Doesn't the U.S. military have a FAT BOY/GIRL program anymore?

Question

I am serious here. For the past decade or more, I have noticed EXTREMELY overweight soldiers, many of whom no doubt cannot pull their own weight.

Predominant among them are pregnant women (many unmarried I would guess); many others are not, but just FAT.

When I was a commander we had a program -- indeed, commanders were virtually forced -- to chapter out troops with too much tonnage. I did not agree with that in every case mind you, but we didn't have near as BIG a problem as I see today, and I see plenty of soldiers most days in my military community here in Germany! It is DISGUSTING.

Soldiers should be LEAN and MEAN like I was in my day, and toeing the line physically. These days it seems like their biggest challenge is to pull themselves away from Popeye's, and evidently many are losing that war.

Doesn't the U.S. military have programs anymore to eliminate these fat-sos or are they so desperate for cannon fodder that anyone is accepted and retained???

Answer 1

The fat boy program is still in effect. It is up to the unit to implement it.

Now where I am at there are very, very few overweight Soldiers. By civilian standards, you would see maybe 1 in 200. Usually that overweight person will be valuable to the unit (i.e really good leader, best SAW gunner in the company, lots of critical skills the unit needs, etc...), so he'll stay in but he'll be continually harassed about his weight.

You can tell pogue units by seeing all the fat dudes and pregnant chicks aimlessly walking and talking during PT.

Answer 2

Yes, the military still has a overweight program. Weather it is enforced in every unit I don't know. Many commanders want to keep the numbers so I would say it is a command problem.
Some may look fat, but then many are meeting the body fat standards that are set forth by regulations.
On the point of women I would say that the numbers are about even for those that are married and unmarried in the military. Everyone is looking for at least some job that you can get paid since many civilan employers don't pay that good these days.
The Army has a regulation AR 600-9 I believe and this states what one should weigh and what the maxium body fat that is allowed and if these are not met what the time lines are to lose the weight or be kicked out of the Army.

Answer 3

Yes they have an overweight program in the military. Once soldiers are put on the overweight program they have periodic weigh ins and must be making progress or they will get chaptered and if they get off the overweight program and are put back on it within 1 year they are supposed to get chaptered. This is what should happen according to the reg but as I am sure you are aware, many times a command will say screw the reg in the interest of helping the soldier.
Also I have no idea why you would include pregnant women in your comments because pregnant women are not subject to the weight requirements put forth in the regulation while they are pregnant. And what does marital status have to do with their appearance? They are serving their country married or not.

Answer 4

In my unit, we have a remedial PT program, however it's taught by people without the heart to do it right, and the people in it certainly don't want to be there.

The real problem is that people are so worried about their daily formations and making sure there is no dirt on their humvee tires and that all the dust is under the carpet that they forget that it's more important to maintain constant readiness.

Instead of going to the gym after we're done with our work, we're made to stand around and waste our time and theirs while they are in training meetings that do not pertain to us. Then we need a formation just to hear the word dismissed.

The Army has lost the important aspects of being a soldier for the irrelavent formalities that make many one-timers hate the army and want to get out.

Answer 5

I'm not near any large military bases but I'd have to say that those I see in uniform DO appear to be lean and mean. The only unique physical differences I've noticed is that they all seem taller and more muscular than when I was in many years ago. Quite honestly my opinion is that on average the members of todays armed forces are in better physical condition and more trim than when I was in.

P.S. Am I mistaken or did you really just include pregnant women in your evaluation of how trim todays military is?....interesting. We sure can't allow that now can we?

Answer 6

First, where are you in Germany? I'm there, too.
That said, many of the soldiers we have here now on Rear D do have weight problems. My husband went from a healthy and lean 165, to pushing 200 because of medication that he was on. The lack of PT they've been doing hasn't been helping either. Others have weight problems for the same reasons: Medication, medical profiles, lack of PT, et cetera et cetera. However, before the guys left, the majority of them WERE "lean and mean", from being out in the field all the time, doing PT three times a day.
The ones here on Rear D who are getting out, though, aren't being pushed about their weight. I've seen the ones who are supposed to be deploying, though, and they are being hassled. I've seen them outside in those foil suits trying to lose enough to pass tape.
So yes, the military does still have a "fat boy/girl" program.

Answer 7

Yes, we have one, but everything in the army is subjective, and left up to the commanders. You can never figure out what standards you have to meet anymore. For instance, you'll see soldiers fail to qualify with a rifle after 15 attempts (a full day) and they don't get flagged; but let someone fail a PT test, and the paperwork goes through that day.

That's the reason the army can't keep good people in, and lets the fatbodies stay.

Answer 8

What solders are you talking about?
1. Young kids just out of high school enlisted for 4 years?
2. 35 year old reserves with kids living at home with family?
3. An old lifer that have nothing to do on base except to push paper around?

Answer 9

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Answer 10

You claim to be a former commander, yet you know nothing of our military. We would not make you commander of anything, you must be from another land? Just another in a long line of American haters spreading their garbage across Yahoo Answers. Do you find contentment in using OUR forum to spread your ignorance, prejudice and hate?