Most of today’s youth are not eligible for military service because they are too fat, too weak, not smart enough and prone to drug-use and criminal behavior, according to a panel of senior military officers.
“We are all victims of our own past success. We all have a conscript mentality that there’s a never-ending supply of perfect high school graduates that are over the horizon coming at us to fill every job we have,” said Vice Adm. John Cotton, commander of the Navy Reserve. “I’ll tell you what, we’re about to be shocked, because they are not there.”
Seventy-two percent of American youth between 17 and 24 years of age are not eligible for military service for fitness, academic and law enforcement deficiencies, Cotton said, citing national statistics that some 30 percent of male youths drop out of high school.
And we thought all of that video game playing was going to hurt our children.
Is this how the war will finally end? No more able bodies to send into the meat grinder.
fine , I will keep feeding my son and get more video games....
ReplyDelete( seriously my son is thinking about joining the Marines- we have been having some intense talks this summer- he is scaring the crap out of me- he said " I want to do something that is Honrable, if they weren't in Iraq- I think they are a bunch of guys that have honor".....I understand where his head and heart is on this- but is is still worrying me- can a Buddhist even join the Marines ? ....this is my son big gentle giant that carries spiders outside....oh well....we'll see what happens....just more sleepless nites..)
sorry I just started rambling here....
You know my daughter talked about joining about six months ago as well.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if she was serious or just trying to get a rise out of her old man, but the latter is definitely what happened. I try to be supportive and not tell my daughter what choices to make, but when she suggested that I went ballistic! I yelled and slammed my hands on the kitchen counter and did everything but turn inside out to demonstrate how against the idea I was.
My daughter has not mentioned it since. I think my anger kind of surprised her.
wow....so good to know I am not alone..I was so stunned that the first time I was prety quiet- I was just sooooo stunned.....
ReplyDeleteand then the second time I listened.....
and the third time I cried......
that is 3 times in 2 weeks- I know my son- it will be brought up again this weekend...
I think it is good that you told her the Truth- how you really feel..
Suggest your kids watch Iraq for Sale so they will know exactly what they would be fighting for.
ReplyDeleteIt's not "for country".
Thanks Lynne, 6-6 ( my son) actually said that he did not want anything to do with Iraq- he says it is a Criminal act of War Criminals-not the soldiers- but the WH and the Pentagon who carried this action out are criminals....
ReplyDeleteBut I will get" Iraq for Sale" and add to the doc collection, we have a bunch= from Frontline specials, to Iraq Uncovered and Fog of War.....
My son wanted to do something "honorable"...He views Marines and also the navy as people of honor,,,
more later...
okay G ( and lyne too if you are still around)- here is the latest on the Military discussion....we talked yesterday 6-6 has been thinking again....and he does realize he could never actually kill anyone ( I already knew that- so did all the bugs in our house and the >40 animals he has rescued in his life)...anyways he said he wants to make a difference, work with others and do Something Honorable...so we had a really good discussion about Americorps and Peace Corps...
ReplyDeletephew.....