This article in today’s New York Times describes the overhaul of the physical fitness training program for new military recruits. According to the article, kids joining the military today are more overweight and unfit than ever before, so the traditional elements of basic training are having to be redesigned to get them into combat-ready condition.
It’s a thought-provoking read, especially when you think about countries that require military service–I wonder if those kids are in that much better shape than ours?
It really does make you wonder what we’re doing wrong. Don’t you have an image in your head of basic training–drill sergeants and group runs and obstacle courses? Don’t you assume it’s the hot young tough-stuff studs who sign up for that? If they’re overweight and out of shape, at 18 or 19 or 20 years old, what will become of us, as a nation?