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The Army Setting Up ‘Fat Camp’ For Obese Recruits

Published on January 13th, 2009

The Army has been dismissing so many overweight applicants that its top recruiter, trying to keep troop numbers up in wartime, is considering starting a fat farm to transform chubby trainees into svelte soldiers.

Maj. Gen. Thomas Bostick, head of the Army Recruiting Command, said he wants to see a formal diet and fitness regimen running alongside a new school at Fort Jackson that helps aspiring troops earn their GEDs.

Bostick told The Associated Press that obesity looms as “a bigger challenge for us in the years ahead” than any other problem that keeps young people from entering the military, including lack of a GED or high school diploma, misconduct or criminal behavior and other health issues such as eye or ear problems.

According to Defense Department figures provided to the AP, over the past four years 47,447 potential recruits flunked induction physicals at the nation’s 35 Military Entrance Processing Stations because they were overweight.
[...]Bostick argues that many of the young people who want to join the Army have a hard time understanding a healthy diet and the importance of daily exercise, but could get within the military limits with guidance.
[...]
“The Army has a tough time recruiting as compared to the other services,” said Korb.[...] “They are doing this because they are desperate,” Korb said.

Come on. You know all they need is to get Richard Simmons out there to whip these fatties into shape!

7 users responded in " The Army Setting Up ‘Fat Camp’ For Obese Recruits "

# 1 Paddy-O said, on January 13th, 2009 at 6:14 am

Sounds like a good thing. Maybe we can defray the cost by signing up the existing German army…

# 2 MyDogBen said, on January 13th, 2009 at 6:19 am

Old news. The Army was doing this at Fort Bliss in El Paso when I was in basic training 20 years ago; probably doing it at a lot of basic training sites.

# 3 Sea Lawyer said, on January 13th, 2009 at 6:58 am

They have had a “physical conditioning platoon” at Parris Island for years too. There is still a time limit for you to either meet the standards or be discharged though.

# 4 chuck said, on January 13th, 2009 at 9:13 am

Join the army. Get in shape. See the world. Get your legs blown to bits by an IED.

I wonder why they have difficulty recruiting?

# 5 Angel H. Wong said, on January 13th, 2009 at 11:02 am

Because once you’re crippled by shrapnel you’re on your own.

# 6 Yea said, on January 13th, 2009 at 12:45 pm

Nothing new. When I was in AOCS in P-Cola, we had some fat bodies that couldnt complete the PRT test. They went into what was termed at the time “medical Hold” Master Gunnery SGT, than had them in front of his desk on the hour, every hour he was in his office doing hop and pops etc for 20 minutes. He would also come in on weekends and PT their asses, it wasnt a pleasnt sight. One guy lost almost 30 lbs in the month he was on hold.

# 7 orangetiki said, on January 13th, 2009 at 3:46 pm

There’s a money maker for ya. Fat CAmp / Boot camp style. Honestly it would work. Have the lemmings pay to go to camp to lose weight, and then have them skip part of regular bot camp. The giv makes money and the lemmings can go to war for cheaper gas

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