It’s getting harder and harder to find people to enlist in the Army. With the service expected to miss its projected end strength for this fiscal year by about 10,000 people, the Army isn’t in a position to turn any potentially qualified applicants down. That is why it is considering establishing a prep school of sorts for people who don’t meet the minimum aptitude or body fat percentage requirements to enlist. A basic training course to get ready for basic training, if you will.
Sixty years ago, faced with similar issues (and a looming war), the Kennedy Administration began a presidential physical fitness program. Those who were in elementary school back then will remember this:
The John Birch Society probably proclaimed it to be a commie plot. Ted Cruz and the TOFF would take the same stance today. For nothing says "lack of physical fitness" like those two birds. (At least Josh Hawley can run.)
They said that Michelle Obama urging kids to eat healthier was Communistic or Satanic. Maybe both.
ReplyDeleteI remember the president's physical fitness tests. You had to jump back and forth across three painted lines on the ground, among other things. And run as far as you can in six minutes. Twice I ran a mile, once not quite.
ReplyDelete-Doug in Sugar Pine
I was in the Boy Scouts when President Kennedy said we all needed to do 50-mile hikes, so off we went that summer. The Sierra scenery was probably lovely, but all I remember is slogging long hours and wishing for more water.
ReplyDeleteI still have a sticker we got for participating.
Later on, in life, my wife and I did a part of the Pacific Crest Trail, so I guess it left me with good memories after all.
We do need fit citizens, not only for the military.
w3ski