Not Exactly a Confidence-Builder
I think it's safe to say that the stress of perpetual deployment has taken it's toll on the American military:
Really? I'll remember that when they decide to raise the recruitment age above 42, or decide to look the other way when the guy who's 30 pounds overweight begs to enlist. BTW, did you know 61 percent of American adults are overweight, and three out of 10 U.S. adults are obese? I don't know if Winkenwerder knows, but lets assume that everyone in that other 39% are connected to the military.
Oops. We can't do that:
Seems like the military is actually a reflection of American society, and not an exception of it. Go figure. And don't get me started on the drinking thing.
U.S. troops were fatter and drank harder in 2005 than before the Iraq war started, according a Pentagon survey of more than 16,000 service members released on Friday.
Still, the Pentagon said service members appeared to fare better than civilians in measures of lifestyle and health-related behaviors.
"I am pleased, and even a little surprised, that despite the stresses of war and ongoing deployments, nearly all indicators of service members' health and well-being continue to be quite good compared with civilian populations," said William Winkenwerder, assistant defense secretary for health affairs.
Really? I'll remember that when they decide to raise the recruitment age above 42, or decide to look the other way when the guy who's 30 pounds overweight begs to enlist. BTW, did you know 61 percent of American adults are overweight, and three out of 10 U.S. adults are obese? I don't know if Winkenwerder knows, but lets assume that everyone in that other 39% are connected to the military.
Oops. We can't do that:
Some 60.5 percent of respondents in the 2005 survey were overweight compared with 57.2 percent in the previous survey conducted in 2002.
The survey also showed 44.5 percent of respondents participated in "binge drinking," up from 41.8 percent in 2002. The Iraq war began in March 2003.
Seems like the military is actually a reflection of American society, and not an exception of it. Go figure. And don't get me started on the drinking thing.
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