Soldiers being dismissed for failing fitness tests

[Misfit]

Rising number of soldiers being dismissed for failing fitness tests - The Washington Post

Under intense pressure to trim its budget, the Army is dismissing a rising number of soldiers who do not meet its fitness standards, drawing from a growing pool of troops grappling with obesity.

Obesity is now the leading cause of ineligibility for people who want to join the Army, according to military officials, who see expanding waistlines in the warrior corps as a national security concern.

[itsbob]

Originally Posted by Misfit

Rising number of soldiers being dismissed for failing fitness tests - The Washington Post

Under intense pressure to trim its budget, the Army is dismissing a rising number of soldiers who do not meet its fitness standards, drawing from a growing pool of troops grappling with obesity.

Obesity is now the leading cause of ineligibility for people who want to join the Army, according to military officials, who see expanding waistlines in the warrior corps as a national security concern.

Nothing new..

[Larry Gude (Premo)]

But, this isn't fair! They are disable!!! They give their all, and then some, for their country only to be tossed out on their ass when there needs to be some belt tightening! Never mind how ample that ass may be, this is, why, this is fatism! At it's worse-erer!

Attica! Attica! Attica!

[itsbob]

Originally Posted by Larry Gude

But, this isn't fair! They are disable!!! They give their all, and then some, for their country only to be tossed out on their ass when there needs to be some belt tightening! Never mind how ample that ass may be, this is, why, this is fatism! At it's worse-erer!

Attica! Attica! Attica!

There are two separate standards, weight and fitness. You would think if you were overweight but could pass the fitness test you'd be ok, but not the case.

Sooooo if not for fitness and health why? Personally I'd like to have the 250 pound infantryman at my side as I doubt some 150 pound could carry me very far if something went wrong... But the 250 pounder just wouldn't look good in uniform.

[StadEMS3]

I rem the days if you could do 1.5 miles in under 15 minutes you were good. We had people smoking, walking and bellies hanging well over their belts and passing. Then they added body fat test- still had bellies over belt but had toothpick legs and passed. Then we had the ergo bike test- smoke a cigarette or take aspirin or drink a Mountain Dew and you passed. While the real runners and bike people failed. Glad I retired!

Just a friendly jab to the Navy peeps- We (Air Force) were told if they could fit through a hula hoop they were in!

[itsbob]

Originally Posted by StadEMS3

I rem the days if you could do 1.5 miles in under 15 minutes you were good. We had people smoking, walking and bellies hanging well over their belts and passing. Then they added body fat test- still had bellies over belt but had toothpick legs and passed. Then we had the ergo bike test- smoke a cigarette or take aspirin or drink a Mountain Dew and you passed. While the real runners and bike people failed. Glad I retired!

Just a friendly jab to the Navy peeps- We (Air Force) were told if they could fit through a hula hoop they were in!

When I joined in 1980 I took my first fitness test, and looking at the sheet I thought.. WOW if I retire from the Army I could get fat and lazy, walk the two miles and not even have to work out and still pass the test.

Well, they were on to me... As I got older it seemed every time I hit the next age bracket the standards went up. By the time I did retire I had to run faster do more sit ups and do the same amount of push ups to pass then I did when I was 18

[b23hqb]

Originally Posted by itsbob

When I joined in 1980 I took my first fitness test, and looking at the sheet I thought.. WOW if I retire from the Army I could get fat and lazy, walk the two miles and not even have to work out and still pass the test.

Well, they were on to me... As I got older it seemed every time I hit the next age bracket the standards went up. By the time I did retire I had to run faster do more sit ups and do the same amount of push ups to pass then I did when I was 18

I joined the Navy in 1972, and until I was discharged in 76 there was no such thing as weight or fitness standards. When I went into the reserves in 84, there were then, until I was HYT and retired in 2005.

I always thought the tests were a good thing. If one made the weight for their height, the body fat was never even calculated. Just making weight and passing the physical minimums made one satisfactory and passed.

[NTNG]

Originally Posted by StadEMS3

I rem the days if you could do 1.5 miles in under 15 minutes you were good. We had people smoking, walking and bellies hanging well over their belts and passing. Then they added body fat test- still had bellies over belt but had toothpick legs and passed. Then we had the ergo bike test- smoke a cigarette or take aspirin or drink a Mountain Dew and you passed. While the real runners and bike people failed. Glad I retired!

Just a friendly jab to the Navy peeps- We (Air Force) were told if they could fit through a hula hoop they were in!

Yeah, and the Wing-Wipers do thier PFT on line now...
:-)

USN, 1976-1996

[Madam Blue]

Air Force and Navy complaining about physical fitness tests; Give me a freaking break. Most of them should be on a fat body program anyway.

[NTNG]

Deep cleansing breath, in thru the nose,hold for 3 seconds, release out thru the mouth.
Repeat a bunch of times.

We were K I D D I N G ...