Ready, Willing and Unable to Serve

[Generic Other]

"Startling statistics released by the Pentagon show that 75 percent of young people ages 17 to 24 are currently unable to enlist in the United States military. Three of the most common barriers for potential recruits are failure to graduate high school, a criminal record, and physical fitness issues, including obesity."

MissionReadiness.org

http://d15h7vkr8e4okv.cloudfront.net/NATEE1109.pdf

"Those statistics are contained in a report released Thursday by Mission: Readiness titled Ready, Willing and Unable to Serve, although organization officials acknowledged that the 75 percent figures it provided for each state are the organization’s “best guess.”

Some of the retired military leaders said the Pentagon doesn’t have the time or money or time to get these fat kids in shape, nor to get high school dropouts to get their GEDs. And clemency for young lawbreakers comes with its own set of political and bureaucratic problems."

http://www.youthtoday.org/publication/article.cfm?article_id=3670

[Book Lover]

1. You mean the megatheomilitaricorporatocracy is sabotaging itself?

If it weren't for the fact that people's lives are being shortened, I'd celebrate the day.

[Generic Other]

2. It seems the stats suggest we need to meet kids' social needs too

early in their lives. Health care. Education. Security. Nutrition. We are so backward. The knots in my stomach will not go away.

[KamaAina]

3. Funny they don't mention another common barrier: Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Get rid of it.