Why is the military so picky?

Question

i want to join the army but im 35 lbs overweight and i don't like working out, i hate working out.

why does every soldier have to be fit, can't they put guys like me in a tank, driving trucks around or in trench with a rifle somewhere. it doesn't take a six pack to shoot a gun.

maybe they would meet the recruitment goals if they weren't so picky.

Answer 1

It must have just been your specific recruiter. They have been admitting known gang members with rap sheets so long its a shame so why they discriminated on weight is beyond me.
It might seem bizarre when I say that but my own little brother had been recruited when he was overweight but he did well on his test and passed in the high 90 percentile. He was allowed to join and by the time he made it out of basic training, he lost the weight and was down to 2% body fat.
At least you are trying to do something for your country unlike some who have called you names and sat on their butts here.

Edited:-
To Future FBI Guy as I said in my emailed response to you- Maybe if you took your head out of your you know what you would actually know what is happening out there. So before you write do research moron
http://usmilitary.about.com/od/justicelawlegislation/a/gangs_2.htm
The US military admitting they allowed gang members into the armed forces
Interviews of the known gang members who have even tagged walls in Iraq.

Another piece of research
Stars and Stripes
http://stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=42436&archive=true
CNN program which highlighted the problem in the army
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0705/09/pzn.01.html
http://tammybruce.com/2006/05/american_gang_members_in_iraq.php

This also goes for Shadow CRX as well.

Answer 2

Here's a suggestion. Loose the 35 lbs and try again. Get in shape on your own and go talk to a recruiter. If you are young and have the time, it should take you no more than a few months to drop that kind of weight. They just don't want someone out of shape and undisciplined. The undisciplined part can be fixed in Basic training, but you need to go in with the mind set that you must be physically fit at all times while serving in the Armed Forces. Best of Luck and don't let this get you down.

Answer 3

You know there was a time and not that long ago that you could joined with no questions asked. Now I can only speak from my time as a 20yr navy man. There are some jobs that you really do not need to be in top shape but on a ship there are ladders from hell so you deff need to able to get around. Also you will be required to fight all fires or other sever trauma @ sea so one does need to some what fit, its also used as tool to keep the size of navy down that is a ez way to get put out early. Its also very tacky to see some way way over wt in the uni its just wrong dude! Come do you heart a fav drop the weight your knees will thank you in the future.

Answer 4

If you want to join the military, lose the pounds. With 9 weeks
or more at boot camp training, you are going to lose 35 more
pounds more so you can fit into the tank door opening.
If you hate working out. You don't want the army and they don't
want you. The Army has lower standards than the other
branches of service. If you keep drinking them six packs, you
won't be able to see what you pe with. so hang loose. Don't
wait for them to knock on your door.

Answer 5

Because you won't spend all of your time in the tank, and at some point you might have to pick up a rifle and run either towards or away from the enemy, and other soldiers lives might depend on that.
And if you don't like to work out - the Army is not for you. You have to work out all through basic, and if you are overweight the drill sergeants are going to stay on your *** constantly to get fit.

Answer 6

"It must have just been your specific recruiter. They have been admitting known gang members with rap sheets so long its a shame so why they discriminated on weight is beyond me"

Most retarded answer ever.

Seriously, think about it. Your in a fire fight and need need to move out fast, would you prefer fit soldiers or would prefer over sized cookie eater creating a big target and giving away your position?

You would take option a. Thats why the U.S has one of the best trained and fit fighting forces on planet Earth. They have high standards.

Being fit is essential for your survival as a soldier. You can't just sit on your rear all day.

Answer 7

The military does not fit everyone's type of lifestyle, because it has structure and discipline-you have to want it to do it. This is because we need to be the best military force out there, so therefore, there is a certain criteria to follow, and this means they will only take those that meet the standards-because they want the best physically and mentally-they don't do mediocrity-. If you want it that bad you wouldn't come on here and whine about; instead you would take you lazy as s f or a run and start working on what needs to get done in order to get in.

Answer 8

You hate working out. What a wiener! Could you pull one of your comrades weighing over 200 pounds out of a tank? Could you carry a fellow soldier several hundred yards for help? Could you run 2 miles in full battle dress? Could you walk 10 miles carrying a full pack in full battle dress in 110 degree weather?
And you hate to work out but want to be part of the world's greatest fighting force. Are you serious? Go suck down some ice cream, followed by a bag of Doritos drowned in nacho cheese washed down by a super-tremendous Big Gulp, sit on your fat hind parts and play your video war games and let REAL men be part of our military fighting forces! Plus, we don't need WHINERS.

Answer 9

The standards are high because it's necessary. Not only might you have to carry a wounded comrade off the battlefield, but he might have to carry you off of it.

Should he have to work out that much harder that he can carry you although you don't work out enough to carry his fit body? I'm sure you wouldn't want me to leave you in the front of that burning truck as everyone else evacuated and the locals looked for their next beheading victim. Well, I want my colleagues in shape enough that if I'm the unlucky sob with a leg wound, they'll get me out too. And that means they've gotta carry the weight of my weapon and ammo too as well as their own, cause I'll still be shooting.

Answer 10

Just one service person's opinion given here, but I for one don't want anyone so undisciplined and lazy anywhere near me, especially carrying any weapon more sophisticated than a butter knife. Nor do I want any lard butts around if a hairy situation develops and all you can do is be an obstacle, or even a liability to my fellow troops. You could do yourself a big favor by growing up! Being a lard butt is a choice YOU make, don't try to pass that 'its my genetics' or other such garbage.

Answer 11

Every soldier is a basic infantryman first, then they go into their speciality occupation second. In times of war, you wouldn't last very long if you aren't mentally and physically in shape. history also suggests that out of shape people suck up too much oxygen and eat too much food. Try the Navy, they aren't as strict on their requirements