I thought the New York Times' At War blog had an interesting take on military fitness.Despite the military’s stress on physical fitness, many senior officers and noncommissioned officers I have spoken to are adamant in their beliefs that today’s soldiers are physically softer than the soldiers of yesteryear.
Nevermind that the U.S. military has spiced up its fitness options by incorporating CrossFit, grappling competitions, and weight vests. It seems that more seasoned officers think the new recruits are soft.
I think this brings up a lot of questions.
Is this a generational issue? Are senior officers holding GenY to a standard set by the Greatest Generation and is that appropriate? My grandfather and his WWII buddies were physically and mentally tough, but they had no other choice. They were depression-era children who went without and had to be strong to get by. Today's 20-somethings grew up in an era of plenty and privilege. As a generation they haven't had to "get by."
Is this a generational issue? Are senior officers holding GenY to a standard set by the Greatest Generation and is that appropriate? My grandfather and his WWII buddies were physically and mentally tough, but they had no other choice. They were depression-era children who went without and had to be strong to get by. Today's 20-somethings grew up in an era of plenty and privilege. As a generation they haven't had to "get by."
Is this a military issue or a general population issue? Until recently, obesity rates were consistently on the rise. Still, the latest numbers still show that more than two-thirds of adults and almost a third of kids are overweight, with no sign of improvement. The Pentagon surveyed CDC data last year and determined that more than one-third of youth aged 17 to 24 are unqualified for military service because of physical and medical issues.
Is this a leadership issue? It's amazing what our bodies will do when our motivation and confidence are high. A basic level of fitness can be trained into nearly anyone, but it takes leadership, mentoring and coaching to help the minimally fit become physically and mentally strong. (I'm not suggesting that anyone who lacks motivation will become an overnight sensation by hiring a coach. Rather, I'm suggesting that having a mentor helps us become better at our sports.)
Finally, is there a better way to test the mental and physical strength of new recruits? The tests currently used attempt to ensure a minimum standard of fitness for all service members. The standards aren't adjusted for elite athletes or elite military teams or even for relatively fit folks. And perhaps more importantly, the current tests don't measure a person's ability to simultaneously perform difficult physical and mental tasks in combat situations.
I'm certainly not an expert on military fitness, but it seems like the issue is more complex than simple couch-potato syndrome. It also makes me wonder if this is a perpetual "problem" that senior officers raise from generation to generation. I hope my military friends will chime in and give us some first-hand perspective.
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Hi Allison! I think you hit this right on the head. I can't remember the exact percentage, but only a small amount of today's recruiting-age people are actually fit for service. And once they're in, there isn't a lot of incentive to keep fit because military people are loaded down with so much other work. Further, many commands see phyisical fitness as important, but not important enough to allow the troops time during the work day to work out. Troops are expected to work out either before they come into work or after work. That's ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteMy command is pretty good about allowing and encouraging Sailors to work out during the work day. I'm at a staff command, so it's especially important to keep fit because we are a bunch of desk jockeys...for now. But we could be put in a combat situation anytime, so we need to always be prepared.
I think it's much bigger than being a military leadership issue. These kids are coming to us with not a lot of experience with physical fitness. On the whole, our country would be much better off if we could figure a way to get kids to get off the couch and do something! But once we do get them, we need to get them off the cigarettes, knock the burgers and sodas out of their hands, and get them to the gym!
People by and large are "soft" in this day and age. I have seen this first hand in both the military and police. I believe one problem, as there are many, is the fact we are too sensitive to people's feelings. Everyone is afraid to tell people No, or that they simply can not make the grade. Organizations are constantly adapting their selection standards to avoid law suits from unqualified individuals. Competition has been taken off the playground at a very young age. Kids grow up getting a trophy even if their team loses. This constant pampering and pandering generates a pool of applicants which the military and militant type organizations have to draw. Hard people spawn hard offspring. Unfortunately baby boomers have created an environment which accepted all, no matter their skill sets. People need to know that they can't all be what they want to be. Yes. You can try. But if you fail you go another path. The spot you were trying to get gets filled by the most qualified individual who has apparently worked harder than you. Or has a unique skill set which you have yet to obtain.
ReplyDeleteInstead the company or branch of the military or police department whatever it may be lowers their standards so Billy gets hired and his feelings aren't hurt. Consequently this weakens the entire group. Survival of the fittest. Sad but true. I am a prime example of the way it should be in our country. I wanted to be a Navy SEAL. I joined and tried out and made the cut. I watched guys break under the stress and physical pressure of the program. Was I sad to see some go? Yes. But unfortunately it is safer for everyone involved for them to break in training than in combat where people would really get killed due to their weaknesses. I went to BUD/S and beat out hundreds of lesser qualified guys. I say guys because girls, Thank God, aren't allowed. Unfortunately I did not complete the program and was pumped back into the Navy. Was I upset? Hell Yes. But did it make me attack the next goal I wanted to achieve with more vehemence? Hell Yes!!
The long and short of it is that everyone can't be the hero, the star, the guy on the poster. Try. And if you make it great but if you fail have the self awareness to know and understand that the ones who made it would suffer if they lowered the standards to satiate your ego. Suck it up and move on. Or regroup and try again. Don't sink the boat full of guys who had the right stuff to make it the first time. HOOYAH...class 236