNeal

What about an Amrican version of the French Foreign Legion. Might solve the problems of some of the "Dreamer" or wannabee migrants from Latin American countries. Serve for 5 years get a US passport. Separate command structure. Separate kit. Could use non-US fighting vehicles and helicopters. You fight for your friends not necessarily the US.

In many ways, you just described America's "volunteer Army".

What about the Blackwaters(?) or whatever they're called, those private military contractors, do they count?

Originally Posted by AntRobertson

What about the Blackwaters(?) or whatever they're called, those private military contractors, do they count?

Only to dead Iraqi civilians...........

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

Lots of economically depressed areas outside of the South

This is true but the bulk still come from the south. The poster had commented that well educated yankees may enlist and the truth of it is if they serve at all it would most likely be as commissioned officers and not in the enlisted ranks.

^Not going to argue. I'm talking personal experience of fifty years ago. You're talking Google of today.

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

One for trainees who could read English, one for trainees who could only read Spanish, and one for those who had to have the examination read to them.

DK, you are lucky that your post hasn't been scrapped - as mine few months ago when posting a link to official figures of illiteracy... (It was obviously off-topic )

When I was in basic training in the marine corp they had a company called the fat farm for those who could not meet the physical requirements in the eight weeks. The time spent in the fat farm did not count against your enlistment time.

Oh dear...

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

In many ways, you just described America's "volunteer Army".

OK I was thinking non US citizens who would serve for 5 years so they can become citizens. Maybe that happens already. The Legion accepts people from dubious backgrounds if they pass the screening. They get a new ID and .... Officers French the rest are a mishmash of nationalities but they all end up French.
I was thinking they could fill their shortfall with Spanish speaking Christians from the Americas. But again maybe that happens already.

A mate of mine commented that when the "fleet" arrives in Pattaya for R&R the guys disembarking already don't all look like Alan Ladd!

Originally Posted by AntRobertson

Oh dear...

Not a mistake ANY former Marine would EVER make.

That’s what I was thinking.

Seems our Repeater might just be talking a load of balls