Mar 24th 2009 By Adam K. Raymond

Are Americans Too Fat to Serve Our Country?

With two wars dragging on in perpetuity, the U.S. Military is starved for recruits. Potential recruits, on the other hand, are not starved at all. In fact, one in five military-age Americans are too fat to serve.

And considering the Army allows 26 percent body fat for men and even more for women, this isn't "too fat to be an underwear model" fat, this is "have to buy two seats on an airplane" fat.

The military is doing all it can to slim the waistlines of the robust recruits, including playing the role of personal trainer to help them reach an acceptable rate. But at this rate, is the Pentagon going to have to develop new combat techniques based on sitting on the bad guys?

If anyone can inspire us to lose weight, however, it's The Patriot Girls.

God Bless the Patriot Girls

Crystal, Alabama

The Patriot Girls

Dionna, Arizona

The Patriot Girls

Kristen, Arkansas

The Patriot Girls

Jordan, California

The Patriot Girls

Danika, Colorado

The Patriot Girls

Danielle, Florida

The Patriot Girls

Renni, Georgia

The Patriot Girls

Alexandra, Illinois

The Patriot Girls

Amber, Kansas

The Patriot Girls

Stephanie, Kentucky

The Patriot Girls

Tags: fat - fitness - military - military service - MilitaryService - obesity - recruiting

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Tuesday 24 March

By chris

Highest Rank

I was discharged from the army in 1992 for failure to meet height and weight standards after 7 years and 10 months. At no time during my career was I un-able to pass my physical fitness test. I scored in the highest percentiles on my skills qualification test and was qualified expert with my weapon. In addition i had outstanding Non Commisoned Officer Evaluation reports and was the recipient of numerous awards and comendations. In addition I redesigned a piece of equipment for the Army through their suggestion program saving them thousands of dollars and for this I received a cash award. How overweight was I ? Well I am 5ft 9in tall and at the time of my final weigh in weighed the incredulous amount of 194 lbs. Acording to the Army I was 20 lbs overweight. In all of my previous duty stations prior to my discharge this was never an issue because of my job performance. So just because my knowledge and skill intimidated someone in a higher position of rank, I was singled out and discharged. I am not bitter about this but it seems a waste of taxpayers money to have trained and developed me into a top notch non-commisioned officer that I would be thrown out over 20 lbs of weight. This further astounds me because we now have a shortage of qualified people in our military. Furthermore I currently don't weigh much more than I did when I was discharged at the age of 27 and I am now 42. I would bet that the height and weight table would show now that I would be within guidelines due to my age. Any way I know I am not the only good soldier who was put out this way. Many of us were good enough to go to the gulf and are combat veterans who were immediately discharged for weight after the first Gulf war. If they were good enought to fight in Iraq during war shouldn't they be good enough to serve during peacetime? Just doesn't seem right to me.

Wednesday 25 March

By msgjjacobs

Neutral

Chris, you were in the Army for over 7 years. I bet that you knew the standard for your height and weight most of that time. When soliders in your situation are discharged it dosen't happen overnight. You are counseled, sent to see a nutrisionist and even doctors if you need to see one. Granted 194 isn't huge for a 69" male, my point is that you had time to meet the standard. As for your early chain of command looking the other way, they should have been discharged for not doing their jobs;if that was indeed the case. I haven't always agreeded with the Army's height and weight standards but if you want to be a soilder you have to be willing to follow the rules.

Thursday 26 March

By kitty

Neutral

i bet that extra 20 lbs was muscle too. its a shame that they probably didn't take that into consideration. also if it was body fat, i don't see why you would need to be discharged if you were performing your duties efficiently.

Tuesday 24 March

By PHIL

Highest Rank

The policemen of today need to watch their weight. It is sad to see a fat cop try to run after a thin criminal.

Tuesday 24 March

By renee'

Highest Rank

I just watched re-rens of an old cop show Adam-12. Wow those guys were fine. Did the cops in the 70's stay fit like that? However I must say I have respect for all law enforcement officials no matter what size.

Wednesday 25 March

By JG

Lowest Ranked

TAKE NOTE ALL YOU FAT-ASS AMERICANS,GET OFF YOUR GAUNTLET ASS AN EXERCISE,ESP. ALL YOU OVERWEIGHT BARNEY FIFES.

Wednesday 25 March

By ed

Neutral

seems they dont have any problem taking oldermen to enlist my old schoolbuddy,s kid is going to ft bragg he,s 36 and his dad is an old vietnam era veteran he probably was near vietnam all three sisters kids are being deployed allver the world they dont have any problems with weight they just reenlisted ones headed for afgansitahn with the afees and ones going to england they have alittle boy they cant take with them now that sad got two going to ft bragg for ait onme just came back fromft bragg hell they need volunteers i would go in if iwasnt an old vietnam veteran obama is kind of stable dont guess he will invade green land any time soon like "W"worst i would take my chancesbut this over wieght vietnam vet wuldnt qualify i tried when iwas in my forties i though tprior service wouldnt have any problems they do

Wednesday 25 March

By Wayne

Neutral

Whoever wrote this article is so full of shit it's coming out his ears.

Thursday 26 March

By Devynn

Neutral

what ticks me off about the height/weight requirements is that they are NOT considering how ppl are built. my husband is "built like an ox" but b/c he's only 5'10, he's about 20lbs over weight. if he lost the bit of fat he has around his middle, and became a toned up stud, he'd STILL be overweight b/c muscle weighs more than fat. and it makes me really wonder what's up with the requirements. i see ppl ALL the time (we're at ft bragg) who should be out of the military b/c they ARE overweight, no way around it. but ppl who are DEFINITLY fit get kicked out b/c they don't match some standard that only a few can live up to. but then again, if it makes sense, the military will have NONE of it!