tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044826704035279962.post5704642719092877065..comments2024-03-28T17:16:25.333-04:00Comments on Mad Padre: Diet, Fitness and Military Readiness: Connecting the DotsMad Padrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00410143683610813671noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044826704035279962.post-14312537957848829752017-05-02T17:16:25.770-04:002017-05-02T17:16:25.770-04:00While I agree that physical fitness is a crucial p...While I agree that physical fitness is a crucial part of modern military operations, I believe that by insisting on uniformly high standards of physical fitness and military competence, armed forces are cutting themselves off from a huge recruiting pool. In contemporary operations, there are crucial roles which don't demand physical fitness in the same way that combat and combat support arms do.<br /><br />Thank you for a very interesting and well-researched post, Mike.<br /><br />If (heaven forbid) it were up to me, I would advocate a 'two-tier' system. Combat and battlefield roles would demand the same high standards of physical fitness they have always done, for the very reasons you outline in your post. But other roles, perhaps those in the cyber, intelligence and non-combatant services, would relax (but not dispense with) physical fitness standards.<br /><br />It makes sense - if the manpower pool is becoming less fit, we need to use the few who DO meet the standards more intelligently. How much money are armed forces spending on training chefs and admin clerks to the same standard as infantrymen? Of course, in an ideal world we WOULD do that, but we just CAN'T with the fitness among the general population the way it is.<br /><br />I am forcefully reminded of this point when my chaps and ladies (who are more in the support role) are frequently taken away to take part in battle camps, learning how to conduct company attacks - to the point where their vital day-to-day job suffers. Take them away to learn FOB defence, or QRF duties, yes - but don't waste time teaching them skills that need to be put into the infantry. <br /><br />The professionalism and skill of infantry soldiers - which includes their fitness - is the one area we can maintain an edge over our contemporary adversaries. Let's focus our stretched training resources to keep them to the standard first.<br /><br />Contraversial, I know - I wonder what your thoughts are Mike.Colonel Scipiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02632701529009379584noreply@blogger.com